MAINSTREET UPTOWN BUTTE ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 23rd

ANNUAL ICE CARVING CONTEST

for immediate release for more information, contact George Everett
December 10, 2023 at 565-2249 or Corey Gransbery at 529-4795

The chisels and chippers have been put away and ice carvings have emerged on

the streets of Uptown Butte after the 23rd Annual Ice Carving Contest was held on

Saturday, December 9, thanks to several small business ice sponsors.

There are now a Bison, a Mountain Goat, Pinnochio, Trout in the talons of an

eagle, a ball balancing seal, a Christmas cactus, and a duck and a chicken among other

creations decorating Uptown sidewalks.

The judges cast a cold eye and selected the best of the best in four categories --

Grand Prize – Clayton and Connor Heggem “Mountain Goat” at Steele’s Furniture, 800 S.
Wyoming Street (on Utah Ave. side).

Master 1st – Frank Hall “Pinocchio” at Richest Hill Casino, 20 W. Galena St.
Master 2nd – Justin Deshazo “Beta Fish” at Daniel Insurance Agency, 18 W. Galena Street

Adult 1st – Kimberly Garcia/Dani Holt, “Kraken Attack” at Boho Butte, 129 N. Main
Street.
Adult 2nd – Jon Blanchard “Buffalo” at Wein’s Men’s Store, 66 W. Park Street.

Rookie 1st – Ryan Blankenship/Mitch Wycoff, “Trout” at BMY Construction, 50 East

Granite Street.

Rookie 2nd – Carrie Fisher/Scott Powers “Cactus” at Taco del Sol, 146 West Park Street

The 23rd Annual Ice Sculpting Contest is one of several events throughout the

year organized and presented by Mainstreet Uptown Butte, including the Butte Farmers'

Market returning next May and the Montana Folk Festival, returning next July 12-14.

The credit for success of the ice carving contest accrues to master carver and

event coordinator Corey Gransbery of Absolute Zero Design and with the businesses
that sponsor ice blocks each year, and to the talented carvers and judges who

participate. Special thanks are due major sponsors Northwestern Energy and Ziply Fiber.

The contest has distributed more than $2,000 in prizes in the form of Uptown

Bucks and trophies. In all, there are now more than $3,000 in Uptown Bucks in the

hands of shoppers that will soon be appearing in Uptown businesses to be redeemed.

For more information, including images and video of the ice carvings, visit

Facebook at uptownbutte or visit Uptown Butte from Granite Street to Front Street while

they last and see them for yourself.

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