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Plethora of festivals sure to entertain all
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FarkYou might as well stay close to home this summer. Between downtown Rapid City’s new Summer Nights on Seventh — featuring music, food, arts and family activities every Thursday night from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. — to a host of area festivals, there’s plenty to keep you, your family and your summer guests entertained. Here are a few events to put on your calendar:
Crazy Horse Stampede Rodeo
Dates: Today through Sunday, June 15
Location: Crazy Horse Memorial
Description: The stampede is a one go-round event and one of the few rodeos with both Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association events and Great Plains Indian Rodeo Association events. Rodeo events begin at 2 p.m. daily. Native American artists will be available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and local crafters will be in the cultural center throughout the day. Laser light shows begin each night after dark (about 9:35 p.m.)
Contact: For more information, call 673-4681 or go to www.crazyhorse.org.
Tickets: Daily rodeo admission is $9 for adults and $3.50 for children (under 6 admitted free). Tickets may be purchased at the Crazy Horse main entrance or at the entrance to the rodeo grounds on the day of the rodeo. Crazy Horse Memorial admission is free with rodeo admission.
Wild Bill Hickok Days
Dates: Today through Sunday, June 15
Location: Main Street, Deadwood
Description: Deadwood’s summer kick-off event offers something for everyone, including World Cowboy Fast Draw Championships, gun-spinning exhibitions and Wild West re-enactors throughout town. Also featured are two days of free concerts by Brock Finn (5 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday), Dustin Evans and Good Times (1 p.m. Sunday), The Drew Davis Band (6 p.m. Saturday), Tommy Tutone (7:30 p.m. Saturday) and Lonestar (2:30 p.m. Sunday).
Contact: For more information, go to
www.deadwood.org/DeadwoodEvents/WildBillDays.
Tickets: Free admission
West Boulevard Summer Festival
Dates: Saturday, June 14, 2008 to Sunday, June 15, 2008
Location: Wilson Park, Rapid City
Description: More than 100 craft and food booths, horse-drawn wagon tours of the historic neighborhood, entertainment including cloggers; Gypsy, Black Hills Belly Dance; Middle Eastern-inspired music by Marav; Sugar Free Jazz, Tombstone Shadow and The Boy Band. Sunday will feature Donnie Williams, coffeehouse music by Goetzinger and Friends, Steve Thorpe and Mike Reardon; and DD and the Fayrohs.
Contact: For more information contact, Jane Holeton at 348-9439, or e-mail her at jholeton@rccss.net.
Tickets: Free admission
Solstice Shakedown
Dates: Friday, June 20, and Saturday, June 21
Location: Buffalo Chip Campground
Description: Music, camping, swimming, disc golf, dancing, organic food, sustainable living workshops and much more. The focus of this party is conservation. The lineup of musical performers includes Batteries, Ben Suchy Bandwith, Black Diamond Heavies, Corduroy Vinyl, Gypsyfoot, Heatbox, Jalan Crossland Band, Johnson Family Band, Papa Mali, Solution, Tommy the Silent and Violent Hippie.
Contact: For more information, go to solsticeshakedown.com
Tickets: $15-$30
Old West Fest of the Black Hills
Dates: Saturday, June 21, and Sunday, June 22
Description: Food, entertainment, shootouts, re-enactors.
Location: Custer
Contact: For more information, call 673-2244, 1-800-992-9818 or go to www.custersd.com.
Black Hills Bluegrass Festival
Dates: Friday, June 27, through Sunday, June 29
Location: Mystery Mountain Resort and Campground
Description: The Black Hills Bluegrass Festival started in 1980, and this year’s lineup of talent includes The Special Consensus, Cedar Hill, The Stanleytones, Six Mile Road, Jalan Crossland and Care Country Cloggers. Friday opens with the First Night Performer’s Concert and Reception and informal jams. Saturday will feature workshops from 9 a.m. to noon,, including a workshop for kids from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday afternoon performances begin at 1:30 p.m.; the main stage shows start at 7 p.m. Sunday’s program features a Gospel music show from 10 a.m. to noon with no admission.
