Mark you calendars! Each year, over the third full weekend in August, Yankton Area Arts hosts one of the premiere celebrations of the arts. The Annual Summer Arts Festival takes place along the Missouri River at Riverside Park in conjunction with Yankton's Riverboat Days. This juried arts & crafts show features more than 120 fine artists and craftsmen from around the country and includes traditional festival favorites as well as exciting entertainment. Admission is free to the public.
Outlaw Square is happy to present two nights of free music Memorial Day Weekend 2025. Join us for a summer kickstart concert weekend – featuring Ned LeDoux, 8-10 p.m. on Friday, May 23, and Night Ranger, 8-10 p.m. on Saturday, May 24. Grab a friend (or three!) and make Historic Deadwood your place to be!
Known for showcasing talented local artists, That Sounds Decent has been a beloved event in the Sioux Falls area. This full-day festival will feature live locally-tied music, food vendors, and a variety of engaging activities for all ages. Details about the performance schedule, food trucks, and activities can be found online. The 2025 That Sounds Decent Festival will take place at Levitt at the Falls from 3-10:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 28. Soulcrate Music is headlining this free event.
Starting from the Kokomo Gallery in Lemmon, the Thunderhawk Wide Open gravel bike race takes you through some of the most iconic and remote land in the Old West. With three routes - 25 miles, 50 miles and 115 miles - there is a course for every skill and fitness level. Start times will be staggered so all racers will finish in the same approximate window. All routes feature great gravel and scenic beauty in North Dakota and South Dakota. In addition to being a one-of-a-kind cycling event, the Thunderhawk Wide Open is a celebration of art, music, local culture, and history. See our website for more details and registration information. (This event is part of the Grasslands Triple Crown point series competition, which also includes Grassland Gravel and Wheelin' to Wall.)
The Tour de Oahe is a classic road fondo featuring the beautiful Lake Oahe, Missouri River, Oahe Dam and Pierre/Fort Pierre area. There are three route options of 68 miles, 41 miles, and 22 miles. For 2025, due to road construction, the Tour de Oahe will kick off at the scenic Farm Island Recreation Area just east of Pierre. Riders will ride east along the gently rolling hills of Highway 34, with breathtaking views of the Missouri River. More route and registration information can be found on the Oahe Wheelmen Cycling Club website.
Taking place at the Turner County Fairgrounds in Parker each August, the Turner County Fair is the oldest running fair in South Dakota. Admission is free and activities include 4-H exhibits, specialty foods (such as lamb chislic, homemade ice cream, homemade pie, beef or pork sandwiches, fresh-baked donuts and more), kids activities, grandstand events, musical performances and more. The fair gives local 4-H members the opportunity to showcase their projects while also serving as an unofficial end to summer with four fun-filled days before school starts.
Head to the Dakota Bank Center (formerly the Swiftel Center) west lawn for the Uncle Sam Jam. Celebrate Independence Day in Brookings with free and fun activities for all ages as well as live music from 6-10 p.m. There will be a huge fireworks show at approximately 10 p.m. (shortly after sunset).
The annual Vinegar Festival takes place in Roslyn in northeastern South Dakota. Events include a parade, Vinegar Queen crowning, stage entertainment, kids activities, food and craft vendors, alumni meet and greet, vinegar tasting, International Vinegar Museum tours and food demonstrations. Spend the day - 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. - enjoying the art of vinegar (times are approximate and subject to change).
Every summer, hundreds of visitors congregate in Rapid City's Wilson Park to enjoy food, music, performances, and to shop dozens of local vendors selling everything from art and jewelry to food and drinks. The West Boulevard Summer Festival has been offering fun for the whole family for nearly 50 years. Hosted every Father's Day weekend, admission is free and open to the public. Hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday.
Four days. Three shows. Thousands of wheels. Held in Huron at the South Dakota State Fairgrounds, Wheel Jam consists of three major shows: a car show, a motorcycle show and a semi/truck show. Other events include live entertainment, dynamic engine brake competition, semi light show, car and motorcycle show n’ shine, audio sound competition, burn out pit, poker run, stock car races, mobile dyno service and more. See our website for hours and admission information.
