Neil Diamond to Perform on Mount Rushmore’s American Pride Float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®

PIERRE, SD– Grammy winning artist Neil Diamond, recent inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and 2011 Kennedy Center Honorre, with more than 125 million albums sold worldwide, will be performing on Mount Rushmore’s American Pride float in the 85th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®.

Neil Diamond and the American Pride float will make its national appearance on NBC-TV on Thursday, November 24, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., in all time zones.

The float is the second state float in history to be accepted into this world famous parade. Highlighted on the float will be Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Black Hills National Forest, Badlands National Park, and natural beauty depicting South Dakota’s infinite variety.

“We’re thrilled that we’ll be able to show off South Dakota as a unique destination to millions of people again this year in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” said Jim Hagen, Secretary of the Department of Tourism. “We couldn’t be more pleased that Neil Diamond will be performing on the float this year. He has world-wide appeal and is a great match for our state.”

This is the Department of Tourism and partners’ second year in a three year campaign with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The goal of the campaign is to drive new and repeat visitors to the state in addition to creating brand awareness. It is estimated that more than 3.5 million spectators on the streets of New York and over 50 million television viewers nationwide will watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Deadwood’s Holiday Winter Wonderland

November 20 – December 25, 2011

Location: Deadwood – Deadwood
Enjoy the holidays in the Wild West!

Starting November 20 and continuing through Christmas Day, the historic community of Deadwood will transform into a winter wonderland. A number of events are planned throughout the holiday season, and the entire town will be decorated with lights and other holiday creations. There will also be live performances, children’s activities, sleigh rides a parade of lights and MUCH MORE!

Here’s a schedule for Deadwood’s Winter Wonderland

November 20-22 – GAC filming ‘A Grand Christmas’
Great American Country will be in Deadwood filming footage for ‘A Grand Christmas,’ a one-hour holiday special to be aired during the 2011 holiday season.

Thanksgiving through Christmas – Free Parking
FREE Parking – at all metered spaces in Deadwood with the exception of the Main Street parking ramp.

November 25 to Christmas Day – A Grand Christmas at Deadwood Mountain Grand
Imagine a 9 foot Mr. and Mrs. Claus surrounded by their elf family. Imagine the snow covered Black Hills rolling across the stage. Imagine a steam locomotive roaring its way to the North Pole. Imagine a rowdy saloon Christmas celebration in Deadwood circa 1876. Imagine the Christmas party of a lifetime. Imagine the smiles, laughter and applause of the audience as their holiday dreams come to life.

You don’t have to imagine any of it, because it will all come to life before your eyes on the stellar stage of the Deadwood Mountain Grand Event Center. Don’t miss this Christmas celebration. Shows are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm, and Sundays at 3pm. A Grand Christmas at Deadwood Mountain Grand

November 25, December 2, 9 & 16 – Four Festive Fridays for Children
Children, grades K-6, are invited to make a craft, play games and shop in Santa’s Mouse Hole at the Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center (HARCC) in Deadwood on Four Festive Fridays from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on November 25, December 2, December 9 and December 16, 2011.

November 25, 2011
Ornament Making

December 2, 2011
Cookie Decorating

December 9, 2011
Gift Making

December 16, 2011
Kids Caroling

Snacks will be served. Contact Chelsie Bauer at 605/578-1928 or email her at chelsie@theadamsdeadwood.org for more information.

December 10 – Free Potter Family Performance
The Potter Family performs at the History and Information Center Parking Lot from 3 p.m to 5 p.m.

December 2-4, 9-11, 16-18 & 23-24 – Wild West Weekends
Deadwood has plenty of shopping too! Look for holiday specials around town at participating Main Street retail shops

December 3 and 18 – Sleigh Rides at the History and Information Center Parking Lot
Hop on Santa’s sleigh and go for a ride around Deadwood!
December 3 – 4:30pm-6:30pm
December 18 – Noon-3pm.

December 9 – Deadwood Parade of Lights
Don’t miss Deadwood’s Parade of Lights on its historic Main Street at 6pm on Friday, Dec. 9.

