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Black Hills Symphony to substitue for Fireworks at Mt. Rushmore

Full schedule of events planned at the memorial

KEYSTONE, SD(6/23/10) -- The 2010 Independence Day celebration at Mount Rushmore National Memorial will be anchored by a Black Hills Symphony Orchestra concert, fly-overs by US Air Force B1 bombers and ceremonies honoring U.S. military veterans. The traditional fireworks spectacular at Mount Rushmore has been suspended for the 2010 Independence Day celebration this summer because pine-killing insects have created a high risk for wildfire in the Black Hills. The popular aerial fireworks have become the summer's biggest patriotic event at the national park. Nonetheless, officials expect more than 25,000 people to visit America's Shrine to Democracy each day during the three-day weekend.

A full venue of holiday activities and programs is planned for both July 3 and July 4 at the Memorial. Events start at 9 a.m. on Saturday. July 3, with stage performances by folk dancers, Native American musicians and hoop dancers, ranger talks and Presidential reenactors who will circulate among visitors.

Amphitheatre events begin at 4:30 p.m. with a welcome from the park superintendent; Junior Ranger swearing-in; a B1-B Lancer bomber flyover at 5 p.m.; Veteran's recognition ceremony at 7:25 p.m.; another fly-over at 8 p.m.; Black Hills Symphony concert at 8:15 p.m.; and the sculpture lighting ceremony at 9:15 p.m.

On Sunday, July 4, events begin at 10:15 a.m. Included are children's entertainment, Native American music, presidential re-enactors and the evening lighting program at 9 p.m. The sculpture lighting includes a ranger talk and a patriotic film. Then, to the strains of the Star Spangled Banner, huge banks of floodlights illuminate The Faces against the starry Dakota sky. Many in the audience are often moved to tears of pride.

For fireworks during an Independence Day vacation, nearly a dozen aerial fireworks displays are scheduled in Black Hills communities on the nights of July 2-3-4. For more info, visit www.blackhillsbadlands.com

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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Bill Honerkamp
(605) 355-3600