PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks will host the 56th annual Buffalo Roundup and 28th annual Arts Festival in Custer State Park this week. The Buffalo Roundup begins at 9:30 a.m. MDT on Friday, Sept. 24. The Arts Festival will run from Thursday, Sept. 23, through Saturday, Sept. 25.
“Custer State Park is my favorite place in the world. It’s a special location for our state, our country, and our family,” said Governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem. “Visitors to the Buffalo Roundup will see our heritage of wildlife management in action and leave with a permanent impression of our beautiful state.”
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 9:30 a.m. MDT on Sept. 25. 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 6 p.m. MDT on Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26. The Arts Festival takes place near the State Game Lodge and features western and bluegrass entertainment along with numerous vendors.
“The Buffalo Roundup is a critical management tool for Custer State Park and ensures the long-term sustainability of our buffalo herd and our park,” said Scott Simpson, director of the Division of Parks and Recreation. “This is a great opportunity for the entire family to learn about buffalo management and enjoy various types of entertainment.”
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, #HifromSD, and #BuffaloRoundup when posting images to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Next year’s Buffalo Roundup will be held Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.
