PIERRE, S.D. – Over 22,452 visitors attended the 56th Annual Buffalo Roundup at Custer State Park on Friday morning, watching as 60 horseback riders wrangled the herd of 1,450 bison into the corrals for their annual health check. This set a new record for attendance, which had previously been 22,078 visitors set in 2015 during the 50th anniversary event.
Custer State Park also hosted its three-day arts festival in conjunction with the Buffalo Roundup. Crowds assembled throughout the celebration to enjoy a variety of entertainment under the big top, educational programs and vendors from all over the country.
“Our visitors had the perfect weekend experiencing the Governor’s Buffalo Roundup,” said park superintendent Matt Snyder. “There were three great days of fall weather, we had the largest Art’s Festival in its 28-year history in terms of vendors with over 150 in attendance, and we were once again able to partner with South Dakota Public Broadcasting to livestream the Roundup to over 53,000 people across the world.”
The annual Roundup serves as a tool to help manage the park’s buffalo herd. Approximately 370 bison will be sold at the park’s annual auction on Saturday, Nov. 6. For more information on the auction, contact the park at 605.255.4515 or email CusterStatePark@state.sd.us.
Next year’s Buffalo Roundup will be held on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.
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