The National Park Service has announced that fireworks will return to Mount Rushmore for this year’s Independence Day celebration, marking the first time the display will take place at the national memorial in five years, as reported [1] by The Gateway Pundit.
According to the National Park Service, the fireworks display will be part of the country’s celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
The event is scheduled to take place on Friday, July 3, at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota.
Fireworks to return to Mount Rushmore for America’s 250th anniversary celebrationhttps://t.co/kJKxc9lIdc [2]
— RSBN (@RSBNetwork) March 10, 2026 [3]
Officials said the return of fireworks comes after several years without the display at the landmark.
Tickets for the event will be made available to the public through a lottery system. The National Park Service said the lottery will run from April 8 through April 12, giving members of the public a chance to attend the celebration in person.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial has long served as a focal point for patriotic celebrations tied to Independence Day.
The monument features the carved faces of four U.S. presidents—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln—who played major roles in the nation’s founding, expansion, and preservation.
The National Park Service said the fireworks display will highlight the Independence Day commemorations taking place at the historic site.
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Dr. Jenifer Chatfield said federal officials are working with state leaders to bring the event back.
“In partnership with the State of South Dakota, we are excited to reinstate a spectacular fireworks show as the highlight of Mount Rushmore’s Independence Day commemoration,” Chatfield said.
“We invite the public to enjoy the show and reflect on our nation’s remarkable journey and the great patriotic leaders who established, preserved, and expanded our country’s destiny.”
South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden also welcomed the announcement and emphasized the significance of the event during the country’s anniversary celebration.
“In just a few short months, our nation will throw the biggest birthday party ever for the United States of America,” Rhoden said.
“South Dakota is the freest state in a nation founded on the principles of freedom, so it is only fitting to celebrate in our backyard. We look forward to celebrating at the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial!”
The return of fireworks at Mount Rushmore follows several years during which the display did not take place.
The Biden administration previously declined requests to hold fireworks displays at the site for multiple years. Reports indicated that fireworks at the memorial were blocked for three consecutive years.
National Park Service rejects request for July 4 fireworks at Mount Rushmore https://t.co/vWL3JJxsu7 [4] pic.twitter.com/yc4LiB5xm6 [5]
— The Hill (@thehill) March 13, 2021 [6]
Mount Rushmore’s Independence Day celebration has historically drawn large crowds and national attention.
When the fireworks display has been held in previous years, thousands of spectators gathered near the memorial to watch the event.
The announcement comes as the country prepares to mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Communities across the United States are expected to hold major events recognizing the milestone.
Officials say the Mount Rushmore fireworks display will be one of the high-profile celebrations connected to the anniversary.
The National Park Service said more information about the event will be released ahead of the July celebration, including details on attendance and logistics for those who win tickets through the lottery.
For many Americans, the return of fireworks to the Mount Rushmore celebration marks the revival of a traditional Independence Day event at one of the country’s most recognizable national landmarks.