Heart of the Hills gears up for Independence Day

Area residents and visitors can enjoy Independence Day celebrations July 2-3 in the Hill City and Keystone area.

Hill City will once again be hosting a Star Spangled Saturday celebration, an all- day event at various locations in town.

Hill City Senior Citizens will sponsor two meals, a pancake breakfast at the Hill City Center from 7-10 a.m. and a lunch between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Breakfast is $3 for pancakes and coffee, while lunch is $5 for either a sloppy joe or hot dog plus chips and a drink.

“The excitement is palpable. We are so excited to once again celebrate our patriotic pride and welcome our community, friends, family and visitors who are here at this time,” said Hill City Chamber of Commerce director Janet Wetovick-Bily. 

The Star Spangled Parade kicks off down Main Street at 10 a.m. with a flyover by Rushmore Helicopters. Parade entries are still being accepted by the chamber through the week and are needed by noon Friday, June 30.  Military service personnel and veterans are especially encouraged to be a part of the parade, and all businesses and organizations are welcome to participate.

The Hill City Lions Club and Leos will distribute flags and the day’s schedule to parade-goers prior to the parade, and spectators are encouraged to arrive early and have lawn chairs with them  for the parade.

Throughout the day admission to the South Dakota State Railroad Museum will be only $4, with children under 10 admitted for free. Visitors can also check out the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum and truck between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. with free admission to both.

Also the Star Spangled Craft Fair in the Hill City Center parking lot takes place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Right next door, children can enjoy their own special activities at the Boys and Girls Club between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

“This is our third year for Hill City’s Independence Holiday Celebration and we are grateful to everyone who assists—from the planning team and city—to the many businesses, volunteers, the non-profit organizations and those wonderful pie-baking ‘church ladies’  who work so hard to make this a wonderful hometown community event,” Wetovick Bily said. 

“It’s really all about honoring and being proud of our nation, our heroes, our community—and connecting with family and friends.”

The day will wind  down at the Visitor Information Center. The Shrine of Democracy will perform  at 2 p.m., followed by Brent Morris at 2:45 p.m. People can enjoy the free music along with free ice cream and pie between 2-4 p.m.

Various restaurants and bars will host their own Independence Day celebrations throughout the city as well. 

Wetovick-Bily encourages everyone to spend the entire day in Hill City.

“There’s so much to love about Hill City. It’s a great day to support our local businesses—shops, restaurants, businesses, the Star Spangled Craft Fair, along with the hardworking senior citizens at the Hill City Center who are providing a pancake breakfast and lunch this year, and of course, our cool galleries and museums,” she said. “All in all, it’s just a great day to be in Hill City and we can’t wait to see and welcome everyone and share the love of this little town.”

Mount Rushmore National Memorial will hold its Independence Day event July 3. 

Visitors to the memorial will be greeted by actors portraying presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Autographs will also be available. The presidential re-enactors will kick-off the park’s celebration July 3 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.  

All day cultural demonstrations from internationally renowned hoop dancer, Jasmine Pickner-Bell, Native flutist and storyteller, Sequoia Crosswhite, and Native storyteller, Darrell Red Cloud will also take place.

July 3 festivities will cultinmate at  7:30 p.m. with a hoop dance performance by Pickner-Bell and a musical performance by the U.S. Air Force Academy Band from Colorado Springs, Colo. 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. A sculpture lighting will follow at 9:09 p.m.

The memorial will host cultural demonstrations and  presidential performances all day on July 4 as well, with a traditional evening lighting ceremony at 9 p.m.

There are no formal events planned in Keystone although local businesses and restaurants will be open to serve tourists and locals alike.