Pack up your off-road vehicle and enjoy the Annual Custer Off-Road Rally. Head down to Custer with your ATV, UTV or dual sport and take in the hundreds of miles of trails in the southern Black Hills. The weekend includes a poker run, vendors, live music and more. There will be an awards banquet Saturday evening. Complete details will be posted to the website when available.
The Dakota Five-O is a mountain bike race that is not for the weary. With a challenging track, it is a fun event that starts in Spearfish and has different trails for different riders. The Dakota Five-O continues to entice riders from across the country. From the pristine, hand-built singletrack that graces much of the course, to the high spirited after party, riders are impressed with the event. The start/finish is at the Spearfish City Park. 2025 marks the 25th anniversary.
Eagle Day is a celebration of the spectacular spring migration through Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Visitors have the potential to observe thousands of migratory birds as they rest and feed in the wide-open spaces of northeastern South Dakota (27 miles northeast of Aberdeen). You may encounter huge flocks of waterfowl, such as snow geese, mallards, and northern pintails. Spring conditions are typically ideal for spotting Bald Eagles and, if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to spot a nest or two. Bring those binoculars! Activities include presentations, live birds by the FARE group, and more. This free event runs 12-4 p.m.
The Festival in the Park is one of the largest outdoor summer arts festivals in the upper Midwest. It is sponsored by the The Matthews Opera House & Arts Center (a non-profit organization), and all proceeds are used to produce the annual festival and assist other arts activities in the greater Spearfish area. Activities run 4-10 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. Celebrating it's 47th year in 2025. Free admission on Saturday and Sunday. (Friday night is $5 Wristband Night.)
The Twin Rivers Old Iron Harvest & Kuchen Festival is an annual show that highlights the history of agriculture as well as the history of the machines that were used in years gone by. It also celebrates South Dakota's official state dessert: Kuchen. There will be parades on Saturday and Sunday, an antique tractor pull Sunday afternoon, and threshing demonstrations. There is fun for the whole family including vendors, playground equipment, and train rides for the kids. Lunch is available on the grounds, which are on the western edge of Delmont. Admission is free. Happening September 13-14, 2025, the festival will feature International Harvester. Kuchen will be for sale both days.
The community of Highmore holds Old Settlers' Days annually the third weekend in June. The community comes together each year to offer a variety of different events, including a parade, live music, road race/walk, car show, inflatables, bingo, food trucks and more. Our goal is to make Old Settlers' Weekend fun for the whole family.
The Red Cloud Indian Art Show is one of the largest and longest-running Native American art shows of its kind in the country, and one of only a few held on an Indian reservation hundreds of miles from any urban area. Each year, the exhibition showcases more than 150 submissions in categories from painting and photography to beadwork and quillwork, and 2025 is the 57th anniversary. The show is held at the Red Cloud Indian School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and is open daily, June 7-August 10, 2025.
The Rosholt Area Threshermen's Association was founded in 1988. Since then, men and women from the tri-state area have gotten together every summer to bring yesterday's memories to the present. Each annual Threshing Bee is full of old fashioned fun for the whole family. Events include threshing demonstrations, a parade, a car show, a horse show, a craft show, kids activities, music and food. The schedule runs 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. 2025 marks the 36th year of the Rosholt Threshing Bee and will feature CASE.
The annual Sioux River Folk Festival, held at Newton Hills State Park near Canton, is a great family event that happens rain or shine. It is dedicated to preserving and promoting traditional music for South Dakotans and the region. Enjoy musical performances, workshops, food vendors and yoga. Musicians perform 6-11 p.m. on Friday, 12-11 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday. Workshops are held 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturday and 10-11 a.m. on Sunday. 2025 will mark the festival's 45th anniversary. See admission information online. State Park Entrance License is also required.
Held at Deadwood's historic Days of '76 Arena, Back When They Bucked is a quality event for all ages. This wooly and wild all day rodeo features PRCA Xtreme Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling and Bareback Riding, along with WPRA Breakaway. Back When They Bucked is presented by The Western Legacy Foundation, whose mission is supporting the youth in higher education, organizations, programs, and projects that enhance services and education to the public. Admission information is available online.
