The Burning Beetle is an annual community celebration that focuses on our connection to the environment where we live in the Black Hills. This project supports the arts in our community and the development of an art installation to commemorate the changes going on in our forest.

Join us in Custer, SD for the Burning Beetle; an annual event featuring a community talent show, beetle burn, fireworks and live music pub crawl showcasing our many restaurants and bars.

Bark Beetle Blues' mission is to create awareness of Custer community's response to the Pine Beetle infestation; by celebration and renewal.

The Bark Beetle Blues is an ad hoc group of people who want to talk about the massive landscape change currently occurring in the Black Hills by encouraging dialogue through the arts. The first Burning Beetle Celebration was held on January 18, 2014.

This year’s events include:

Friday, January 18
Support the arts and attend the Artist Reception from 5:00pm -7:00pm at Expressions Gallery in Custer.

Saturday, January 19
8:00am -12:00pm Spin The Beetle Fat Bike Race 
3:00pm Variety Show at Custer High School, donations appreciated & merch for sale
4:45pm Torch March begins. Meet at Custer high school.
5:15pm The Beetle Burns & Fireworks at Custer’s Pageant Hill
6:00pm -8:30pm Bug Crawl Pub Crawl with live music at participating Custer locations

It's a fantastic winter event that’s fun for the whole family, so bundle up, come on out and join us!  See you at the BURN!

For more information check out the Burning Beetle Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/barkbeetleblues/