Uptown Butte's "Coolest" Event of the Year!


7th Annual Ice Sculpting Contest

Let the Chips Fall Where They May!

The Seventh Annual Uptown Butte Ice Sculpting Contest will be held all day on December 8, 2007. From 9 am to 2:30 pm, ice sculpting teams will chip away at ice blocks (each weighs 340 pounds) on the sidewalks in front of Uptown businesses.

Then, after the ice chips settle, judges will cast a cold eye on the sculptures and rank them in adult and child categories for prizes and bragging rights.

Shoppers can watch the progress throughout the day as ice carvers uncover beautiful sculptures from within 60 to 70 blocks of ice.

Where will the sculptures be located? Check back soon to see where you'll find the ice and the sculptors situated this year.

Interested in taking a crack at a big cube of ice?

We are thrilled to announce that we have an ice supplier much closer to Butte in Twin Bridges this year. Our shipping costs are reduced as are the cost for blocks -- the cost for this year's blocks of ice is $65.

The number of blocks however, are limited this year so we are asking everyone to order your blocks early. We are on a first come, first served basis.

Here is how the breakdown goes for the ice: $35 cost for block of ice and $30 for the sculptor's prize pool. We have two divisions - adult and youth and three team prizes in each division plus a grand prize winner. That is a total of 14 team prizes. Prizes have been $150.00 per team member for grand prize team for a total of $300. $100 per team member of first place teams for a total of $1200, $75 per team member of second place teams for a total of $900. This is a total of $2,400 in payouts.

We are looking for additional ways to thank our sculptors. These folks are willing to work outside, all day, in whatever winter weather conditions the day holds. The only rewards that they get are satisfaction of a job well done, a thank you and hot lunch from their sponsor and a chance at one of our limited prizes. Please help us make our sculptors feel more appreciated. We are taking suggestions, gift certificates or tax-deductible donated prizes. Let Barb Fink know if you are able to help in any additional ways. Her number is 490-8077.

Want to participate? To download an ice sculpting contest entry form, click here.

To download rules for the ice sculpting contest, click here.