RAPID CITY, SD – Rapid City kicked off the summer with the annual “Opening Day of the Fountains” on Friday, May 22, 2026, from 12 pm to 2 pm. While some clouds and gusts were in attendance of the event, so were many laughs and merriments. The day featured free hot dogs and chips, face paintings, balloon animals, bouncy castles, and yard games, all compliments of Visit Rapid City and Main Street Square. In a brief interview with newly promoted Event Manager, Pomai Lindenthal, she described the event as a “backyard barbeque” where they “really keep community in mind with these events. Just being able to give back to the community is awesome”.

During the comedown of the “backyard barbeque-esque” party, pictures of the gathered crowd were taken via drone while the huddled group faced the square’s stage and then main street. The photo chosen will be placed in a 50-year time capsule and buried to replace the previously opened capsule from 1976. This event will be held on May 29^th, 2026, at 1:30 in Founder’s Park. The photos featured many smiling locals and Rapid City’s mayor, Jason Salamun, and South Dakota’s acting governor, Larry Rhoden. Salamun described the day as a “great day [for] celebrating 150 years of Rapid City’s founding and making history”.

When asked by Rapid City Post about what he would like generations 50 years from now to know about Rapid City and what they should know about community gathering like this he properly responded as such: “Rapid City is a special place and I pray in 50 years it will continue to be a special place,” he continues, “It’s special because of the people who live here. We are real and authentic. We care deeply. We’ve got a lot of brilliant and bright people who live in our community. We are family oriented, as you see with all the children around here today. We are very blessed to live in a community like Rapid City, South Dakota today. So, 50 years from now I hope that is still the case. It’s just a great place to call home. Our whole mission for Rapid City is, it’s where kids thrive and families flourish.” When approached with a similar question acting Governor, Larry Rhoden stated: “What I would like to see in the next 4 years, in the next 8 years, and 50 years from now is for us to continue thrive and grow. And each generation we are able to provide more opportunities than we [had] growing up. And if we can continue that kind of success, that kind of optimism, in South Dakota it will be a bright future”.

As Rapid City’s population grows, we can all hope that community events like such provide welcoming arms to those who now call it home, and that we will continue to strive to provide loving and inclusion-based events. And hopefully, generations 50 years from now will open that time capsule, see the photos, and feel the effort that was put into a day of family fun and community love.