Uptown Butte

Uptown Butte is going to be busier than usual tomorrow. Lots of things happening including the Montana Tech Homecoming which is a big event in and of itself. Want to be a part of the fun? Here's a little bit of what you can expect.

After last week's convincing win over Central Washington University, Oredigger fans are chomping the bit to get their beloved team back in town and back to work this Saturday. The Orediggers will open conference play against Eastern Oregon at 1pm at Bob Green Field at Alumni Coliseum and Metals Sports Bar and Grill on the corner of Park and Main is back with their first "Kegs and Eggs" party of the young season.

If anything, Matt Boyle likes to dream big. Many of us do. What sets Matt apart, however, is that he chases his dreams. Relentlessly. And he usually catches them. Matt's latest big event was the Butte Food Truck Festival and Block Party held last Saturday on East Galena between Main and Arizona. The festival filled two full blocks with food trucks and vendors on either side of the street with an incredible stage bordering Main Street. And it fed and entertained the masses.

With the arrival of football season and both Naranche Stadium and Bob Green Field at Alumni Colisuem firmly uptown, where is a convenient place to grab a bite before or after the big game? Put down your pom poms and pick up your forks. Here are some of the best places in Butte to get your pregame meal or snack.

It seems like just yesterday we were welcoming back the food vendors, the foam machine, the big stage with Andy Larson and, of course, the big crowds that have been commonplace at Music on Main events every Thursday throughout the summer. And here we are at the final event. But what an event it is going to be. As in years past, Missoula's hot country band ShoDown will be the musical guest and these guys are the closers for a reason. They are one of the top bands in the Northwest and have become a favorite of many here in Butte.

Frank Hall is a champion ice sculptor as his work has been seen and admired for years during and after the annual holiday ice sculpting contest. He paints. He builds. He creates. And his latest creation is one that citizens of Butte and her many visitors will be able to appreciate for years to come. Last week, Frank started and completed a masterpiece Butte mural just off of the corner of Front and Utah Streets.

As the summer comes to a close, the organizers of this summer's Music on Main series of Thursday evening celebrations in Uptown Butte obviously planned on turning up the heat a little bit as the weather cools down. This week it is veteran Butte band F.O.G. on the big stage and anyone who has seen them at previous Music on Main events knows that this is definitely their type of crowd. F.O.G. is Toby Schelin and Dennis Weis on guitars, Mark James on bass and Gary Robinson on drums will all four on vocals. If you're hungry for good food and great music, this Thursday will have both.

Multitalented multi-instrumentalist Ken Rich will be performing Wednesday at Lunch in the Park at Emma Park from 11:30 to 1:30 and you can again expect food trucks, kids activities and a lot of fun.

The 2023 edition of "Rhythm and Brews" at the Original Mineyard was off to possibly its best start in event history. In fact, the party was in full swing, and kids and adults alike were having a great time. And then the storm hit. Saturday evening's freak lightning storm and torrential downpour put an abrupt end to the event just after 5pm. But other than the early end and soaked partygoers, the fundraiser for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Butte was a big success. Here's a look at some of the fun that was had before the clouds opened.

Music on Main is entering its final 3 weeks but things are by no means slowing down. In fact, with the number of food trucks expected tonight along with one of Butte's favorite bands performing, you could say that they are indeed gearing up for a big finish.