GDD this weekend

More than three full days of family fun are coming up this weekend as the town of Custer celebrates the 99th annual Gold Discovery Days (GDD). Folks from around the region and former Custer residents from all over the country will be in town to participate in the reunions, parade, carnival, arts and crafts festival, gold panner races and many other activities as the summer season hits its high point.
The fun gets underway on Thursday evening as the carnival rides, games and treats open on Washington Street at 5 p.m. Carnival hours are until 10 p.m. Thursday, then 5-10 p.m. Friday, Noon-10 p.m. Saturday and Noon-5 p.m. Sunday.
In preparation for carnival setup, Washington Street from 6th to 8th is closed as of Monday and the portion from 4th to 6th will be closed on Thursday. The street will be closed from 2nd to 4th on Friday for the craft fair and car show. The entire street will be closed from then until Monday.
On Thursday, the Arts & Crafts Festival opens up on Washington Street between 5th and 6th streets by the courthouse at 11 a.m. and runs until 8:30 p.m. The hours for Saturday are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Also starting on Friday the 10th annual Caroline Hatton Judged Flower Show begins at the Senior Center sponsored by the Custer Mile-High Garden Club (CMHGC). The event is named in honor of the late Caroline Hatton, a long-time Custerite, avid gardener, Custer County Master Gardener and a founding member of the CMHGC. It has been said of Hatton, “She was much loved for her guidance and enthusiasm that she shared willingly with family and friends.”
The free, no fee show is open to anyone who wishes to submit an entry. Entries will be accepted Friday from 9 to 11:30 a.m. with judging taking place from noon until 2 p.m. Public viewing is Friday, 2-4 p.m. and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants may pick up their entries between 1 and 2:30 p.m., Saturday.
There are three classes of entries. Class 1 is cut flowers with 25 different lots of cut flowers, Class 2 is floral arrangements with eight various lots and Class 3 is potted plants with eight distinctive lots. Each entry is judged against the flower’s standards, not against the other flowers entered in the same lot.
At the end of the judging, the judge will select the top entry for each of the three classes and prizes will be awarded. Adults and youth are judged separately and blue, red and yellow ribbons will be awarded. There will be a special prize for “Judge’s Choice” as well.
Details about the classes, lots and rules for participation can be acquired at the Custer Library, Custer Senior Center and Jenny’s Floral. Included with the rules are helpful guidelines, such as “stems should be uniform in size, shape and type” and “remove foliage from stems that will be below the water line in the vase or cut flowers.”
Any further questions can be addressed by calling 673-2820 or 673-3812.
For kids, there will be a Gold Nugget Hunt at Harbach Park starting at 5:15 p.m. Friday and the annual Gold Panner’s Race begins at 6 p.m. on Washington Street between 3rd and 4th.
Closing out the Friday events, it’s the classic rock-n-roll of Ivory in concert at Mt. Rushmore Brewing Co. starting at 8 p.m. The band, founded in 1975 with a hand-picked collection of the Black Hills’ best musicians, unwittingly started a legendary concert performance group that attracted top talented rockers from Milwaukee to Denver into its ranks. Ivory’s show is a potpourri of music from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.
The band will be set up outside with a beer garden to enjoy the summer night. The concert is free with donations going to the Custer High School girls basketball team and Custer YMCA.
Saturday’s events begin before daybreak with a Hot Air Balloon Rally (weather permitting) at 5:30 a.m. at Pageant Hill.
You can follow up the balloon launch with a hearty breakfast at the Lion’s Club Pancake Breakfast at Way Park. Serving will be from 6:30 a.m. to 9.
For those who want to learn about modern day gold prospecting opportunities in the area, the Black Hills Gold Prospecting Club will present  demonstrations and hands-on learning at West Dam on the west side of Custer from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and again on Sunday from 9-5.
The annual Tom May Archery Shoot is also scheduled for Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Those interested can call Matt May at 673-1216 for details and directions. The shoot will continue on Sunday starting at 8 a.m. and concluding at 1:30 p.m.
The GDD Car Show gets underway at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and runs through 2 p.m. The cars will be on display on Washington Street between 2nd and 4th.
The highlight of the weekend, the GDD Parade, begins at 10 a.m. Saturday morning. The parade, billed as the largest in the Black Hills, will assemble on Pageant Hill then proceed down 8th Street to Mt. Rushmore Road then head west.
Following the parade, celebrants can enjoy a sloppy joe lunch at the Senior Center beginning at 11 a.m. The cost is $10 per person and serving goes until 1 p.m.
One o’clock is also the time the annual GDD Volleyball Tournament begins at the sand volleyball courts at the corner of 7th and Washington streets by the Chamber of Commerce office. Registration for the tourney begins at noon.
For those looking for a less strenuous competition, the Cornhole Tournament begins at 2 p.m. at Mt. Rushmore Brewing. There is a $20 buy-in.
GDD participants can also stay cool at the pool at no charge. The Custer YMCA is offering a no admission, free swim day Saturday at the city pool on Crook Street. Saturday night, the Custer Beacon is presenting a showcase of live music for a $10 cover.
Sister Moon Band will perform at 6 p.m. followed by Lacy Moon at 7:30 and Camp Comfort at 9 p.m. Food will be served all day long at the Beacon as well.
The Gold Pan Saloon will also present the music of The Sondogs starting at 5 p.m. Saturday.
The celebration continues on Sunday with another hot air balloon launch scheduled for 5:30 a.m. (weather permitting) from Pageant Hill.
Registration for the Gold Rush Fun Run on the Mickelson Trail starts at 7 a.m. with the run starting at 8. It will begin at the chamber office at 615 Washington Street.
An outdoor church service hosted by Vineyard of the Black Hills and Crossroads Church begins at 9 a.m. in Way Park.
On Sunday afternoon the Walt Thomas Memorial Golf Scramble tees off at 1 p.m. at Rocky Knolls Golf Course.
At dusk each night of the celebration, Crazy Horse Memorial will be presenting its Legends in Light Laser Show beginning at approximately 9:30 p.m. and Black Hills Playhouse, which has adopted Custer as its hometown, will be presenting Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical “Cinderella” at the theatre east of town in Custer State Park. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday and reservations are encouraged.