RAPID CITY, S.D. — Several of Rapid City’s longtime families will take part in this week’s America 250 Community Parade, bringing generations of local history to one of the signature events of the Real America Birthday Bash celebration.

Representatives of the Brennan, Scott, Duhamel, Van Nuys, Lockhart, Farrar and Brockelsby families are expected to participate in Thursday evening’s parade through downtown Rapid City. The family names have been part of the community’s history for generations and are closely connected to the city’s development over the past 150 years.

The community parade begins at 7 p.m. Thursday and is one of the featured events of the Real America Birthday Bash, a four-day celebration marking the nation’s 250th birthday. More than 100 parade entries are expected, including floats, marching groups, musicians, classic vehicles, community organizations, military participants, local dignitaries and plenty of candy for spectators.

Festival of Lights organizer Connie Olson, who is coordinating the parade, said Independence Day parades have long been a tradition in communities across the country and provide an opportunity for residents to come together in celebration. She said the participation of Rapid City’s historic families adds another meaningful connection to the city’s past as the community celebrates America’s milestone anniversary.

The parade will be Rapid City’s first community Independence Day parade in 35 years. The city’s last midsummer holiday parade was held in 1991 during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun will serve as grand marshal for the parade, which will travel through downtown before spectators turn their attention to the Sky Elements Patriotic Drone Show. The nationally recognized performance, featuring 500 synchronized drones, is scheduled to begin at approximately 9:30 p.m. from the Central High School football field near Memorial Park.

Visit Rapid City CEO Ally Formanek said the community parade is a classic American tradition that fits perfectly with Rapid City’s identity as the City of Presidents. She said the event gives residents and visitors an opportunity to celebrate the nation’s history while supporting downtown businesses and experiencing everything the Black Hills region has to offer.

The parade is one of several events taking place during the Real America Birthday Bash, which runs July 1-4. The celebration also includes a downtown festival, live music, historical reenactments, military displays, family activities, food vendors, a Mount Rushmore Fireworks Watch Party, a performance by country artist Chancey Williams and the city’s annual Independence Day fireworks display.

Organizers expect thousands of residents and visitors to line the downtown streets Thursday evening as Rapid City celebrates both its own history and the 250th anniversary of the United States.