An Ri Ra

I was not even a full year in my career with this Butte group of radio stations when the panic button was firmly pressed in our GM's office. It was 2003 and the group in charge of funding the annual 3rd of July Fireworks Show was out of money. There were not funds to cover that summer's upcoming fireworks show on the 3rd of July. It was that day, I believe, that we went on-air and started collecting donations from listeners. Soon local businesses joined in and started challenges with other local businesses in their respective fields. Donations and momentum continued to grow until the final day of the donation drive where we teamed up with our radio friends down the street from the Butte Broadcasting Group and did a citywide bucket drive on the corner of Harrison and Dewey live on all of Butte's local commercial radio stations and wound up getting enough donations to fund the fireworks show for not only that year but for the next three years. After that, Brooks Hanna Ford picked up the bill for a few years. And since then, Town Pump has been the sole sponsor of the annual 3rd of July Fireworks Show

Butte has proven itself as a destination city. The Butte Tourism Improvement District wants to not only support these big events that are already happening but to possible assist with funding for events that may be still in the planning stages. Are you part of an event or business that brings people to town and puts guests in hotel rooms? There may be money available for you. They are accepting grant applications right now but the deadline to apply is this Friday, June 28th at 5pm. Find out more here or call (406) 723-3177.

The An Ri Ra Montana Irish Festival is coming up on a milestone this summer. The weekend of August 9th through the 11th will be the festival's 20th year in the Mining City and organizers are expecting the best festival to date. In February, organizers announced the headlining performers for this years festival at the Original Mineyard and attendees are in for a treat as The Elders, Altan, The Spain Brothers and the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance will be this year's headliners.

If you're part of an event here in town that draws a crowd or if you're still in the planning stages, the Butte Tourism Improvement District has grant money available and the application deadline has been extended to 5pm this Thursday, February 15. Hard copies will be accepted at the Butte Chamber of Commerce at 1000 George Street.

We're all well aware that Butte is its own unique town in terms of history, demographics and attitude. But Butte is also sometimes a bit behind the state when it comes to the arrival of Spring. Here are a few signs that Spring, indeed, may have arrived for good

Once again, the streets of Uptown Butte will be hopping with music and festival-goers.  This time, the An Ri Ra Irish Festival makes it's return to town after a 2-year Covid-related hiatus and Butte is more than ready.  Over the past week, crews have been busy preparing and assembling the Original Mineyard's stage area and commons for music, dance and displays, while city crews have been busy deco