South Dakota's Mount Rushmore Fireworks Celebration Lottery

The State of South Dakota and the National Park Service are teaming up to bring fireworks to Mount Rushmore National Memorial for an Independence celebration on July 3, 2020. The event includes fireworks displays and other entertainment. Mount Rushmore is a symbol of American freedom and hope for people of all cultures and backgrounds, and its enduring images welcome more than three million visitors a year from across the country and around the world. The surrounding Black Hills, Jewel Cave National Monument, Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, Devils Tower National Monument, and Badlands and Wind Cave National Parks offer a variety of experiences and plenty of recreation opportunities for those visiting any time of year. Visitors wishing to attend are required to obtain tickets in advance through the online lottery. The park closes to general visitation the evening of July 2nd and reopens for ticketed participants only the afternoon of July 3rd. Security screening is required, and there are limitations on items allowed through screening, so allow ample time. Programming is currently scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. and finish about 10 p.m. Mountain Time. All event details are subject to change with little notice. Each ticket covers a group of six people or less and includes one parking space within the Memorial, or shuttle access to and from the event. When applying, declare the total number of participants, up to six per vehicle; those awarded tickets are limited to the number initially declared. Tickets are non-transferable. Tickets are assigned at random for one of two viewing zones — you cannot request a zone. Zone 1 seating is in the amphitheater area or on the Grand View Terrace; all participants may be subject to health screening requirements. Zone 2 viewing is along Highway 244 within the Memorial, where visitors provide their own seating, viewing may be limited in some areas, and participants may be in proximity with multiple visitors for hours. The lottery opens June 5th at 8 a.m. MT and closes June 8th at 9:59 p.m. MT, with only one application per individual. Applicants are notified on June 12th; a successful confirmation indicates the assigned zone and includes the ticket with event details, terms and conditions.