We Love Northern Ball returns Feb. 24

The Montana State University-Northern Foundation’s We Love Northern Ball, one of the biggest local events of the year, is on for Saturday, Feb. 24, at 6 p.m. with a similar format to last year’s ball, which was very successful.

The We Love Northern Ball is the foundation’s largest annual fundraiser, bringing in money that the organization can use for scholarships. The event only returned last year after the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to cancel in 2021 and 2022.

“We say it’s the signature event of the Hi-Line. … It’s always a lot of fun,” Foundation Director of Development Melanie Skoyen said.

Skoyen said everyone seemed to have a very good time last year, so they are going to do this year’s ball with a very similar format, with a three-course dinner, accompanied by wine pairings, courtesy of Willow Mountain Winery out of Corvallis.

The first course will be Maine lobster cakes, the second, smoked beef brisket and cilantro lime rice, and third, tiramisu, all with paired wines, she said.

There will also be music by The Melissa Lynn Band out of Great Falls with dancing later in the night.

This year’s theme is “Dancing in the Moonlight,” Skoyen said.

She said they will also have their typical live and silent auctions as well as another rose raffle.

Roses and their accompanying raffle entries will be sold at the event with the winner getting a beautiful necklace, similar to last year.

Skoyen said they will also have another raffle for a cooler full of high-quality meat and a nice bottle of bourbon as well.

Last year, she said, they had more than 200 people come to the event and they are hoping for 250 this year.

Tickets to the event are $100 each, including the dinner and wine, which will all go to support scholarships for Northern students.

“It is a really good cause and a great event to celebrate Northern and come together as a community,” she said.

She said students from the school’s various clubs and athletics teams will be helping set up and serve at the event so people will be able to meet them as well.

The event will start at 6 p.m. in the Armory Gymnasium with cocktails, then dinner at 7 p.m. and dancing at 8:30 p.m.

Skoyen said the event is semi-formal but if people want to dress up they are welcome to, which they love seeing.