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
Andre Phillips
Mac Wilkins
Karen Sanford Gall
Julie Brown
Parking Map
Montana Mile
The Montana Mile is a race among the fastest milers in Montana! Race is held during the Opening Ceremonies.
The 2025 Montana Mile marks the 34th running for men and the 26th 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 18 at Lockwood High School Stadium in Lockwood. 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.
2025 Montana Mile Male Participants
1. Carson Steckelberg – Bozeman
2. Ase Ackeman – Glendive
3. Levi Taylor – Laurel
4. Wilson Schmidt – Belgrade
5. Jackson Wilson – Billings
6. Chase Drange – Ismay
7. Austin Schellig – Joliet
8. Kye Mcabee – Billings
9. Jackson Duffey – Billings
10. Finn Schretenthaler – Livingston
11. Peyton Summers – Wolf Point
12. Caleb Tomac – Havre
2025 Montana Mile Female Participants
1. Sydney Little Light – Billings
2. Sage Brooks – Missoula
3. Addison Kegel – Billings
4. Ali Keith – Billings
5. Madeline Severson – Manhattan
6. Natalie Hodgekiss – Choteau
7. Karis Brightwings Pease – Billings
8. Cecily Eagleton – Billings
Montana 100 Meter
Watch the fastest sprinters in the state duke it out at Opening Ceremonies for the title of Montana’s Fastest Man and Woman!
2025 Montana 100 Meter Male Participants
1. Elijah Gibson – Billings
2. Tyler Grenier – Livingston
3. Drifter Skillicorn – Polson
4. Ben Ralston – Billings
5. Jaycee Herbert – Billings
6. Zach Merrifield – Butte
7. Ryan LaMere – Billings
8. Dawson Hammond – Malta
9. Oliver Mow – Helena
10. Cohen Allen – Billings
2025 Montana 100 Meter Female Participants
1. Avery Gerdes – Huntley
2. Macy Brandon – Havre
3. Sophia Szollosi – Missoula
4. Emery Peel – Billings
5. Kellan Wahl – Billings
6. Regan Torgerson – Ethridge
7. Kaimea Dalke – Shepherd
8. Demery Boyd – Billings
9. Nora Allen – Billings
Enjoy your favorite local food trucks at the Food Truck Olympics during Opening Ceremonies. Vote for your favorite food truck! Gold, Silver and Bronze medals will be awarded!
Movie in the Park
Outdoor Movie Night is back!!
Big Sky State Games’ annual outdoor movie night is returning for 2025! Saturday, July 19 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 Despicable Me 4, which is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Hope to see you all there!
