Annual Burning Beetle set for Saturday

It’s that time of year again, where the phrase “Burn, Beetle, Burn!” can be heard in the air — Burning Beetle. This year’s Burning Beetle will be held Saturday, Jan. 18, and is packed full of fun, art, education and community spirit.
Thirteen years ago Burning Beetle was created to help the Custer community and the Black Hills come to grips with a beetle pandemic. While this is the 13th year of celebrating the event, this is the 12th year the beetle effigy has been annually torched.
“When the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic hit our forest, the initial response from the community was one of disbelief, anger and depression,” said Hank Fridell, organizer of the event. “We were losing our sacred forest and people were upset. The Black Hills were changing.”
The community of Custer — residents, forestry experts, legislators and everyone in between — came together to do what they could to protect forests and properties.
“From there, we decided to celebrate who we are and where we live,” Fridell added.
Prior to the big burning day, a second-annual educational forum will be held, “Living in Community in Our Forested Environment.” This panel will be held Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Pine Room from 6:30-8 p.m. and features several experts talking about the 2024 fire season, preparing your home and property against fire, microclimates in the Black Hills and forest insects and diseases.
“We are getting lots of folks moving to the Custer area and everyone wants to have a house in the woods, it seems,” Fridell said. “It is a beautiful place to live, but you need to know about fire, insects, having the Forest Service as a neighbor, roads, ATVs running around everywhere, septic systems, wells, wildlife—and more. You need to be a good steward of the land and a good neighbor.”
Fridell said he and the Bark Beetle Blues committee hope Custer residents and landowners who have questions about living in the forest will show up and get their questions answered.
On Saturday, Jan. 18, festivities begin at 3:30 p.m. with the popular variety show held at Custer Jr./Sr. High School. The show boasts a bevy of talent from across the Black Hills and is a donation-based entry. Some of the performers include the Trailbusters, Pegie Douglas, Cory Tomovick, Jeff Kingsbury of the Black Hills Playhouse, the dancers of Lo-Ru West Dance Studio, and Jered the Juggler. Jami Lynn is this year’s event headline performer and Jessie Hartpence will be performing a tribute in memory to Steve Thorpe, a long time performer and supporter of Burning Beetle.
Prior to the show, there will be the chance to purchase 2025 Burning Beetle memorabilia, including sweatshirts and torch tickets. There is a limited number of tickets; the cost for a ticket is $25.
After the variety show, revelers who have torch bearer tickets — and even those who just want to march with the group — will meet at the Custer Jr./Sr. High School parking lot at 5 p.m. Around 5:15 p.m., the group will march to Pageant Hill to burn the beetle. Joining in the march will be drummers from Custer High School band, as well as large puppets created by the Butterfly Puppet Theatre.
The torch marchers will set fire to the beetle around 5:30 p.m. and a fireworks display will be provided by the Custer Volunteer Fire Department. Times do vary, so it is best to plan to be at Pageant Hill around 5 p.m. if you plan to watch the march and burning.
The night will end with the Bug Crawl, a pub crawl in downtown Custer. This year’s official Bug Crawl venues include the Custer Beacon, the Custer Wolf and the Gold Pan Saloon. South Dakota Outdoor Shop will host a pre-burn 3-6 p.m.
For more information, contact Fridell at hank
fridell@gmail.com or (605) 440-1405 or Carrie Moore at carrieowns@gmail.com.

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