SPEARFISH - Danelle Pierce said attending the Spearfish Festival in the Park is a longtime family tradition.

"I wasn't allowed to come until I turned 18. It was 'ladies only,' but all the mothers and aunties have been coming here for years."

Saturday found Pierce, of Trenton, N.D., at the park enjoying the sunshine with her children, Bailee and Maddox. Also in the group were Mindy Schumacher and her children Quentin and Chason, and their auntie, Flora Weber. The young moms decided to bring the kids along this year and spend more time taking in the Hills.

The festival was another reason "to play" in Spearfish for the Stedman family of Gillette, Wyo.

"We love it every time we come here," Damien Stedman said. "We even come here in the middle of the winter when it's nice outside."

The Devine family from Rapid City, like so many others, found time during the festival for a dip in the cool water of Spearfish Creek. Chris Devine helped his daughter Cierra walk through the stream and step up some large rocks in the middle.

"It's just a fun trip," he said. "We try to get up here every year. This is the coolest the weather has ever been. It's nice today."

Faye McDaniel and her sons Caden and Gavin were enjoying corn on the cob at a picnic table. Her husband stood nearby, eating his corn and avoiding butter drips.

The McDaniels, who live in Chandler, Ariz., are in the area visiting relatives. Faye grew up in Rapid City and attended Black Hills State University. Her husband graduated from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. The family moved to Arizona when he accepted a job with Intel.

There are no similar festivals where the McDaniels live.

"Mostly I think it's just too hot there," Faye said.

"In South Dakota, it's a lot different," Caden said. "Here, if it's maybe 80 degrees, it's 110 degrees in Arizona."

The boys were thoroughly enjoying themselves. Their favorite festival things were the pottery, art and personalized signs. Their favorite sign: "Beware of crazy woman with shotgun."