Celebrate the Arts Gifting the Experience

WRITTEN BY NAOMI SHAFER

What are your brightest holiday memories from childhood? Chances are, they’re not the toy you didn’t get (or even the toy you did) – but the family rituals that surrounded the season. I know mine are.

What if this year your family ditched the presents (or at least some of the presents) in favor of time together. And yes, I’m biased, but I believe adding the performing arts to your holiday lineup is the perfect way to build memories.

Full disclosure: I love holiday performances so much that my husband and I created one of our own. Our show, A Circus Carol, brings Dickens’ tale to life with a circus twist—think juggling ghosts, trapeze acts and unicycle-riding Cratchit kids. This year marks our third season of reimagining a classic through circus magic.

My call for no presents isn’t about being a Grinch, it’s about the enduring gift of presence.

Live performance is the perfect holiday gift for anyone craving more quality time and less clutter. It’s a chance to experience “presence over presents.” Performers share not only their craft—their countless hours of rehearsal—but also a piece of themselves. Live art feels like a conversation: The performers invite you in, and the audience responds with laughter, gasps and applause.

Going present-free (or present-light) doesn’t mean ditching the glitter, element of surprise and feeling of abundance we often hope to cultivate for the holidays. Try pairing a performance with a special new outfit (or accessory). Prepare for the show by sipping cocoa and watching a film adaptation.

If you need more reasons to swap some presents for tickets, here are a few:

• Be Present. For two hours, no screens, no scrolling—just your family, together, sharing the moment.

• Ignite Imagination. Snow on stage? Toys springing to life? Live shows ask us to imagine alongside the performers.

• Inspire Action. Watching excellence often sparks the thought: “I want to try that.” Don’t be surprised if your child wants piano lessons, ballet shoes or a unicycle afterward.

• Practice Empathy. When a performer struggles, recovers and carries on, kids see resilience modeled right before them.

• See Community Differently. Live shows often feature people you know. Your child’s soccer coach may also be in the choir, or your neighbor might be playing violin in the orchestra.

The joy of unwrapping a gift fades quickly. But the ritual of attending a performance—getting dressed up, going out, sitting in awe together— creates memories that last a lifetime.

Bozeman offers a huge array of opportunities to be involved in the performing arts this holiday season. Check out 406Cirque (A Circus Carol), Bozeman Symphony Orchestra (Holiday Spectacular) Montana Ballet Company (The Nutcracker), The Ellen (A Circus Carol) and Yellowstone Ballet Company (The Nutcracker).

Naomi Shafer is the Executive Director of 406Cirque.