December 10 – Cowboy Christmas at the Deadwood Pavilion
A staple in the Old West, the Cowboy Christmas Ball returns to Deadwood! Join the best singers in the Black Hills for a memorable experience. Two shows will take place on Saturday, December 10, a matinee at 1 p.m. and the evening performance at 7 p.m. This fundraiser will help the Days of ’76 museum project. Call 1-800-344-8826 for more information.

December 13-15 and 20-22 – Trolley Tour of Lights
Hop on the Deadwood Trolley and take a look at the holiday lights in the area. The tours run 5:30pm-6:30pm each evening; the cost is one can of food for the local food pantry. Courtesy of Neighborworks. Call 578-1401 to reserve your space!

My Dearest Deadwood Fans, today is a bittersweet day. My internship has come to an end here at the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce. It has been an amazing experience and one that I will never forget. Everyone at the chamber has been great and I have received valuable knowledge from each person that I will take out into the real world with me.

The events here in Deadwood are one of a kind along with all the people. I don’t believe that I could have had a better internship. I learned a lot through my time here in Deadwood. I get to leave on a happy note of the Deadwood Jam. It is a two-day music festival with headliners Atlanta Rhythm Section, Grand Funk Railroad, and Blues Traveler. I just want to say thank you to the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce and everyone else that made my experience here in Deadwood so special. To my Deadwood Fans thank you for reading my blog and I hope to see you at the Deadwood Jam.

Friday, Sept. 16
5:30 p.m.: Brock Finn
6:45 p.m.: Chancey Williams & The Younger Brothers
8:30 p.m.: Atlanta Rhythm Section

Saturday, Sept. 17
Noon: Unfinished Business
1 p.m.: Houdek
2:20 p.m.: Avian Sunrise
3:45 p.m.: Candread and Rizing Rezistance
5:10 p.m.: Hazel Miller
6:45 p.m.: Grand Funk Railroad
8:30 p.m.: Blues Traveler

Deadwood fans it is time to make the scene on August 25-28. Kool Deadwood Nites will put you on Cloud 9 with all the rods, rockets, and screamers in town. This four-day event will feature just over 600 classic cars the newest this fat city will show is the year 1973. If you want to relive the 50’s and 60’s this Deadwood event is for you. Deadwood will be hip with classic car parades, show and shine, and two days of free concerts. Don’t be a party pooper be in orbit and check out the schedule.

2011 Kool Deadwood Nites Schedule of Events
Thursday – August 25th
4:00 – 8:00 pm – Car Registration – Deadwood Gulch Convention Center.
6:00 – 9:00 pm – People’s Choice Award Voting – History and Information Center Parking Lot.
7:00 – 10:00 pm – 4th Annual Sock Hop with DJ – History and Information Parking Lot and on Main Street
9:00 pm – Results of People’s Choice (during Sock Hop) – History and Information Center Parking Lot.
Friday – August 26th
9:00 am – 7:00 pm – Car Registration – Deadwood Gulch Convention Center
10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Deadwood Rod Run – Escorted tour through the beautiful Black Hills.
Noon – 5:00 pm – Classic Collector Auction Vehicle Check-in – Open Cut Parking Lot in Lead
Noon – 7:00 pm – Owners Only BBQ – Deadwood Gulch Convention Center.
5:00 pm – FREE Main Street Concerts begin!
Featuring The Kid & Nic Show, DD and the Fayroh’s and the Spinners!
Saturday – August 27th
7 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Classic Car Registration – Deadwood Gulch Convention Center
8:00 am – Noon – Classic Car Competition/Judging – Days of ’76 Rodeo Grounds/Ferguson Field
9:00 am – Classic Collector Car Auction – Open Cut Parking Lot in Lead
10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Poker Runs – throughout the Black Hills.
2:00 – 5:00 pm – Classic Collector Car Auction Vehicle Check-in (for Sunday’s Deadwood auction) – Deadwood Gulch Gaming Resort Convention Center
4:00 pm – Poker Run awards party at Tin Lizzie on lower Main Street
4:00 pm – FREE Main Street Concerts begin!
Featuring The Potter Family, DD and the Fayroh’s, the Kid & Nic Show and the Drifters!

Sunday – August 28th
7:00 am – Parade line-up begins – Rodeo Grounds/Ferguson Field
Show and Shine – Main Street, immediately following the parade
9:00 am – Classic Collector Car Auction at the Deadwood Gulch Gaming Resort Convention Center
11:00 am – Awards – Parking lot at the History and Information Center

Terminology thank you to Sage Dragonfly.

