South Dakota Ag Connection - Custer State Park to Host Annual Buffalo Roundup and Arts Fest

South Dakota Ag News Headlines

Custer State Park to Host Annual Buffalo Roundup and Arts Fest
South Dakota Ag Connection - 09/21/2018

The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) will host the 53rd annual Buffalo Roundup and 25th annual Arts Festival in Custer State Park later this month. The Buffalo Roundup begins at 9:30 a.m. MDT on Sept. 28. The Arts Festival will run from Sept. 27 through 29.

"Each year, the Buffalo Roundup brings up to 20,000 spectators from around the world to Custer State Park to view the park's 1,300 buffalo and watch the Old West come alive," said Katie Ceroll, director of the Division of Parks and Recreation. "To have an arts festival with more than 125 arts and craft exhibitors means that there will be no shortage of entertainment for the entire family."

The parking areas for the Roundup, located near the corrals along the Wildlife Loop Road, open at 6:15 a.m. MDT and close at 9 a.m. MDT on Sept. 28. For safety reasons, spectators need to remain in the viewing areas until all the buffalo are corralled which typically occurs around noon.

The annual Arts Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. MDT on Thursday and Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29. The Arts Festival takes place near the State Game Lodge.

"While the Buffalo Roundup's primary purpose is herd management, it also provides our visitors an experience that is unique in the entire world," said Jim Hagen, Secretary of the Department of Tourism. "This event sets South Dakota apart from other states. We hear from visitors around the world about how incredible it is to watch the bison thunder over the rolling prairie. It's something they never forget and provides great storytelling about our state."

A state park entrance license is required on Thursday and Saturday, but there is no cost to attend the Buffalo Roundup or Arts Festival on Friday. Share the experience by using #SDintheField and #BuffaloRoundup when posting images to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Next year's Buffalo Roundup will be held Sept. 27.

To learn more about the event, visit custerstatepark.com, call 605.255.4515 or email CusterStatePark@state.sd.us.

Other South Dakota Headlines