Noem will seek Rushmore fireworks in 2023

The South Dakota Department of Tourism has submitted its application for a special use permit for the 2023 Mount Rushmore fireworks celebration on behalf of Gov. Kristi Noem. The application was submitted to the National Park Service (NPS).
“As Americans all across our great country make preparations to celebrate their Independence Day, we have once again been denied the opportunity to celebrate at our nation’s enduring symbol of freedom, Mount Rushmore National Memorial,” Noem said. “But we will not be deterred. We have submitted a request for 2023 and will continue asking the Biden Administration to work with us to give the people the celebration they deserve.”
The fireworks celebration was returned to Mount Rushmore in 2020 after being canceled for more than a decade. The NPS rejected permit applications for both the 2021 and 2022 celebrations.
The fireworks celebration would occur in conjunction with the Memorandum of Agreement signed May 6, 2019, between the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior and Gov. Noem.