About the Business
The Wilma is Missoula's largest live music and event venue, a 1,500-capacity theater built in 1921 in the heart of downtown along the Clark Fork River. William "Billy" Simons built it and named it for his wife, opera singer Edna Wilma; the eight-story, steel-framed building was the city's first high-rise and remains on the National Register of Historic Places. After decades as a movie house, the Wilma returned to live entertainment in the 1980s and underwent a major renovation in 2015 under new ownership, which restored the historic interior while adding new bar areas, updated infrastructure, and a sound system regarded as among the best in the western United States for a venue its size. That renovation also created Logjam Presents, the regional promotion company that now books and operates the Wilma alongside Missoula's Top Hat Lounge. The venue hosts national touring musicians, comedians, plays, and community events, and has served as the flagship venue for the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival since 2005, drawing filmmakers and roughly 20,000 attendees to downtown Missoula each February. Reviewers consistently praise the room's acoustics, staff, and restored architecture, with occasional complaints about crowd volume and sound levels at louder shows.
Services Offered
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you park for The Wilma?+
The Wilma is downtown, so most visitors use nearby street parking or downtown public parking. For many evening shows, Logjam notes that most downtown Missoula parking is free after 5 p.m., but it is still smart to check signs and arrive early for popular events
What is the bag policy at The Wilma?+
Bag rules can vary by event, but Logjam’s event guidance has noted that small handbags and purses may be allowed and subject to search, while large bags are not recommended. The safest move is to check the specific event page before heading downtown
Does The Wilma allow re-entry?+
No. The Wilma has a no re-entry policy. Once you leave the venue, you cannot come back in for that event, so plan ahead before entering.
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