Hello everyone, I hope you are enjoying your summer and getting some fun in. I think it is time for me to talk about music venues here in Deadwood. I have chatted before about the Deadwood Mountain Grand and it will keep continuing!

Deadwood Mountain Grand opened on July 1 and they have already brought amazing talent to Deadwood and the Black Hills. They have hosted Big & Rich with Gretchen Wilson, Stone Temple Pilots, and Diamond Rio and the Oak Ridge Boys. On Thursday, September 1 they will host a local favorite Williams & Ree. Known as the “Indian and the White guy” they have built quite the reputation in the Black Hills Deadwood area. Not miss the musical humor of Williams & Ree and much more coming from Deadwood Mountain Grand. Check out http://www.deadwoodmountaingrand.com/up-coming-shows.html for more performances.

Live music is available at the Deadwood Tobacco and Cigar Bar located on Historic Main Street. Check out their website for updates and events. http://www.deadwoodtobacco.com/. Saloon #10 is famous because Wild Bill Hickok got shot there, but their live music still makes them famous to this day. For a full list of bands check out http://www.saloon10.com/EventCalendar.aspx?Get=2 . Lets not forget about the Buffalo Bodega and their musical events held there check out http://www.buffalo-bodega.com/.

Kool Deadwood Nites are just around the corner and there is live music during this event. The Spinners will headline on August 26 and the Drifter are going to headline the next night August 27. Both nights the free concerts start at 5pm.

Make sure to check out the who, what, where, and when in Historic Deadwood. It will be a great time!!!

Howdy Deadwood Fans! This summer has been a hot one, but what could be hotter than a local group getting inducted into a hall of fame. Deadwood’s Days of ’76 will is being inducted into the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Hall of Fame. There is only one other thing that could be hotter than a hall of fame. How about the nation’s top cowboys and cowgirls competing in this years Days of ’76.

Days of ’76 will kick off Tuesday July 26 and will last until Saturday July 30. This five day event will show case some of the nation’s most talented bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, team roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding. It is expected to have more than 650 rodeo stars to compete in Deadwood’s Days of ’76. Rodeo fans will have a chance to see competitors that have been or might be in the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

Days of ’76 also brings historic parades to Deadwood. The mile-long historic parades will hit Deadwood’s Historic Main Street at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 29, and 10 a.m. Saturday, July 30.

Thank you to the 20-person board of directors and countless volunteers this nonprofit rodeo is a very memorable experience. Don’t forget to wear your Tough Enough to Wear Pink shirt on Friday!

89th Annual Days of ’76 Schedule of Events

Tuesday, July 26-
10 a.m. PRCA Steer Roping

Wednesday, July 27-
8 a.m. Timed Events Rodeo Slack

Thursday, July 28-
8 a.m. Timed Events Rodeo Slack. WPRA Barrel Racing Slack following Timed Events Slack
7 p.m. PRCA Rodeo Performance

Friday, July 29-
1:30 p.m. Deadwood Main Street – Historic Parade
7 p.m. PRCA Rodeo Performance

Saturday, July 30-
10 a.m. Deadwood Main Street – Historic Parade
1:30 p.m. PRCA Rodeo Performance
7 p.m. PRCA Rodeo Performance
Times subject to change

It is about that time for Deadwood and Sturgis fans to join forces. On Monday, August 8, Deadwood and Sturgis will be hosting the 4th Annual Legends Ride. Tickets for riders are $150, but all the proceeds go to great local charities, including the Black Hills Special Olympics and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame.

In the pass three years the Legends Ride has raised over $150,000 for local charities. The amount you pay for the different causes pays off with a pre- and post-ride events in Deadwood and at the Buffalo Chip, free parking in Deadwood and at the Legendary Buffalo Chip, food and drinks prior to the concert, meet-and-greet opportunities with master builders and celebrities and a special souvenir gift pack. Also they pair the riders up with celebrities and top-bike builders on a ride from Deadwood to the Sturgis Buffalo Chip.

The Legends Riders get the red carpet treatment thanks to the Silverado-Franklin and the Deadwood Tobacco Company. Once the ride starts riders will hit the 55-mile route through a portion of the beautiful Black Hills to a reception, auction, and concert with Buckcherry and Def Leppard.

