Burn the beetle, crawl the streets Jan. 17

There’s more than one way to burn a beetle. And there’s more than one way to celebrate Custer’s 2026 Burning Beetle, a community celebration that focuses on our connection to the Black Hills and fosters an appreciation for our forests. 
Organized by the Bark Beetle Blues, a committee under the Custer Area Arts Council, the Burning Beetle is also a fundraiser to support the arts in the Custer community. 
Kicking off the festivities is Lost Cabin Beer Co. out of Rapid City. At 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, Lost Cabin Beer Co. is launching Burn Beetle Burn, a campfire cream ale brewed with marshmallow, graham cracker and cocoa nibs. It is a limited release with proceeds going to the Burning Beetle. Then, at 6 p.m. that night, there is a Burning Beetle Bingo at Lost Cabin Beer Co. Rapid City Tap Room. 
Thursday, Jan. 15 features a free educational forum at the Pine Room Courthouse Annex from 6-8:30 p.m. titled Living in Community in Our Natural Environment. The forum will include conversations on being fire-wise, having a home in the forest, the history of the Mountain Pine Beetle Epidemic from 1997-2017, photos and a question and answer session.
Children will be able to join in the fun Thursday, Jan. 15 with story time at the Custer County Library where the Custer Area Arts Council will present a Burning Beetle themed story hour along with library staff members.
The pre-burn ignites Saturday, Jan. 17 with live music at the South Dakota Outdoor Shop from 2-5 p.m.
Torch tickets can be purchased for $25 along with merchandise at the Custer Jr./Sr. High School, starting at 2:30 p.m. There will also be a silent auction. 
The Burning Beetle Variety Show is sure to strike a match with attendees, featuring entertainment such as musicians, dancers, songwriters and whoop-dee-doozers in the Custer High School Theatre at 3 p.m.
Fire juggling and the start of the Torch Run will be held at Pageant Hill for those not participating in the torch march. At 5 p.m., Black Hills Balloons will assist the Custer High School cross country team by lighting the inaugural torch for them to run back to the high school. There will also be two sessions of fire juggling by Dustin Grove. 
Around 5:15 p.m., the torch march will leave the school and head for Pageant Hill. About 150 torches, many more revelers and the Beetle Drum Corps will march from the high school parking lot to Pageant Hill, where the beetle effigy awaits its demise. Roughly 15 minutes later, the torch marchers will light the beetle on fire as the Behlings Beetle Battalion lights off fireworks. 
After that, it’s on to the bug crawl, a multi-venue party featuring live music, food and drinks in downtown Custer. Sponsoring venues include The Custer Beacon, The Custer Wolf and the Gold Pan Saloon. 
This year’s event logo, created by artist Cait Irwin, celebrates the people and place behind the Burning Beetle. It is also a tribute to the leader and inventor of the event, Hank Fridell, who will be stepping down after January 2026.
For more information about the Burning Beetle, contact Carrie Moore at 269-861-1106 or carrieowns@gmail.com.