Witness a Fourth of July celebration like no other! Watch videos and find out if the Mount Rushmore National Memorial fireworks are happening this year. In a letter, Rhoden publicly invited Trump to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday at Mount Rushmore in 2026. Rhoden wrote that the state intends to hold a celebration that would include fireworks. In 2020, fireworks returned to Mount Rushmore for the first time in a decade due to dry conditions caused by a Pine Beetle infestation. Mount Rushmore National Memorial is an iconic spot to spend Independence Day. Witness a presidential meet and greet the four famous faces as they sign autographs and take part in a press conference, answering your questions. The Air Force Academy Band will play patriotic tunes before the traditional evening lighting ceremony at dusk. Museums and exhibits will be open to explore. Crazy Horse Vance’s visit comes a year before a planned fireworks display at Mount Rushmore that will take place July 3, 2026. The event will be part of an organized celebration commemorating 250 years since the United States gained independence from the British Crown. July 4 th daytime visitors can enjoy the presidential re-enactors, Native performers and culture bearers, musical performances by Miss South Dakota Joelle Simpson and the Heartland of America band, and the traditional Evening Lighting Ceremony. Presidential Re-enactors: Professional actors will portray the four presidents depicted on Mount Rushmore throughout the day. Below are a list of scheduled apperances. They will also be found throughout the site in between their presentations. Presentations in Theater B (Visitor Center) 11:00 - 11:45am - Abraham Lincoln 12:30 - 1:15pm - Theodore Roosevelt 2:00 - 2:45pm - George Washington 3:30 (Seth Tupper – South Dakota Searchlight) – Mount Rushmore will host an Independence Day-themed fireworks display next year, bringing worldwide attention to the national memorial and South Dakota, but also bringing concerns about potential forest fires, water pollution, litter and other problems. South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem on Wednesday again lost her ongoing bid to have her state host a fireworks display at Mount Rushmore National Memorial over the July 4 weekend. Visitors help lift and fold the American flag on Independence Day. Each year on July 3rd and 4th, visitors to Mount Rushmore National Memorial have the opportunity to experience a variety of educational programs, patriotic tributes, and musical entertainment in celebration of Independence Day. Lots of events are happening at Mount Rushmore National Memorial for Independence Day. In addition to fireworks, visitors will have the opportunity to experience a variety of educational Complete list of Independence Day celebrations across South Dakota in 2025. From Mount Rushmore to Sioux Falls, find all Fourth of July parades, fireworks, rodeos, and patriotic events. After announcing the return of fireworks to the historic monument, Governor Larry Rhoden and Secretary Burgum have moved forward in planning. RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) - Fireworks will return once South Dakota's most famous landmark will host a fireworks display for the first time in six years in 2026. The event – planned for July 3, 2026, according to the memorandum – will be a On July 4, daytime visitors can enjoy the presidential re-enactors, Native performers and culture bearers, a musical performance by The Air Force Academy Band, and the traditional Evening Lighting Ceremony. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Gov. Larry Rhoden announced on social media Friday that fireworks would once again appear at Mount Rushmore for the 4th of July. Rhoden’s post said he “just got Special Event Event Independence Day Activities Mount Rushmore National Memorial Mount Rushmore will host an Independence Day-themed fireworks display next year, bringing worldwide attention to the national memorial, but also bringing concerns about potential forest fires, water pollution, litter and other problems. Experience the beauty and patriotism of the Fourth of July in the majestic Black Hills of South Dakota. This iconic region comes alive with a vibrant celebration of America's independence, offering a rich mix of traditional events and outdoor adventures. Whether you're drawn to the festive parades, the opportunity to dine al fresco amidst nature, or the call of the wild trails, the Black Hills A fireworks display will, for the first time in six years, take place at South Dakota's most famous landmark in 2026. PIERRE — Fireworks will return to Mount Rushmore. The office of South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden announced Monday that it has received confirmation from U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum that a pyrotechnics display will be part of festivities in the Black Hills for the country’s 250th Independence Day celebration in 2026.
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