CUSTER, SD – The annual Burning Beetle Festival returns to Custer in January with a full slate of events spanning art, education, music and community celebration, continuing a tradition that began as a creative response to the Black Hills’ mountain pine beetle epidemic.
The centerpiece of the event — the ceremonial burning of a towering beetle sculpture — is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 17, but organizers say activities will begin earlier in the week, starting Wednesday, Jan. 14.
“We’ve been transitioning away from a one-day event and turning it into more of a multi-day experience,” said Hank, one of the festival’s originators and a member of the Burning Beetle Committee.
The week kicks off Wednesday with events at Lost Cabin Beer Company, including the return of Burn Beetle Burn, a campfire cream ale brewed specifically for the festival, and an evening of Burning Beetle Bingo.
Thursday will feature an educational forum focused on forest stewardship and fire-wise practices for landowners. Committee member Carrie said the educational component has been central to the event since its inception.
“The Burning Beetle started in response to the pine beetle epidemic, so education has always been a key piece,” she said. “This year we’re really focusing on fire-wise activities, especially with the dry conditions we’ve been experiencing in the Black Hills.”
New this year, Friday’s schedule includes a children’s story time hosted by the Custer County Library in partnership with the Custer Area Arts Council, the umbrella organization for the event.
Saturday’s main events begin in the afternoon, with a variety show featuring local performers starting at 3:30 p.m. At 5 p.m., participants carrying torches will gather at the Custer High School and march to Pageant Hill, accompanied by a drum corps, for the beetle burn.
The beetle structure, which can reach up to 20 feet tall, is built each year with an internal framework covered in fabric. As night falls, approximately 150 torchbearers ignite the sculpture while pyrotechnics and a fireworks display light up the sky, drawing crowds that can exceed 1,500 people.
“It’s unlike anything else,” Hank said. “When the torches crest the hill and you see the drums and the crowd, it’s pretty incredible.”
Live music is also a major part of the celebration. Pre-burn performances will take place at South Dakota Outdoor Shop, followed by the annual “Bug Crawl,” a pub-style music crawl featuring live performances at venues including the Gold Pan, the Custer Wolf and the Custer Beacon.
Now in its 14th year, the Burning Beetle Festival also serves as a fundraiser. Proceeds from sponsorships and torch ticket sales are reinvested into the community through arts programming, including school partnerships, murals, youth music camps and scholarships. Most festival events are free to attend.
Organizers encourage visitors to plan ahead, arrive early and consider staying in Custer for the weekend.
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