The City of Yankton and the Meridian Bridge Centennial Celebration Committee are excited to announce First Dakota National Bank as the Premier Sponsor of the July 5th Centennial Weekend and the October 12th community block party events. The generous $15,000 donation is intended to enhance the July 5th community event as part of the Meridian Bridge Centennial Celebration. One hundred years ago, the community of Yankton, state of South Dakota and tri-state area, celebrated the opening of the Meridian Bridge with a 7 day celebration. As we now celebrate the Meridian Bridge in 2024, we are excited to announce the details of this July 5th event.
This event, made possible with our Premier Sponsorship from First Dakota, will be held in Yankton’s Riverside Park on July 5th. Headlining this event will be one of country music’s rising stars Logan Mize. Opening the show at 6:30pm, local Yankton favorite “Reinvented Wheels” will take the stage, followed by headliner “Logan Mize” at 7:30pm.
Following this incredible concert, the City of Yankton, The Centennial Celebration Committee, and First Dakota are thrilled to announce that Yankton will become the FIRST city in the state of South Dakota to host a one-of-a-kind drone show. The drones will display and depict the story of Yankton’s Meridian Bridge with the use of hundreds of colorfully lit drones. Fantasy Drone Shows, from Norfolk, Nebraska, will be working with our committee to generate this first of a kind event. Spectators will be able to view the entirety of the show from Riverside Park as the drones fill the sky and depict the story of the iconic Meridian Bridge.
This event will also include multiple food vendors, exclusive vendor Ben’s Brewing, FREE face painting and balloon twisting, and a corn-hole tournament beginning earlier in the day.
Additionally, First Dakota will also serve as our Premier Sponsor of the October 12th Community Block Party Celebration. This day officially marks the “birthday” of the Meridian Bridge, and we hope to celebrate with our community. The block party will consist of live music by “Breaking Bob,” family activities, dedication presentation, Yankton screening of the new South Dakota Public Broadcasting Meridian Bridge documentary, food, drinks and more.
“The Meridian Bridge is such a huge part of Yankton’s history and who Yankton is, and with First Dakota’s long history and our recent 150th anniversary celebration, we’re just very honored and pleased to be part of this Centennial Celebration. The ingenuity and resourcefulness shown by the leaders who made the bridge happen 100 years ago is simply remarkable, as is what it contributed to the growth of business and trade at that time, allowing both for the large barge river traffic and the new intrastate traffic connecting the two states.”-Rob Stephenson, President and CEO First Dakota National Bank
On behalf of the City of Yankton and the Meridian Bridge Centennial Celebration Committee, thank you to First Dakota for your support of these historic Centennial Celebrations. Just as our community and tri-state area celebrated 100 years ago, we are excited to again celebrate with our community and surrounding area. The incredible concert event, the FIRST city sponsored drone show in our state, and the community block party, made possible with the generous support of our own First Dakota National Bank.
