City, chamber gear up for July 4

The City of Custer’s July 4 celebration is nearing, and locals and visitors can spend the holiday enjoying a veterans’ tribute street dance, children’s fair, flag ceremonies, parades and fireworks.
On July 4 at 10 a.m. the   Kids’ Parade will begin, followed by the Patriots’ Parade in downtown Custer. The parades will be kicked off with a B-1 Flyover.
There will be flag lowering and raising ceremonies following the parade at 11 am at the Veterans Memorial at the intersection of Washington & 5th streets.
The Children’s Fair at Way Park, which is free and open to the public, is July 4-5 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be bouncy houses, face painting and more.
The Old Time Country Fair at the 1881 Courthouse Museum is July 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be over 16 vendors, an ice cream social, kids’ games,  Pegie Douglas – Badger Clark & Country Music, author Connie McKinney “Wildflowers of the Black Hills” and a gold panning demo by the Black Hills Prospecting Club.
On July 5 the event begins again at 10 a.m. and will feature author Linda Hasselstrom and Western music by Allen and Jill Kirkham as well as Doc Kuchar – storyteller and medicine man.
The veterans’ tribute street dance (featuring Midnight Sun) is July 4 from 6–11 p.m. in front of the Veterans Memorial on Washington and 5th streets.
The weekend concludes with the free fireworks display at around 9:30 p.m. The fireworks will once again happen at Pageant Hill, and new this year, the Custer Area Chamber of Commerce will be in charge of the show, with the Custer Volunteer Fire Department stepping aside.
“The chamber is super excited to take over all aspects of the annual July 4 fireworks display,” chamber director Dawn Murray said.
Murray said the move is an effort to alleviate the financial burden and stress on the fire department and allow it to focus on responding to emergencies.
“We truly value and  appreciate the Custer Volunteer Fire Department and the critical role they play in protecting our community,” Murray said. “The chamber feels a strong repsonsbility to keep the Fourth of July fireworks tradition alive. It’s something the community looks forward to each year.”
Continued donations for the fireworks show are appreciated. Those interested can make a donation by putting money in the Fireworks savings account at Dacotah Bank, stopping by the chamber office, or online via QR code.