Contact: For more information, go to www.thedahl.org/bluegrass_festival
Tickets: Advance tickets are available at the Dahl Arts Center and are $14 for each show, $23 for all day Saturday and $30 for the entire weekend. Tickets at the gate will be $15 for each show, $25 for all day Saturday and $35 for the entire weekend. For reservations at the campground, call 1-800-658-2267 or go to www.mysterymountain.us
South Dakota High School Rodeo Finals
Date: Thursday, June 26, to Sunday, June 29
Location: Black Hills Round-Up Rodeo grounds, Belle Fourche
Description: South Dakota High School Rodeo Finals
Contact: For more information, contact Teresa Schanzenbach at 892-2676 or go to www.bellefourchechamber.com.
Festival of Presidents
Dates: Friday, June 27, and Saturday, June 28
Location: downtown Rapid City, at Sixth and Main
Description: Free live music Friday and Saturday night. Saturday events also include a parade, arts and crafts, kids’ entertainment and a scavenger hunt.
Contact: For more information, contact Chris Johnson at 355-0505 or e-mail rcadmin@rapidcitydowntown.com.
Tickets: Free admission
Main Street Arts and Crafts Festival
Dates: Friday, June 27, to Sunday, June 29
Location: Centennial Park, Hot Springs
Description: One of the longest-running arts and crafts gathering in the Black Hills requires that all vendors sell handmade arts and crafts and encourages the artist themselves sell their wares. Entertainment includes Sid Phelps, Wilson and McGee from Colorado and other local entertainers. There also will be craft demonstrations.
Contact: For more information, contact Gerald Collogan at 745-3684
Tickets: Free admission
Black Hills Heritage Festival
Dates: Thursday, July 3, to Sunday, July 6
Location: Memorial Park, Rapid City
Description: This will be the 24th year of the Heritage Festival and will feature the Heritage Stage, children’s tent, traditional children’s powwow, folk and fine art exhibits as well as the Main Stage and Acoustic Stage. Entertainment all spread out along the winding sidewalks of Memorial Park. Booths and concessions from local artisans and businesses, as well as traveling exhibitions and food vendors all culminate to create a festival atmosphere. The fireworks date and time will be announced.
Contact: For more information, contact Steve Dary or Dan McElroy at 209-4339, or go to www.blackhillsheritagefest@yahoo.com.
Tickets: Free admission
Old Time Country Fair
Dates: Friday, July 4, to Sunday, July 6
Location: Custer County Museum, Custer
Description: Held on the grounds of the museum, this event features handmade items for sale, pie-baking contests, a Fourth of July children’s parade, entertainment stage, demonstrations in historic arts and crafts, book signings and children’s activities. Interested vendors may call or e-mail the museum office.
Contact: For more information, call 673-2443, 1-800-992-9818, e-mail events@1881courthousemuseum.com or go to www.custersd.com.
Tickets: Free admission
Annual Celebration and South Dakota Rodeo Association Rodeo
Dates: Wednesday, July 9, to Saturday, July 12
Location: Rodeo grounds and downtown, Wall
Description: Events include bull riding, team roping, miniature wild horse races, dances, 5K Relay for Life, food and fun.
Contact: For more information, call Carla Seybold of the Wall Chamber of Commerce at 279-2665, 1-888-852-9255 or go to www.wall-badlands.com.
Tickets: Prices vary depending on event
Hills Alive music festival
Dates: Saturday, July 19, and Sunday, July 20
Location: Memorial Park, Rapid City
Description: This annual Christian rock concert and festival in Memorial Park started in 1985 just outside of Rapid City. In 1988, the festival moved to Spearfish City Park and was there for 10 years, moving to Memorial Park in 1998. This year’s performers include Switchfoot, Toby Mac, Mandisa, Superchick, Matthew West, Tree 63, Angel Dean, Brandon Heath, Building 429, Fireflight, Flatfoot56, Group 1 Crew and Wavorly. The second stage, known as the Rapid Fire Stage, will include some of these acts as well as Lightswitch, Kronicles, Rex Lex, Jaymay and Sound Method.
Contact: For more information, contact Tom Shoenstedt at 342-4694, e-mail hillsalive@hillsalive.com or go to www.hillsalive.com.
