The Helena Holiday Cruise began as a simple idea: help Helena families experience the magic of our community’s Christmas lights together, during what would have otherwise been a drab, COVID limited holiday in 2020.

What started as a small, map-based self-guided tour quickly grew into a beloved seasonal tradition. Over the years, HACF expanded the project to include the festive trolley ride with curated routes highlighting the best and brightest displays,

It became a cheerful, community-wide celebration that brought joy to thousands—and raised awareness for the power of local philanthropy along the way.

As the event grew, so did the demand on HACF’s time and infrastructure. At the same time, our board and staff were increasingly focused on our long-term mission work—strengthening nonprofit collaboration, building community resilience, and investing in solutions to Helena’s most pressing challenges, including the growing crisis facing our unhoused neighbors.

Recognizing both realities, HACF made the thoughtful decision to gift the Helena Holiday Cruise to The Last Chance Trolley. Their organization is uniquely equipped to operate community tours—holiday-themed and otherwise—to keep the tradition vibrant and growing. It was a natural fit, and a way to ensure the Cruise remains a treasured community experience.

This transition also allowed HACF to realign our time and resources toward initiatives with the greatest long-term impact. As we prepare to launch the Collective Capacity Cohort: Unhoused Helena, this shift reflects our commitment to building the systems, partnerships, and collaborative capacity needed to address complex issues like housing instability.

By passing the Holiday Cruise into great hands, HACF is able to focus fully on what our community needs most right now—strengthening nonprofits, supporting coordinated action, and inspiring investment in a safe, healthy, and resilient Helena for all.