2008 Mount Rushmore Independence Day Celebration

The 2008 Mount Rushmore Independence Day Celebration is scheduled for July 3-4, 2008.
The fireworks display is scheduled for the night of July 3.

Below, see photos and video from previous years' celebrations.

Note: all times are Mountain Daylight Time.

As of May 13, 2008, the events and times listed below are still tentative.
Please check back for changes and updates to this schedule.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

10 a.m. & 1 p.m.	Brulé Xanterra Stage 1
1 & 3 p.m.	Hill City Slickers Greenway Stage
1-2 p.m.	Retro Bill (D.A.R.E. Safety Buddy) Amphitheater
2-3 p.m.	Presidential re-enactors, with Retro Bill as MC Amphitheater
3 p.m.	F-16 Flyover
3 p.m.	Rifle Drill Team Ellsworth Air Force Base Drill Team Amphitheater
3:15-4 p.m.	Retro Bill (D.A.R.E. Safety Buddy) Amphitheater
4:30-5:30 p.m.	The Mitguards Amphitheater
6-6:30 p.m.	The Mitguards Amphitheater
6:55 p.m.	Patriotic Tribute with Robert Moore Amphitheater
7 p.m.	B-52 Bomber Flyover
7 p.m.	Welcome Amphitheater
7:05 p.m.	Flag Folding ceremony Amphitheater
7:15 p.m.	43rd Army Band Lincoln, NE Amphitheater
7:55 p.m.	Introduction of B-1 Bomber Flyover by Col. Vander Hamm Ellsworth Air Force Base, SD Amphitheater
8 p.m.	B-1 Bomber Flyover
8 p.m.	43rd Army Band Lincoln, NE Amphitheater
9 p.m.	Superintendent Baker tribute to honored veterans Amphitheater
9:10 p.m.	Patriotic Tribute with Robert Moore Amphitheater
9:15 p.m.	FIREWORKS (Weather and fire conditions permitting. Postponement date is July 4.)
10 p.m.	Hill City Slickers Greenway Stage

Friday, July 4, 2008

5:30-6:30 p.m.	The Mitguards Amphitheater
7-8:30 p.m.	43rd Army Band Lincoln, NE Amphitheater
9 p.m.	Mount Rushmore National Memorial Evening Program and Lighting Ceremony Amphitheater

Helpful Hints: Due to heavy traffic, limited parking and security checks expected for the July 3 fireworks extravaganza, plan to carpool and arrive early. Continuous entertainment begins at noon, July 3.

Wearing light colored clothing and carrying a small flashlight is recommended. No personal fireworks, barbecue grills or pets will be allowed at Mount Rushmore National Memorial during the event. Call (605) 574-2523 or visit www.nps.gov/moru for updates.

[ back to top ]

A downloadable copy of the schedule will be added here when it becomes available:

2006 Mount Rushmore Independence Day Celebration Photos

Below you'll find high-quality images of July 3, 2006, when the "Shrine of Democracy" was showered in the multicolored glow of pyrotechnical artistry.

Click below to see Mount Rushmore lit up.


103 KB or 838 KB	82 KB or 532 KB	91 KB or 661 KB

2004 Mount Rushmore Independence Day Celebration Video

Fireworks Finale -- 1 minute, 1.9MB

The 2004 fireworks display video has been converted to RealMedia. If you are having difficulty viewing the clip, make sure you have the latest RealOne player installed.

Note: To view the movies without streaming, right click the link and save the file to your hard drive.

[ back to top ]

For more info on Mount Rushmore please visit the following:

Mount Rushmore Homepage (TravelSD.com)

Mount Rushmore National Memorial (National Park Service)