Applications for a lottery for people hoping to attend the first fireworks show at Mount Rushmore in a decade — complete with an appearance by President Donald Trump — are now being accepted. But only for a limited time.
The lottery application process is open between now and 9:59 p.m. Monday. Only 7,500 tickets are available.
The celebration will be held from around 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 3 and will include a massive fireworks display and other entertainment.
The National Park Service shut down the fireworks celebration following the 2009 Independence Day.
On Dec. 13, 2018, South Dakota Gov.-elect Kristi Noem raised the idea of the fireworks celebration while meeting with Trump in the Cabinet Room at the White House.
In May 2019, Noem and the Department of Interior announced the fireworks celebration would be back. Trump tweeted his excitement about the return of the event and this May, he announced he would be attending the celebration.
“This year, after more than a year of diligent efforts, we’re finally bringing fireworks back to Mount Rushmore,” Noem said in a news release. “There’s truly no better place to celebrate America’s birthday. We’re excited that President Trump is coming to enjoy the show with us. He and the Department of Interior have been great partners in bringing this celebration back to our great state and the entire nation.”
There will be two zones available for viewing: zone one, which is in the amphitheater area or on the Grand View Terrace and zone two, along HIghway 244 within the Memorial.
For the first zone, visitors may be subject to a health screening. For the second, visitors will need to provide their own seating and viewing may be limited in some areas.
Tickets will be assigned at random. Applicants will be notified on June 12 with the results. Each ticket includes up to six participants.
