Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival

At the Annual Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival from September 28-30, up to 150 vendors will offer their fine arts and crafts for sale, including many South Dakota made products.

Start your morning with a pancake feed and enjoy on-going Western and Native American entertainment under the big top. All events and vendors will be located on the festival grounds across from the Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center.

Enjoy three days of endless entertainment along with numerous arts and crafts booths near the State Game Lodge on Hwy 16A. Visit with artisans and crafters, hear cowboy poets spin tall tales, witness the beauty of Native American dancers and do some dancing of your own to the area’s best bluegrass and country musicians. A few local breweries will also be around to top off the fun. 

Annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup - September 28-30, 2023

Watch cowboys and cowgirls as they roundup and drive the herd of approximately 1,300 buffalo. Not only is the roundup a spectacular sight to see, it is also a critical management tool in maintaining a strong and healthy herd.

The Buffalo Roundup will begin at 9:30 a.m. MT on September 29, with the parking lots opening at 6:15 a.m. Be sure to arrive early if you want to pick your spot. Guests must stay in the viewing areas until the herd is safely in the corrals, generally around noon. Breakfast is available at 6:15 a.m. in both viewing areas. Lunch is served at the corrals once the buffalo are rounded up. There is a fee for both meals. 

Testing, branding, and sorting of the buffalo begins at 1 p.m. and lasts until approximately 3 p.m. Crews will work the remainder of the herd in October.

What you need to know

Bring folding chairs, cameras, binoculars, layered clothing, rain gear, and sunscreen.

You will need to determine which viewing area you will be going to prior to Friday morning. All vehicles will depart the way they entered. Motorcoaches welcomed.

North Parking and Viewing | Head south from the Game Lodge area on Wildlife Loop Road.  

South Parking and Viewing | Head east on Wildlife Loop Road near Blue Bell campground. 

We encourage that you do not bring your camper. Call 605.255.4515 for drop-off locations. If you do bring it, follow the green route on the map, and you will be parked in the North Overflow Lot and be shuttled to the Roundup.

We encourage you to leave your pets at home. If you must bring them, they must remain in the vehicle. 

Buffalo Roundup

The Buffalo Roundup will begin at 9:30am. Guests must stay in the viewing areas until the herd is safely in the corrals (usually around noon).

Drone Policy

For the safety of the public, staff and the bison, use of drones is prohibited during the Roundup.

Fill Up At the Pancake Feed

Saturday, 8–10am at the Arts Festival

Adults: ($) | Kids 12 & under: ($)

Happening at the Festival Grounds.

All proceeds go to Feeding South Dakota.

Click here to view the map and more information

Date: 

THURSDAY, SEPT 28; 10am–5pm

FRIDAY, SEPT 29;  10am–7pm

(Music will continue until 8:00pm)

Friday is Buffalo Roundup Day:

Park Entrance License Not Required

SATURDAY, SEPT 30;  9am–4pm

Location:  Custer State Park, Custer, SD 57730

Click here for more information