The Legends Rides has sold-out for three consecutive years and is on the verge of selling out this year. To purchase got to www.legendsride.com or call (605) 347-9000.

Deadwood fans are you ready to hear something totally boss (for those that don’t know California lingo boss means cool, awesome, or sweet)? Deadwood Mountain Grand has hit another home run with their entertainment line-up.

This Thursday July 14 Stone Temple Pilots will play at Deadwood Mountain Grand at 8 pm. Stone Temple Pilots also known as STP are an American Rock band originated from San Diego, California. They’re a blend of alternative rock and hard rock of the 1970’s. While their first two albums have more of a grunge sound the most recent albums have the influence of The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Kiss, and The Doors.

In 1994 the Stone Temple Pilots won a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance. 2010 they’re self-titled album Stone Temple Pilots had a peak chart position the number 2 spot. They will be playing chart-hitting songs like Plush, Interstate Love Song, Big Bang Baby, and Between the Lines.

Deadwood Mountain Grand has done a great job with their musical line-up for more concerts check out http://www.deadwoodmountaingrand.com/up-coming-shows.html

Hope to see you at the STP concert!

One lucky family in Deadwood will get the VIP treatment for the brand new Deadwood Mountain Grand’s inaugural concert. Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson and the rest of the Muzik Mafia open up Deadwood’s newest entertainment facility with a concert on Friday, July 8, and the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce will choose a ‘Deadwood Grand Family’ who will receive dinner, lodging and VIP tickets to the concert July 8. The family will also be part of the parade in Deadwood on July 8.

The Deadwood Grand Family will be selected on Thursday evening by Chamber of Commerce staff. Festivities kick off with the parade at 1 p.m. on July 8, and the concert begins at 8 p.m. The parade will include Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, Cowboy Troy, marching bands, former Slime Plant (what is now Deadwood Mountain Grand) employees and much more. The parade will begin at the Four Aces on Main Street in Deadwood and end at Deadwood Mountain Grand.

Call the Deadwood Chamber at (605) 578-1876 for more information.

Did you hear? There are quite a few parades coming to History Deadwood in the month of July. Hmmm where to start where to start? I guess I will go in chronological order, that would make sense right?

Great Family Friendly Fun is about to hit Deadwood with The Northern Hills Shrine Circus on Saturday, July 2. This Circus has two performances at 2:00 pm and 7:00pm at Deadwood’s Days of ’76 Rodeo Grounds. Now you are probably wondering when the parade comes into the picture well it hits Historic Main Street at 11 am. This Deadwood parade will have circus animals and performers, along with little Shriners cars, and much much more. The parade is free to see, but the circus does cost. Tickets cost $9-Adults, $3-Children, Pre-Schoolers are free. Tickets for the circus may be purchased at the Circus or from any local Shriner. For additional information, please call 605-584-1849 or check out: http://deadwoodcircus.com/

What could be more Family Friendly than a Fourth of July celebration? Well I can’t think of anything so let me tell you about the parade on Monday, July 4. Apart of the Gold Camp Jubliee Days (July2-4) the annual Fourth of July parade will be go though Deadwood Historic Main street at 3 pm and continue to Lead where it will go through at 4 pm. When dusk hits Lead the firework show will light up the sky.

It is time to reach back into your memory banks (or just look back in the blog) remember a blog about the Xtreme Muzik The Tour? If not you should look back and read that post! Deadwood Mountain Grand and the City of Deadwood will welcome Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, and the rest of the crew with a parade. This parade will open the two days of concerts preformed by the Xtreme Muzik The Tour. The parade will start at 1 pm coming from the north end of Deadwood’s Main Street going tending at Deadwood Mountain Grand event center and casino. Deadwood Mountain Grand invites former slime plant employees to participating in the parade, if interested please contact Danielle Osloond by July 1st at dosloond@deadwoodmountaingrand.com or 605-920-1137.

Well I wont keep you for much longer, but I want to mention the Days of ’76. On Friday, July 29 at 1:30 and Saturday, July 30 at 10:00 am will be the parades for the Days of ’76 Rodeo. Keep looking for more information on the PRCA rodeo!

Be safe and have a great day!