I’ve always loved Independence Day. When I was a little kid, I didn’t think there was anything better than sitting outside on that summer evening with a sparkler in hand and watching all of the fireworks burst in the sky.  I’d be amused for hours.

The Fourth of July is almost here again, and if you’re looking for a beautiful fireworks display, you should probably head for Mount Rushmore. This year marks the monument’s 12th Annual Independence Day Celebration on July 3-4.

The celebration’s agenda is filled with all kinds of events. The Hill City Slickers, the Brass in Blue and The Mitguards will perform, Retro Bill the Dare Safety Buddy will make an appearance, junior rangers will be sworn in, guests will witness an F-16 and a B-1 flyover, WWII Veterans will be honored and, of course, the fireworks display will be the finale on July 3rd. Take a look at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society for a complete schedule.

In 2008, 30,000 people from all over the world saw the fireworks display at Mount Rushmore, while 53 million watched it on television. Fireworks are amazing, and what better way to commemorate our nation’s independence than celebrating at a monument representing 100 years of American history through four of our nation’s leaders.

Many national parks throughout the country have planned Independence Day celebrations. Take a look here for a listing. Oh, and by the way, Dan Wenk, the acting director of the National Park Service, is a South Dakotan and the former superintendant at Mount Rushmore.

Maybe you’ll be at Mount Rushmore on July 3-4, or maybe you’ll be watching via satellite feed from your home. Either way, happy early Independence Day!