South Dakota will be paying $700,000 for the July 3 fireworks show at Mount Rushmore — nearly double the cost of the last display held six years ago, according to a new state contract.
According to reporting from South Dakota Searchlight, The Department of Tourism signed the agreement April 9 with Pyro Spectaculars, which will produce the fireworks and provide alternative “lighting elements” if environmental conditions make fireworks unsafe. The contract includes partial payments if the show is canceled, increasing the closer it gets to showtime.
Tourism officials say the fireworks generate worldwide media exposure worth millions in free promotion for the state. The National Park Service may cancel the display as late as 7 p.m. on July 3 due to weather or other safety concerns, including the elevated wildfire risk caused by severe drought in parts of Pennington County.
The event, honoring the nation’s 250th birthday, will host 4,800 ticketed attendees, fewer than the 7,500 who attended the 2020 show. Mount Rushmore will be closed to the public that day except for ticket holders.
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