Honestly, we had higher hopes for this new category. Nothing against
Monte, he of all the credit card-sponsored “Mascot of the Year” awards, but we were expecting someone a little more gritty, eccentric, authentic or, you know, real. We didn’t expect the “character” to be of the cartoon variety. What about the Ubiquitous Dancing Couple? Or the Couple that Sells Incense? Maybe Pete the Pie Guy? Pat Williams would’ve been an inspired choice. Maybe next year. In the meantime, Monte’s earned a victory lap and a celebratory jump into a goalpost.
Finalists, Best Missoula Character
2. Dancing Couple
3. John Engen