For years, the South Dakota event I’ve most wanted to attend is Custer State Park‘s annual Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival. I’ve always had a scheduling conflict that’s kept me away.
I’m not going to make it this year, either, and now the state Office of Tourism is rubbing it in. The office sent two news releases yesterday — one with great photos and videos from past roundups, and one announcing that the American Bus Association has named the Buffalo Roundup one of the Top 100 Events of 2010.
Here’s more information from the release:
The Top 100 list is chosen from more than 500 events nominated by state and provincial tourism officials, Convention and Visitors Bureaus and Destination Marketing Organizations from across North America. It highlights the top fairs, festivals, parades, exhibits, theaters and shows across the U.S. and Canada.
The annual Roundup showcases an orchestrated stampede of nearly 1,500 buffalo in Custer State Park. It began and is still used as a resource management program – allowing the park to brand, vaccinate, sort and control the buffalo population. The Buffalo Roundup is in its 44th year.
“Although the Roundup has a practical purpose, the event has become a true South Dakota tradition and tourist attraction, and it’s no wonder,” said Melissa Bump, director, South Dakota Office of Tourism. “It’s a powerful experience to see and feel 1,500 buffalo thunder across the prairie.”
This year’s Buffalo Roundup is scheduled for Sept. 26-28. Next year’s action takes place Sept. 25-27, 2010.
Why have I always wanted to attend the Buffalo Roundup? Well, I’ve been in love with buffalo since I was a kid. To me, the buffalo are a powerful symbol of the wildness and freedom that used to characterize the American west. Even today, buffalo can strike fear into the toughest of cowboys. The massive beasts can run and jump as high as a horse, and they can run through just about anything if they are determined enough.
Buffalo Roundup attendees watch from a safe distance, but they’re close enough to see a real, wild buffalo roundup — as it said in the release, "it’s a powerful experience to see and feel 1,500 buffalo thunder across the prairie."
