For years, tourists would ask Chris Johnson, "Why don't you have something going on downtown around the Fourth of July with all of these great patriotic statues?"

As a Rapid City Downtown Association member, Johnson decided to present the idea of a free, patriotic festival that would showcase the presidential statues. Thus, the annual Festival of Presidents in downtown Rapid City was born.

"It took about three years for the first festival, because it's obviously a big undertaking, and we wanted to impress people," Johnson said. "To celebrate our freedom, we wanted to have free concerts and free entertainment of all kinds to celebrate the freedom that we have. And free, good concerts are expensive."

Now, with more than $70,000 from group and business sponsors and individual donors, the Festival of Presidents is able to draw locals and tourists downtown for two days of live music, food and vendors.

"I would like visitors to see how the town comes out," Johnson said. "Locals should come down so we send visitors home with good stories. It's not every city that you can safely walk downtown in the evening. Let's showcase that."

Johnson said that about 60 percent of attendees are locals and the rest are tourists.

"We want people to become familiar with downtown," Johnson said. "Oftentimes, even local people don't take time to visit the wonderful shops. It's a time for locals to come and rediscover their downtown."

Stan and Nancy Nickoli of Norwalk, Ohio, are in Rapid City with Caravan Tours. They were thrilled that Rapid City was having an event downtown. The Nickolis said that normally there is nothing to do after they eat supper because downtown areas they visit close about 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. Rapid City, however, is providing great, safe evening entertainment.

"The downtowns are dying in a lot of cities, and this brings that back," Nancy Nickoli said. "I love this; it's a very clean, very safe, very neat area. All small towns should have an event like this."

Stan Nickoli is a veteran, and the Nickolis especially enjoyed the patriotic theme of the festival.

"We were just amazed to see the presidential statues," Nancy Nickoli said. "They just make this town. I don't know whose idea it was, but they are to be commended. It will be terrific when they get the rest of them finished."

The downtown atmosphere during the Festival of Presidents is similar to that of European towns, said Astred Andersen, who is visiting Rapid City from Bergen, Norway. Her brother attended South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, and her family came here to reunite with other graduates and attend Fourth of July festivities. Andersen compared the downtown to her hometown's harbor area, where they also sell handcrafts and jewelry, have live music and lots of food.

She said that the special draw of the presidential statues will bring people from great distances. "I've heard of them before, and they are very beautiful," Andersen said. "It's very special, this feeling about the presidents that have been, and the history about that is very strong here. I think it's very important for your young nation to show that history."

Regina Seviea, a 25-year-old from Long Beach, Calif., said she enjoyed how the festival brought all sorts of booths and people together, reminding her of a giant festival at her hometown. She said Rapid City's festival has cool clothes, beautiful jewelry, amazing food, and great live music.

"There is this positive energy here," Seviea said. "This right here uplifts Rapid City. It's amazing how the city is excelling with bringing people downtown. They need to do more events like this."

Coupled with the "Summer Nights on Seventh" every Thursday evening this summer, Johnson said that the goals of Destination Rapid City really capture what Rapid City could and should become: a downtown with a central, plaza-like area where live music, good food and the gathering of people can take place 365 days a year.

"We're so happy to see the 'Summer Nights on Seventh' start up," Johnson said. "We love fanning that flame."