Opening Ceremonies
Opening Ceremonies
Date
Friday July 18, 2025
Location
Lockwood High School Stadium
1932 US Hwy 87 E, Billings, MT 59101
Admission
Free
Athlete FunZone and Food Truck Olympics kick off at 5:00 p.m. along with the SOAKED RUN, a crazy fun two mile water and bubble filled walk/run. Other festivities include the climbing wall, a free throw contest, family entertainment and games.
The Ceremony officially begins at 7:00pm. The program includes Parade of Athletes (walk in the parade and receive a commemorative State Games gift), fun entertainment and interactive events, and the Men’s and Women’s Montana Mile (fastest milers in Montana), traditional torch lighting, and new this year, the Men’s and Women’s Montana 100 (showcasing the fastest 100m runners in Montana).

2025 Torchlighters
Erin Shean
Duncan Atwood
Willie Banks
Gregg Simmons
Andre Phillips
Adam Nelson
Montana Mile
The Montana Mile is a race among the fastest milers in Montana! Race is held during the Opening Ceremonies.
The 2024 Montana Mile marks the 33nd running for men and the 24th for women. The race is one of the most anticipated events of the Big Sky State Games Opening Ceremonies and is scheduled to take place Friday, July 19 at Wendy’s Field at Daylis Stadium in Billings. The Montana Mile is an invited race featuring some of the state’s fastest high school, college, and post collegiate milers.
The Women’s Montana Mile record is 4:53.9 set in 2011 by Lois Ricardi Keller. Ducan Hamiltion set the Men’s record in 2022 in 4:04.83.
2023 Montana Mile results
Movie in the Park
Outdoor Movie Night is back!!
Big Sky State Games’ annual outdoor movie night is returning for 2024! Saturday, July 20 at dusk (approximately 9:15 pm) in Pioneer Park. This event is sponsored by Firefly Outdoor Movie Company. Come join us for a night of fun and cinema in the park! We will be showing Migration, which is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Hope to see you all there!