Thursday marked the start off to Spearfish, South Dakota, to prepare for the festival. Setup wouldn’t be until Friday morning, but it was time to make my way up there. Detour around the parts of Custer State Park that I missed the day before, and then on up through Deadwood, backtrack through Lead, and then on through scenic Spearfish Canyon to get to Spearfish. South Dakota is so lucky to have so much natural, beautiful scenery, along with a few manmade attractions, in such a small area. It’s great for people like me that want to see it all; you don’t have to drive forever to get from place to place – I think the longest distance traveled was about 45 miles, although you could spend all day getting there because of all the things to see and do. Anyway, on to pictures:
The best way to see Mount Rushmore and avoid crowds, is from highway 16A that surrounds Custer State Park to the east. Since you’re already on top of hills, you get a more level view rather than having to look up from below with a bunch of heads bobbing around you.
Spearfish Canyon is an alternate, more scenic route of getting into the town of Spearfish, where you drive through canyon walls along Spearfish Creek. I think I’d like a cabin in there somewhere – the creek is so beautiful. Crystal clear running water, waterfalls, places to dip your toes and even walk through. Love it!
Friday morning I got my tent all set up. The festival began on Friday night and ran through Sunday afternoon. I really lucked out — although it was very, very hot (not Kansas hot, but hot still), my tent space was right in front of Spearfish creek – a nice, cleared space where you could walk right into the water.. which I did. Many times. It was icy cold and provided lots of relief from the heat. And besides that, it was just totally awesome being right there in front of the creek all weekend. If I didn’t have on a dress the whole time, I would’ve laid in it or gone tubing or something.
Anyway, the festival was a success. Sold lots of artwork, prints, cards, etc. I also now have some of my stuff in Blue Stem Studios in Belle Fourche, which is north of Spearfish. I imagine if I don’t have anything interfering next summer, I’ll be going back.