Opening Ceremonies


Opening Ceremonies

Date

Friday July 14, 2023

Location

Wendy's Field at Daylis Stadium
401 Grand Ave
Billings, MT 59102

Admission:

Free

Festivities kick off with SOAKED, a crazy fun two mile water walk/run through and around Pioneer Park. Other festivities include the Soaked Run, climbing wall, family entertainment and games, food trucks, Parade of Athletes, Montana Mile, and Torch Lighting. Admission is free for all ages. It's truly a night for the whole family!

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), and traditional torch lighting by an Olympic athlete.



2023 Torchlighters

Andre Phillips, Hurdles: Olympian, Gold Medal 1988 1985 World Cup Champion 1985 USATF Outdoor Champion 1981 NCAA Champion 2009 USATF Hall of Fame.

Erin Shean, High Jump: 2000 Olympian, four-time World Championship Finalist, Pan American Bronze Medalist. Shean also participated on the US Women's National Volleyball team and is a 7-time All-American competing in both sports for the Texas Longhorns.

Duncan Atwood, Javelin: 1980, 1984 Olympian, two-time winner of the Pan American Games 1979, 1987, World Cup Finalist and a one-time World Championship Finalist. He was a clinician at the Ironwood Throws Camp and currently is the assistant coach for Pacific Lutheran University.

Scott Huffman, Pole Vault: 1996 Olympian, two-time World Championship Finalist, three-time US National Champion. He competed at the University of Kansas. Huffman held the American pole vault record of 19’ 7” from 1994-2006. He is often most known for his vaulting technique, called the “Huffman Roll”.

Tripp Piperi, Shot Put: A promising Olympian prospect, two-time NCAA Champion and World Champion Finalist. He is a University of Texas alumni and now competes professionally for team USA.



Soaked Run

Want to stay cool during one of the hottest days of the summer? Come join us in a non-timed two mile crazy fun water walk/run around and through Pioneer Park. All ages, slow or fast, are encouraged to participate. Be prepared to run through foam stations, slip and slide down the hill, jump through sprinklers, and dodge water guns in the this fun filled race


Event Sponsored By:

Date

Friday July 14, 2022

Time

Select your wave time in registration
  • 5:15 pm
  • 5:30 pm
  • 5:45 pm
  • 6:00 pm
  • 6:15 pm

  • Location

    Starting Line: 3rd St W & Parkhill
    (On the Slide)

    Finish Line: Wendy's Daylis Stadium

    Register Online

    Entry Fee:

    Early Registration (until July 1):Ages 6 & under: $20
    Ages 7 - 14: $25
    Ages 15 & up $30
    Late Registration (July 2 - June 14):Ages 6 & under: $25
    Ages 7 - 14: $30
    Ages 15 & up $35
    PROCESSING FEES: $2.95 + 3% added at checkout • or $5/paper registration
    Registration available at t-shirt pickup

    Deadlines

    Online Registration Deadline: July 12
    Guaranteed T-Shirt Deadline: July 1


    View Sport Information   View Soaked Course

    T-Shirt Pickup:

    Thursday July, 13
    Time: 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
    Transwestern Building #2. Second Floor
    490 N. 31st St.
    Local participants encouraged to pickup during this time>

    Friday July, 14
    Time: 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm
    Southeast corner of Pioneer Park by tennis courts.
    FOR MORE INFORMATION

    For more information, please feel free to Contact Us.


    Photos

    Event Photos

    Click the button below to view photos of the event.

    View Photos


    Local Accommodations

    Welcome to Billings, Montana

    Participants are responsible for securing their own lodging arrangements. The Big Sky State Games encourages all participants to make arrangements early. The hotels and campgrounds listed below support and contribute to the Big Sky State Games. Please contact them for your Big Sky State Games lodging. Ask for the BSSG Rate.

    Major Sponsors / Sports Sponsors

    KOA Kampground

    Major Sponsor
    547 Garden Ave.
    Billings, MT 59101
    406-252-3104

    Billings Hotel and Convention Center

    Use Code: 7967
    Group Rate: $109 per night

    Sport Sponsor
    1223 Mullowney Lane
    Billings, MT 59101
    406-248-7151


    Boothill Inn

    Sport Sponsor

    242 East Airport Rd.
    Billings, MT 59105
    406-245-2000
    1-866-266-8445


    Montana Mile


    2022 Montana Mile results

    Men's Race Results

    Women's Race Results

    Presented By:

    About Montana Mile

    The Montana Mile is a race among the fastest milers in Montana! Race is held during the Opening Ceremonies.

    The 2023 Montana Mile marks the 32nd 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 14 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.



    Movie in the Park

    Outdoor Movie Night is back!!

    Big Sky State Games' annual outdoor movie night is returning for 2023! Saturday, July 15 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 Space Jam: A New Legacy, which is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Hope to see you all there!

    More About Firefly