You are here

Home » Special Independence Day Events Planned At Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Special Independence Day Events Planned At Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Share
By Compiled From N... - June 26th, 2023

Mount Rushmore National Memorial/NPS

Visitors to Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota on July 3rd and July 4th will have the opportunity to experience a variety of educational programs, patriotic tributes, and musical entertainment in celebration of Independence Day.

Planned events include presidential re-enactors representing the four presidents on the sculpture: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. The presidential re-enactors will kick-off the park’s celebration on July 3rd at 9:30 a.m. with an in-character news conference in the Carvers’ Marketplace. Visitors are encouraged to bring questions for the presidents to the event.

At scheduled times, the presidential re-enactors will give presentations, sign autographs, and mingle with visitors on the Memorial grounds. Also performing throughout the day will be internationally renowned hoop dancer Jasmine Pickner-Bell, Native flutist and storyteller Sequoia Crosswhite, and Native storyteller Darrell Red Cloud.

July 3rd events will culminate with a special evening program beginning at 7:30 p.m. featuring a hoop dance performance by Jasmine Pickner-Bell and a musical performance by the U.S. Air Force Academy Band from Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Ellsworth Air Force Base Honor Guard will assist the Flag Folding Ceremony and Retreat; Col. Derek Oakley, the 28th Bomb Wing Commander at Ellsworth AFB, will introduce the band; and the Lakota Flag Song will be performed by Darrell Red Cloud.

July 4th daytime visitors can enjoy the presidential re-enactors and Native performers, ranger-led programs, and the traditional Evening Lighting Ceremony.

Visitors wishing to avoid the busiest times are encouraged to visit the park before 10 a.m.

There is no fee to visit the Memorial, however there is a $10 parking fee. Active duty military personnel will park for free and parking for seniors is half price. Keep the parking receipt as it is valid for one year of parking.

For a complete listing of the 2023 Independence Day schedule of events please visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial’s event calendar.

Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.