Here are the winners of the 2023 Mainstreet Uptown Butte Ice Carving Contest

The following is a release from Mainstreet Uptown Butte with additional photos by Townsquare Media-Butte.

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, Pinocchio, 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 1^st – Ryan Blankenship/Mitch Wycoff - “Trout” at BMY Construction, 50 East Granite Street.

Rookie 2^nd – 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 Mainstreet Uptown Butte on Facebook or visit Uptown Butte from Granite Street to Front Street while they last and see them for yourself.