Gold Discovery Days returns this weekend

One hundred and fifty years ago, Horatio N. Ross, a prospector along with George A. Custer’s Black Hills expedition pulled the first confirmed shining bits of gold in the Black Hills from French Creek, just a few miles from the present town of Custer. In 1923 Gold Discovery Days was born to commemorate that discovery, and each year since Custerites have celebrated along with visitors from all over the country.
This year’s 101st Gold Discovery Days comes with a variety of events sure to delight folks of all ages. The lineup includes old traditions like the Gold Discovery Days Parade or Kids’ Gold Nugget Hunt as well as new events, such as a special commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Black Hills expedition.
The fun-filled weekend starts on Thursday night with the start of the carnival, located on Washington Street from Sixth to Eighth Street. On Thursday and Friday, the carnival runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. On Saturday, the carnival begins after the parade and continues until 10 p.m., and on Sunday, it runs from noon to 5 p.m.. Tickets and wristbands are sold at the carnival and wristband coupons are sold in advance of the carnival at the Custer Area Chamber of Commerce website until 5 p.m. Thursday.
Kicking off Friday festivities is the Quilt and Fiber Show, which begins at 9 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. at the Custer Armory. It will also be held the same hours on Saturday and Sunday.
Friday is also the first day of the arts and crafts festival, which is set up on Washington Street from Sixth Street to Fifth Street. The fair features various food and merchandise vendors and different organizations. The fair continues from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
From 2 to 5 p.m. will be the Caroline Hatton Flower Show at the Custer Senior Center. Entries can be submitted from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Judging will take place from noon to 2 p.m. The show continues on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Friday evening is also when two family-favorite events take place: the Kids’ Gold Nugget Hunt and the Gold Panner’s Race. The gold nugget hunt begins at 5:15 p.m. at Harbach Park, and the gld panner race will be just down Washington St. between Second and Third St. at 6:30 p.m.
At the Custer Beacon, from 7:30 p.m. to midnight, will be a concert by Rowan Grace, the local wonder who made it into the top 10 finalists on season 22 of “The Voice.”
As the sun rises on Saturday and Sunday morning, early birds will be treated to a hot air balloon rally, weather permitting. The rally begins at 5:30 each day.
For breakfast on Saturday, the Custer Lions Club is hosting a pancake breakfast in Way Park at 6:30 a.m. until 9 a.m..
From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, the Black Hills Prospecting Club will have gold panning demonstrations at French Creek Park.
From 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. will be the Gold Discovery Days Car Show, which will be held on Washington Street between Second and Fourth St.
At 10 a.m. will be one of the annual highlights of  the weekend, the Gold Discovery Days Parade. The parade will come down Eighth St. to Mount Rushmore Rd. and continue west to Fourth St.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Custer Senior Center will be serving a sloppy joe lunch.
After lunch, games and music dominate the rest of Saturday’s schedule. At 12 p.m. registration begins for a volleyball tournament which starts at 1 p.m. The tournament will be at the courts adjacent to the Custer Chamber of Commerce.
At 2 p.m. a cornhole tournament will kick off at Mt. Rushmore Brewing Company.
In the evening, people will have a variety of venues to choose from for live music. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Mt Rushmore Brewing Co. will feature Flannel in Concert.
From 6 to 10 p.m., Brandon and the Elevens will play at the Gold Pan Saloon.
From 7:30 to midnight, Goat Roper and Camp Comfort will provide entertainment at the Custer Beacon.
At 7 a.m. on Sunday, registration begins for the Gold Rush Fun Run, which starts at 8 a.m. There are divisions and prizes for several age groups.
Vineyard of the Black Hills and Crossroads Church will offer a church service Sunday morning at 9 a.m.
Sunday’s itinerary features two opportunities to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Custer’s 1874 Black Hills expedition. At 10 a.m. there will be historical and cultural presentations by speakers from the Black Hills State University Case Library for Western Historical Studies and from Crazy Horse Memorial.
Then, from noon to 5 p.m. the event moves east of Custer to the Golden Valley historic campsite near Stockade Lake, where there will be a historically-styled cavalry brass band, cavalry re-enactors, wet-plate photography and more.
The Walt Thomas Memorial Gold Scramble begins at 1 p.m. at Rocky Knolls Golf Course.
At 2 p.m. there will be Gold Discovery Days bingo at the VFW.
The Black Hills Playhouse will be showing the comedy “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” at 2 p.m. in its historic Custer State Park theater.
Along Washington Street to the north side of Mount Rushmore Rd. from Second St. to Eighth St. will be an open-container beverage area. In this area, alcoholic beverages wil be allowed, but only if sold in specially-branded Gold Discovery Days event cups, which will be for sale at various locations around town.
For more information on Gold Discovery Days or events, contact the Custer Area Chamber of Commerce at 605-673-2244.