Randy Diefel
Oct 20, 2026
Trivia Question❓Which pigment decreases in leaves during autumn, causing them to lose their green color? Answer at the bottom of the newsletter |
 |
🎃 Around Billings This Week: October 20–27 |
Billings is getting into the Halloween spirit this week, and apparently we're not doing anything halfway. 😄 We've got ghost tours in historic mansions, a full-blown horror convention, live music, family fun, and even a little Cat-Griz rivalry on the ice.
Here are a few things worth getting out of the house for:
👻 Moss Mansion Ghost Tours — October 21, 22 & 25 Explore one of Billings' most historic homes with spooky stories and Halloween fun. Family-friendly tours are Wednesday, with after-dark ghost tours Thursday and Sunday.
🎃 Billings Horror Con — October 24–25 MetraPark is turning into horror headquarters! Expect cosplay, collectibles, special guests, and a Saturday evening Vampire Masquerade Ball.
🎹 Billings Symphony — October 24 Enjoy Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 at Alberta Bair Theater, starting at 7:30 PM.
🏒 Cat-Griz Hockey — October 24 Montana and Montana State take their rivalry to the ice at Signal Peak Energy Arena at 7 PM.
🍬 All Inclusive Trunk or Treat — October 25 Head to Poly Vista Park from noon to 2 PM for a community Halloween celebration.
🎶 Live Music Around Town From LAKEVIEW at the Pub Station on Tuesday to Shawn James the following Tuesday, there's plenty happening for music lovers.
And that's just the beginning.
Whether you're hunting ghosts, cheering on your team, or just looking for an excuse to leave the house, Billings has you covered.
Now, finding a Halloween costume that works with a winter coat? That's the real Montana challenge. 😄 |
📚 Meet Vicki B. Williamson: A Billings Author Who Lets the Story Lead |
Some writers plan every chapter before they begin.
Billings native Vicki B. Williamson takes a different approach.
When we recently caught up with Vicki at a local event, she shared something fascinating about how she writes: she starts writing and lets the story unfold as she goes.
No need to know every twist or turn ahead of time. She discovers where the story is headed right along with her characters.
And considering she's written nine books so far, that approach seems to be working pretty well! 😄
Born and raised in Billings, Vicki grew up surrounded by Montana's beauty and developed a love for storytelling. Today, she writes both suspenseful thrillers and imaginative fantasy adventures.
Her books include the Ellen Thompson Thriller series, beginning with Finding Poppies, and The Pedagogue Chronicles, a fantasy trilogy featuring Maya's Song, Sylvan's Guise, and Tessa's Flight.
Her newest fantasy world, Quest for Darklin Vale, takes readers on another journey filled with magic, mystery, and adventure.
What we especially enjoyed about meeting Vicki was hearing how much she loves the creative process. There's something fun about imagining an author sitting down to write, not entirely sure what's going to happen next.
And somewhere along the way, an entire world takes shape.
Nine books. Two genres. And it all comes from someone who grew up right here in Billings.
Pretty cool, if you ask us. 📚
Want to explore her books? Browse Vicki B. Williamson's titles. |
A midday explosion shook the West End of Billings, Montana, rattling nerves and stopping traffic along one of the city's busiest commercial strips.
A full-size pickup hauling an asphalt mixing trailer caught fire in a parking lot near the 2950 block of King Avenue West, quickly escalating into a full fireball.
Fire officials ruled the incident accidental, with a propane tank explosion identified as the likely trigger.
The blast blew open the front doors of at least one neighboring business and sent a concussive wave across the lot.
Nearby restaurant workers calmly evacuated customers — just seconds before the explosion hit.
The truck's crew had stepped away for lunch moments before the fire ignited, a detail that likely prevented serious injury.
No injuries were reported. Billings Fire confirmed the trailer and its attached propane supply as the origin and catalyst of the blast. Read More... |
A stolen vehicle crashed into a family home on Fourth Street West in Billings on a quiet Thursday morning, leaving the structure severely damaged and two residents shaken.
Liann Reed and her young son were inside when the impact hit — describing the moment as explosive, with her living room unrecognizable within seconds.
Billings Police arrested two suspects, including 32-year-old Redleaf BraidedHair, who faces charges of motor vehicle theft, driving under the influence, and two counts of criminal endangerment.
The home was rendered structurally unsound, and with Montana's winter months closing in, Reed and her boyfriend face urgent pressure to find alternative housing.
The incident reflects a growing concern in Yellowstone County over vehicle theft and impaired driving near residential neighborhoods.
Reed hopes her ordeal sparks awareness — reckless choices behind the wheel don't just damage property, they upend lives. Read More... |
📅 More events, October 20–27 |
|
Downtown Billings is celebrating a long-awaited comeback.
The Babcock Theatre has officially reopened after more than eighteen months of closure, following a spring 2025 ceiling collapse that threatened the future of the beloved nearly 120-year-old venue.
Rather than a quiet end, the crisis sparked a community-wide revival.
Art House Billings — the nonprofit behind the theater — acquired the building from the city for just one dollar and launched a sweeping $1.2 million restoration, funded through insurance, city support, and local fundraising.
The renovations were extensive, delivering a new ceiling, upgraded acoustics, widened balcony aisles, improved lighting, and restored 1935 hardwood floors.
Opening weekend sold out immediately, with generations of families filling the 700-seat hall together.
With a full fall programming slate already planned, organizers say this reopening is meant to be permanent — a reclamation, not just a renovation. Read More... |
 |
🐝 A Little Thank You From The Trailhead Buzz! |
Before we wrap up another week, we just want to say THANK YOU! ❤️
Whether you've been reading The Trailhead Buzz since the beginning or just recently joined us, we're so glad you're here!
Every week, we get to share the people, places, events, and little moments that make Billings such a special place to call home.
And the best part? Getting to share it all with YOU.
So keep exploring, supporting local businesses, cheering on your neighbors, and sharing a little kindness wherever you go.
We'll keep bringing you the Buzz — you keep making Billings a great place to live!
Until next week, stay curious, stay connected, and stay Billings! 🐝💛 |
💡 Answer to Trivia Question: Chlorophyll |