4th of July at Mount Rushmore
Are you wanting to spend 4th of July at Mount Rushmore and want to know everything that there is to do when visiting Mount Rushmore, then make sure to keep reading.
Details of the exact program for 2024 will not be released until closer to the event, but you can expect to see cultural events, live music and the four presidents of Mount Rushmore, walking through the crowds of people, so make to get a shot of them, with the memorial in the background.
We can look back at previous events as each event is quite similar, expect to see cultural performances from local native american people. Find out below whether we can expect to see a firework display at Mount Rushmore this year or not!!
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Does Mount Rushmore do anything for 4th of July?
Mount Rushmore does celebrate the 4th of July, though the celebrations are different every year. Some years there have been firework displays and other years, like 2023 there was not a firework display for the Independence Day celebrations.
Celebrations at Mt Rushmore for 4th of July are held on both the 3rd and 4th July. It is free to attend and no tickets are required to be booked in advance but you will still need to pay the $10 parking fee.
It is recommended to arrive at the car park before 10am as it gets full quickly as many people want to visit and attend the different events occurring at Mount Rushmore to celebrate Independence Day.
4th of July at Mount Rushmore 2023
As details of the program of events happening to celebrate Independence Day are only revealed close to the day it is difficult to know exactly what you can plan on seeing while you are there. Here are some details of what happened in 2023, to give you an idea of what to expect.
On the July 3rd 2023 at Mount Rushmore, there were cultural demonstrations given at the Lakota, Nakota, and Dakota Heritage Village, which is located on the Presidential Trail.
You could also see George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln walking around the park, greeting visitors and being involved in different programs during the day.
In the evening there were also dance performances, live music as well as the lighting of the sculpture and the national anthem.
The 4th of July 2023 also had many of the same events during the day as on the 3rd, with the presidents greeting people and closing with the traditional Mt Rushmore lighting ceremony.
How many people visit Mount Rushmore on 3rd/4th July?
In July 2023, there were over 844,000 visitors to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, with just over 63,000 people visiting over the 4th of the July holiday. On average there are around 20,000 people visiting Mount Rushmore per day in July, though it can be busier at weekends, meaning that on the 4th of July holiday, there was around 31,000 people visiting each day, making it very busy.
There are only 4,200 spaces for cars at Mount Rushmore, which is why it is advised to get there early, so that you are not waiting for a spot to free up.
Will there be fireworks at Mount Rushmore on 4th July 2024
The Governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem has submitted an application for fireworks at Mount Rushmore for 2024, but in the past in 2021, 2022 & 2023 the National Park Service, did deny this application.
There was a firework display held at Mount Rushmore in 2020, but prior to that, no firework display had been held since 2008, so the chances of one happening in 2024 are very slim.
If there is a firework display, it is a spectacular sight to see, and you can expect that many more people than normal will visit the site.
If you can’t make it to Mount Rushmore in July then you might also find these articles useful to plan a trip there:
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