Gold Discovery Days with full slate returns

Gold Discovery Days kicks off Thursday evening and a full slate of activities are scheduled after last year’s festivities were tempered somewhat due to COVID-19.
The carnival returns to Washington Street between 6th and 8th streets again  and will kick off the weekend’s activities at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 15. It will remain open until 10 p.m.
Things get started Friday with the arts and crafts festival from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Washington Street between 5th and 6th streets. At noon the carnival resumes and runs until 10 p.m.
The Caroline Hatton Flower Show returns after a year’s hiatus and will take place at Custer Senior Center. Entries may be submitted from 9 a.m. to noon, with judging to follow and public viewing from 2-4 p.m.
Also set to return is the Kids’ Gold Nugget Hunt at 5:30 p.m. in the field next to the Custer Area Chamber of Commerce building.
An old race with a new twist takes place at 7 p.m. when the Gold Panner’s Race takes place on Washington Street. The Gold Panner’s Race will replace the bed races and  involve wheelbarrows instead of beds. The concept is the same as bed races, with pushers and a rider, but at the end instead of picking up a watermelon, the rider will have to pan for gold in a kiddie pool filled with sand and water.
At the same time as the Gold Panner’s Race will be “At the Hop: A Potter Family Reunion Drive-In Concert” at Custer Jr./Sr. High School parking lot.
Black Hills Playhouse will offer a production of “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” at 7:30 p.m. and the evening wraps up with the Legends in Light Laser Show at 9 p.m. at Crazy Horse Memorial.
Things start early Saturday, July 17, with the hot air balloon launch, weather permitting, at 5:30 a.m. at Pageant Hill.
The Lion’s Club pancake breakfast returns to Way Park from 6:30-9 a.m. At 8 a.m. and running until 3:30 p.m., Top Pin Archery will host the Tom May Memorial 3-D Shoot. A half hour later the Bob Plaisted Memorial Car Show will take place on Washington Street between 2nd and 4th streets. The show will run until 2 p.m. when awards will be presented. The flower show also resumes Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the senior center.
An all-school reunion with teachers from the past 50 years attending will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m at Mt. Rushmore Brewing Co. It is open to the public with a buffet served. Prices are $10 presale or $15 at the door.
Lineup for the parade will be on Pageant Hill beginning at 8:30 a.m. Participants should enter from 9th Street and check in with the parade organizer. The parade starts at 10 a.m. and the route is 9th Street to Gordon Street, then 8th Street to Mt. Rushmore Road straight until 4th Street through downtown Custer.
Following the parade, Custer Senior Center will host a sloppy Joe lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The arts and crafts festival runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., while the carnival begins at noon and runs until 10 p.m.
The volleyball tournament begins at 1 p.m. Saturday at the sand courts on Washington Street. Prizes will be awarded for first and second place as well as best team name and best dressed. Registration deadline is noon the day of the tournament.
A cornhole tournament with cash prizes will take place at 2 p.m. at Mt. Rushmore Brewing. Registration is at 1:45 p.m.
Another production of “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” will take place at 7:30 p.m. at Black Hills Playhouse and Saturday again concludes with the Legends in Light Show at Crazy Horse Memorial at 9 p.m.
Sunday, July 18, begins with another balloon launch at 5:30 a.m. at Pageant Hill, weather permitting.
From 8 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., Top Pin Archery will again host the Tom May Memorial 3-D Shoot. Also at 8 a.m., the Gold Rush Fun Run and Walk will be held, with registration at 7 a.m. at the Mickelson Trail trailhead at Harbach Park. There is no cost, but donations will benefit the Custer High School cross country team. The youth race for those 10 and under (1K) starts at 7:30 a.m. The race starts at 8 a.m. Walkers have the option of starting between 7-8 a.m.
At 9 a.m. at Way Park, Vineyard of the Black Hills and Crossroads Church will join for a church service. The arts and crafts festival runs from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The carnival runs from noon until 5 p.m.
The annual Walt Thomas Memorial Golf Scramble with teams of four begins at 1 p.m. at Rocky Knolls Golf Course Sunday. Those who would like to play but don’t have four players will be matched with a team. To sign up, contact Rocky Knolls Golf Course.
An old timers baseball game is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the baseball field near Custer High School, and the Black Hills Playhouse will host a 2 p.m. matinee of “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.”
The weekend wraps up with the Legends in Light Laser Show at Crazy Horse Memorial at 9 p.m.
Washington Street will be closed from 2nd to 8th streets, save for a single lane of traffic between Dacotah Bank and 5th street. Washington Street will be partially closed this week in order for the carnival to be set up. It will be closed entirely by Saturday.
The allowing of open containers for beer and mixed drinks will begin Friday at noon and last until midnight that day, resuming the next day at 10 a.m. and running until 7 p.m. Open containers will be allowed from 8th Street to 2nd Street on Washington Street as well as north to the north side of Mt. Rushmore Road from 2nd to 8th streets.
The chamber will provide 16-ounce plastic cups in which drinks must be contained. No bottles or cans of beer are allowed and all alcohol consumed in the open container area must be in event cups. Everyone will be carded and wristbanded to drink in the open container area, regardless of their age. Custer County Sheriff’s Office will monitor the area.

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