KEYSTONE, S.D. (South Dakota Searchlight) – South Dakota’s contract for a July 3 fireworks show at Mount Rushmore is worth twice as much as the last show six years ago.
The state Department of Tourism entered into a $700,000 contract on April 9 with California-based Pyro Spectaculars to produce the fireworks show, and for “lighting elements that can be utilized if environmental conditions require an alternative to fireworks,” according to the department. The contract includes a sliding scale of partial payments if the fireworks are canceled — the later the cancellation, the higher the payment.
Pyro Spectaculars did not directly respond to Searchlight’s request for detailed information about what visitors can expect from the “lighting elements,” but its website features the company’s work on drone shows.
The funding for this year’s show is from the Department of Tourism’s budget. Department officials have said the fireworks bring worldwide media attention to the state that’s equivalent to millions of dollars’ worth of free advertising.
The contract authorizes a “go/no-go” protocol, “which may be exercised by oral notice at any time” up to 7 p.m. the day of the show by the National Park Service for inclement weather, including rain, high winds or “other conditions” that could endanger visitors or damage the memorial.
One of the risks from fireworks is falling embers sparking wildfires in the forest surrounding the memorial. Parts of Pennington County, where Mount Rushmore is located, are experiencing some of the most extreme drought conditions in the state, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Two recent wildfires in the area burned more than 14,000 acres combined.
The event, officially known as South Dakota’s Freedom 250 Mount Rushmore Fireworks Celebration, in honor of the nation’s 250th birthday, will have 4,800 attendees who won tickets in an online lottery. That’s less than the 7,500 tickets awarded for the 2020 event, which was attended by President Trump. He has been invited to this year’s event but has not committed to attending.
The memorial will be closed July 3 except for visitors with tickets for the event.
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