Both Bismarck and Mandan offer plenty of fun activities all throughout the year.  But when it comes to July 4th, the fun begins "Where the West Begins", and that's Mandan, North Dakota.  Seriously, Mandan laid claim to celebrating the 4th of July starting way back in 1879 with a baseball game and pony races.  That was 10 years BEFORE North Dakota even became a state!  The ponies turned out to be a little less than exciting, so bronc riding came around in 1882.   Now here we are celebrating the 142nd anniversary of the oldest rodeo in the world!  Over 3 days July 2-4, more than 500 cowboys and cowgirls will compete for cash while revelers compete for parking spots.

I't's not just the rodeo happening for 3 days in July.  It's Art in the Park shutting down West Main Street and sending a surge of people scurrying down 1st Street looking for a way to get in or get out.  It's also the HUGE 4th of July Parade shutting down the rest of Main, most of the Strip, and jamming traffic all the way back to Interstate 94.  One more thing- you'll need to get out after watching the fireworks show on the night of the 4th.  Harder than it seems.

So you should be mighty happy you downloaded our radio station app because now you can plan entrance and exit strategies with your navigator/copilot and just maybe you'll hang on to your sanity.  First step is stay calm and study the following strategies from the City of Mandan....

ART IN THE PARK 

Art in the Park will be held July 3-4 at Heritage Park. Main Street will be closed west of First Ave NW to Third Ave NW from Friday, July 2 at 1 a.m. to Sunday, July 4 at 8 p.m. Second and Third Avenue NW from Main St. to the alleyway will also be closed to traffic, to allow for on-street vendors.

Traffic will be detoured to First Street NW. Rodeo contestants, semis and other large vehicles are encouraged to take alternative routes during the Main Street closures on Friday through Sunday:

  • Traffic from the east using I-94 is encouraged to use the Mandan Avenue exit 153.
  • For rodeo contestants coming from west of town on Main Street, turn right at the intersection with 10th Ave NW and take Third Street to Dacotah Centennial Park.

4TH OF JULY PARADE

The Classic Car Parade will start at 10 a.m. followed by the Grand Parade at 10:10 a.m. on Sunday, July 4. The Classic Car Parade will leave Midway Lanes on Memorial Highway and travel westbound to Main. The Grand Parade will start at Dacotah Centennial Park on Memorial Highway and proceed to Main Street. After the parade begins, traveling to the north and/or south in Mandan will be extremely difficult with long delays. Here are the planned traffic controls:

Main Street Exit 155. Main Street exit 155 from I-94 will be closed to traffic into Mandan beginning at 7 a.m. until the end of the parade.

Main Street Closed. Main Street from the west side of the intersection with Memorial Hwy to 10th Ave NW will be closed starting at 7:30 a.m. on July 4 to accommodate planned events starting at 8 a.m. and leading up to the parade.

Memorial Highway Closed. Traffic from Memorial Highway will be able to go northbound onto Mandan Ave until 9:30 a.m. At that time, Memorial Highway will be closed to westbound traffic from the intersection with Third St SE and Bisman Ave to East Main. If you are traveling west of Third St SE on Memorial Hwy prior to the closing, please slow down and watch for pedestrians. Many people will be in the area setting up to watch the parade.

Traffic Detours. Traffic in-bound from I-94 into Mandan onto East Main Street will be closed at 7 a.m. Traffic into Mandan can utilize the I-94 exit 153 at Mandan Avenue and exit 152 at Sunset Drive. Traffic can also pass through Mandan by Memorial Hwy until 9:30 a.m. If you need to go south of Mandan, please arrange plans to do so prior to 9:30 a.m. to avoid delays or inconvenience.

Please keep in mind Old Red Trail is under construction from its intersection with Mandan Avenue to the intersection with Highway 1806.

Parking. Parking anywhere on Main Street is prohibited from 1 a.m. on July 4 until after the parade is over the afternoon of July 4. Any vehicles parked on Main Street during this time will be ticketed & towed at the owner’s expense. Parking lots in the downtown area will also be subject to restrictions. Please watch for changes in signage.

NOTE CONSTRUCTION ON THE OLD RED TRAIL (ABOVE)...I'd suggest sneaking in on Sunrise but if you get JAMMED don't blame me.

JULY 4TH EXITING FIRE WORK DISPLAY AREA

Note..all manuevering will take place under heavy cover of gunpowder smoke.  Very Old-Westy.

Immediately following the approved fireworks display at Dacotah Centennial Park on July 4, traffic will be directed as follows:

24th Ave SE Route. Vehicles exiting onto 24th Ave SE will continue to Third Street SE and be directed to travel west on Third Street SE or continue to Memorial Highway at which time they will be required to travel west on Memorial Highway. There will be no eastbound traffic from this route.

Longspur Trail Route. Vehicles exiting eastbound on Longspur Trail will be routed to Memorial Highway on Redwing Drive or 32nd Ave SE. This traffic will be required to go eastbound on Memorial Highway. There will be no westbound traffic from this route.

East Main Street. There will be no eastbound traffic allowed onto Memorial Highway from East Main Street during this time.

Riverwood Avenue. No traffic will be allowed on Riverwood Avenue during this time

This weekend whether coming or going, make sure you have downloaded our app hopefully you find a route that works best.

NOW GO HAVE A FESTIVE 4TH!!!


MUST HAVE CARNIVAL FOODS!

 

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