Annual Buffalo Roundup, arts festival return

Thousands of people will gather to feel the ground shake and watch the stampede of 1,300 buffalo at Custer State Park’s 59th annual Buffalo Roundup this Friday, Sept. 27.
The roundup starts at about 9:30 a.m., but does depend on the cooperation of the bison. Viewers who wish to pick their preferred viewing spot are advised to arrive early, with gates to viewing areas opening at 6:15 a.m. Handicap parking is available and golf carts are available to assist people to the viewing area should they need it.
If arriving by bus or motorcoach, it’s advised to enter on Lame Johnny Road or the south entrance of the Wildlife Loop Road to be guided to a designated parking area.
The roundup lasts until about 11:30 a.m., but leaving the area might require patience as it takes time to get traffic through safely.
There are two viewing areas: one to the north and one to the south. The park advises that it’s best to go to the area closest to where entering from. From the north, viewers will see the bison come at them as they watch from behind a fence before the bison turn into the corrals. From the south, spectators are treated to panoramic views of the bison coming over the prairie hills as they are moved into the corrals. No seating is provided, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chair, layered clothing, binoculars, sunscreen, flashlights, snacks and drinks.
The buffalo roundup takes place each year to manage the park’s herd of bison, one of the largest herds in the world. Management of the herd following the roundup includes  branding, ear tagging, vaccinating of calves as well as weighing and health and pregnancy checks on the mature bison.  
The roundup also allows some of the herd to be sorted out to be sold at auction in November. The park auctions approximately a few hundred bison each year; they may be purchased by the general public to supplement existing herds, to begin new herds or for food. Buyers come from many different states to purchase bison from the park.
Visitors are also welcome to go to the corrals after the bison are safely rounded up to observe park staff work with a portion of the herd and for a close-up look at the  branding, ear-tagging and other management processes.  
A pancake breakfast will be available for purchase beginning at 6:15 a.m. in both viewing areas. After the bison are safely rounded up into the corrals, a buffalo barbecue will also be served at the bison center from around 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The 31st Annual Arts Festival will begin a day before the roundup at 10 a.m. Thursday and will continue through 4 p.m. Saturday. The festival boasts well over 150 vendors and is located across from the Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center.
There are also plenty of activities, educational opportunities and fun to seek out at the festival, starting with a golden buffalo hunt taking place all three days of the festival. Each day, 10 five-inch-tall golden bison toys will be hidden on the festival grounds. Once one is found, it can be turned in to park staff at the big top tent in exchange for a unique prize.
On Friday night at 7 p.m., there will be a hot air balloon night glow, in which hot air balloons will be inflated and lit up but will not ascend into the air, instead staying put for the amusement and enjoyment of spectators. This event is weather-dependent.
There will be a pancake  breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. on Saturday on the arts festival grounds.
The Arts Festival also has a full lineup of live entertainment beginning with some good ol’ country and bluegrass by Stringbean and the Svenson Family from 10 a.m.  to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday.
From noon to 1:30 p.m. a regionally-popular artist, Jalan Crossland, will play American bluegrass, Americana and alternative country music.
At 2 p.m., the Two Tracks will perform their songs about life in the rural west.
Closing out the big tent on Thursday is the Wilt Brothers, who will bring their 20 years of experience and country music to the park.
On Friday, the music picks back up with the Badger Sett Band, which performs the poetry of Custer State Park’s very own poet Badger Clark and sets them to music. This will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
At noon the Lonely Rangers will take to the stage, bringing upbeat Black Hills area acoustic country rock.
From 2-3:30 p.m. will be  Wild Horses, who tap into their rural American roots with music that is Americana personified.
From 4-5 p.m. Custer artists The Kirkhams will take the stage, with Allen and Jill Kirkham performing their traditional Western music. They feature singer-songwriter Allen on vocals, yodels, guitar and mandolin, and Jill on vocals, storyteller, bass and harmonica.
Closing out the day from 5:30 to 7 p.m. will be Greg Hanson and the Backroads with their country toe-tappin’ and partner-swingin’ music.
On Saturday, the music begins with Ted Emmons, whose music will bring a country flair to the roundup.
He will be followed by Kerry Grombacher from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m., who plays guitar and mandolin and writes and performs contemporary folk and Western songs.
From noon to 1:30 p.m., the Ramblin’ Rangers will take to the stage. The duo consists of Bonnie Jo Exton, who plays guitar, banjo and dulcimer and sings harmony, while Brad Exton plays six and 12-string guitar and sings lead vocals. They perform various types of music, such as rock, folk and country.
Quinlan Valdez will close out the festival with his American Folk on guitar and banjo.
A reservation or tickets is  not required for any of the events of the weekend, and for the day of the roundup the park will waive its usual admission fee.
On Sunday Crazy Horse Memorial will host its annual fall volksmarch in conjunction with the roundup, and admission for hikers will be waived with three cans of food per hiker. The American Volkssport Association’s hike fee is $4 (cash or check, no credit cards accepted)  for each participant regardless of age. Regular admission applies to non-hikers or hikers without food.
There is no advance registration. Hikers must check in at the starting point, which is at the memorial’s upper parking area. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. Hikers must register before 1 p.m. and be off the trail by 4 p.m. You can start any time between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.