Tickets: Freewill donations will be taken
86th Annual Days of ‘76
Dates: Tuesday, July 22, to Sunday, July 27
Location: Deadwood
Description: The Days of ‘76 Rodeo has been named the PRCA Small Outdoor Rodeo of the Year four times and was named PRCA Midsize Rodeo of the Year for 2004, 2005, 2006 and again in 2007. The Days of ‘76 was also named the 2007 Badlands Circuit Rodeo of the Year.
Contact: For more information, go to www.daysof76.com.
Tickets: For rodeo tickets, call Black Hills Central Reservations at 1-888-838-BULL.
RiverFest and Crazy Days
Dates: Thursday, July 24, and Friday, July 25
Location: Belle Fourche
Contact: For more information, contact Teresa Schanzenbach at 892-2676 or visit www.bellefourchechamber.com.
Black Hills Square and Round Dance Festival
Dates: Friday, July 25, and Saturday, July 26
Times: 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Location: Minneluzahan Senior Center, Rapid City
Description: An annual festival celebrating square and round dancing.
Contact: For more information, call John Velcheck at 394-1887.
Gold Discovery Days
Dates: Friday, July 25, to Sunday, July 27
Location: Custer
Description: Parades, bed races and an old-time craft fair
Contact: For more information, call 673-2244, 1-800-992-9818 or go to www.custersd.com.
Cruisin’ Classic Rally
Dates: Thursday, July 31, to Sunday, Aug. 10
Location: Custer
Contact: For more information, call 673-2244, 1-800-992-9818 or go to www.custersd.com.
Sturgis motorcycle rally
Dates: Friday, Aug. 1, to Saturday, Aug. 9
Location: Sturgis and surrounding area
Description: The 68th annual motorcycle rally has attracted around 500,000 people to the region in past years. Events surrounding the rally will be happening throughout the region, including contests, concerts, races and rides. Performers include Alice Cooper, Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kenny Chesney, ZZ Top, Sugarland, Dierks Bentely, Staind, Foghat, Guess Who, Kory and the Fireflies, Blind Melon, Kiss, Saliva, Three Doors Down, Finger Eleven, Puddle of Mud, Kelly Pickler.
Contact: For more information, go to www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com.
Tickets: Prices vary depending on events
Central State Fair & Rodeo
Dates: Friday, Aug. 15, to Sunday, Aug. 24
Location: Central States Fairgrounds
Description: The Central States Fair and Rodeo events include a carnival, free stage entertainment, Coors and German tents, PRCA Range Days Rodeo and grandstand events, including truck and tractor pull, demolition derby, Joe Nichols, Miranda Lambert, Honky-Tonk Tailgate Party and Jason Aldean.
Contact: For more information, 355-3861 or go to www.centralstatesfair.com.
Tickets: Prices vary depending on events
Butte and Lawrence County Fair
Dates: Wednesday, Aug 13, to Sunday, Aug. 17
Location: Nisland Fairgrounds, two miles south of Nisland
Contact: For more information, call the County Extension Office at 892-3371
Kool Deadwood Nites
Dates: Aug. 21-24
Location: Deadwood
Description: Event headliners include Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone, Bay City Rollers featuring Ian Mitchell and Bo Donaldson of The Heywoods.
Contact: For more information, go to www.deadwood.org.
Sturgis Mustang Rally
Dates: Thursday, Aug. 28, to Monday, Sept. 1
Location: Sturgis Armory
Description: Premier Mustang Rally includes opening reception, poker run, pub crawl, show and shine, swap meet, kids pedal car events.
Contact: For more information, call 347-1880 or go to www.sturgismustangrally.com.
Tickets: $65 single/$35 additional adult, 15 years old and younger are free
Dakota Celtic Festival and Highland Games
Dates: Friday, Aug. 29, and Saturday, Aug. 30
Location: Memorial Park, Rapid City
Description: Music, dance and athletics highlighting the Celtic heritage, sponsored by The Scottish and Irish Society of the Black Hills
Contact: For more information, go to www.blackhillscelticevents.org or www.dakotaclans.com.
Tickets: Free admission
Brenda Christopherson of Gillette, Wyo., throws her arms up in praise as she sings along with two-time Grammy nominee Sarah Kelly at last summer’s Hills Alive Christian music festival. This year’s festival is set for July 19-20. (Journal file photo by Seth A. McConnell)
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