RAPID CITY, S.D. – President Donald Trump will visit the Black Hills next week to participate in the America 250 Mount Rushmore Fireworks Celebration, state officials confirmed Thursday.

The historic gathering is scheduled for July 3, ahead of the actual July 4 holiday, as part of a nationwide series of events honoring the 250th anniversary of American independence. The high-profile event will also feature the return of pyrotechnics to the memorial after a six-year hiatus.

The announcement, which marks Trump’s return to the iconic national memorial for Independence Day festivities, was met with enthusiastic support from state leadership.

“It is my honor to welcome President Trump to the great state of South Dakota – the freest state in a nation founded on the principles of freedom,” South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden said in a statement released Thursday. “Together, we will throw the biggest birthday party ever for our nation and celebrate America’s legacy of freedom, liberty, and justice for all!”

Organizers have partnered with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service to facilitate the celebration. Due to strict security and capacity limitations, the grounds will be closed to the general public on July 3. Attendance is restricted to those who secured tickets through a public lottery system that concluded in April.

Local officials expect the presidential visit and the accompanying festivities to draw significant national attention to the Rapid City area and the surrounding Black Hills communities. Additional events, including military concerts and historical reenactments, are scheduled for July 2 and July 4, which do not require tickets for public access.

The state has contracted with Pyro Spectaculars, the same company responsible for the 2020 display at the memorial, to handle the pyrotechnics. In light of dry conditions and potential wildfire risks in western South Dakota, the contract also includes specialized lighting elements that can be utilized if active fireworks are deemed inadvisable by safety inspectors on the day of the event.