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Lottery ticket sales open for Trump visit to Mount Rushmore

June 6, 2020 GMT

FILE - This March 22, 2019, file photo shows Mount Rushmore in Keystone, S.D. Organizers have scrapped plans to mandate social distancing during President Donald Trump's appearance at a July 3, 2020, Mount Rushmore fireworks display and won't limit the crowd due to coronavirus concerns, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said Thursday, June 4, 2020. The Republican governor said the National Park Service is dolling out 7,500 tickets via lottery for the event, which marks the first time in a decade that fireworks will be set off at the memorial in recognition of Independence Day. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota tourism officials say the number of ticket requests Friday for President Donald Trump’s planned appearance at a Mount Rushmore fireworks show were nearly four times the amount available in the lottery.

Officials said they received nearly 5,700 applications requesting nearly 29,000 tickets by midday on Friday, the first day of ticket sales, the Rapid City Journal reported. Maximum capacity for the July 3 event is 7,500 people in ticketed areas.

The fireworks display at Mount Rushmore to celebrate Independence Day has not happened since 2009, when it was ended because of fire danger after a pine beetle infestation.

It costs $1 to enter the lottery, which is a non-refundable fee and doesn’t guarantee tickets. Those who are selected to receive tickets won’t pay any additional cost.

Lottery ticket sales will close 10 a.m. Monday. Tickets will be awarded by Friday.