Box Elder to hold fourth annual Patriot Day Celebration on September 11

BOX ELDER, S.D. — The City of Box Elder is getting ready for its fourth annual Patriot Day Celebration.

The celebration will have a variety of free family-friendly events and entertainment ranging from a parade to a ceremonial butterfly release, fireworks, and more to pay respect to and celebrate the efforts of our nation’s heroes.

The celebration will start at 2:30 p.m. with the Patriot Day Parade, which will feature a variety of floats from local clubs, organizations, school bands and more.

Here is the route of the Patriot Day Parade:

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  The parade will start in front of the Douglas High School on Patriot Drive

• South on Briggs Street to Villa Drive
• West on Villa Drive to North Ellsworth Road
• North on North Ellsworth Road to 225th Street
• East on 225th Street to Briggs Street
• South on Briggs Street to Don Williams Drive (Bus Ramp)
• East on Don Williams Drive to Tower Road
• South on Tower Road to Patriot Drive
• The parade will then circle back to the front of the Douglas High School

After the parade, the festivities will continue at Box Elder City Hall, where there will be live music by Midnight Sun and Lonely Rangers, food trucks, cash prizes and more. All Box Elder residents and military personnel in attendance will receive a free $5 token to be used at the food trucks. Entertainment will go on through the remainder of the day, with the Liberty Superstores Freedom Fireworks show at 8:00 p.m. at the conclusion of the celebration.

Here is an overview of the days events:

• 2:30 P.M. – Patriot Day Celebration Parade
• 3:00 P.M. – Presenting of Colors and National Anthem by the Douglas High School ROTC
• 3:00 P.M. – Vendor Fair inside and outside of Event Center
• 3:15 P.M. – Strong Man Competition
• 3:15 – 5:15 P.M. – Live music from Midnight Sun
• 5:00 P.M. – Front Porch Coalition Butterfly Release
• 5:45 – 8:00 P.M. – Live Music from Lonely Rangers
• 8:00 P.M. – Liberty Superstores Freedom Fireworks

Officials say this years celebration is set to be the biggest yet, following record attendance in 2019 and 2020.

“We are just excited to be able to see an event like this in our community,” said Jimmy Dettman, Marketing Director for the City of Box Elder. “Box Elder is the gateway to the Black Hills and home to Ellsworth Air Force Base, and nothing excites us more than putting on an event that honors our military community, as well as the entire Black Hills Region as a whole.”

Recognizing an ongoing need to honor those who are no longer with us and their families, the City of Box Elder is proud to continue its partnership with the Front Porch Coalition, who will be playing host to the Coalition’s annual Butterfly Release Ceremony on Patriot Day. Bridget Swier, Director of Outreach & Communications at the Front Porch Coalition in Rapid City, looks forward to supporting the City of Box Elder on September 11^th and the many community members who have lost loved ones.

“We are really excited to be a part of the fourth annual Patriot Day Celebration in Box Elder,” said Swier. “The Butterfly Release is not only for those who have lost someone they know to suicide, but offers an opportunity to honor anyone we have lost.”

For more information about the fourth annual Patriot Day Celebration in Box Elder, SD on September 11, 2021, please visit www.boxelder.us/patriot-day.