Come see performers like the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds at the 2026 Power on the Prairie Sioux Falls Air and Space Expo on July 18-19. The Sioux Falls Airshow is a free event with entertainment for the whole family. Show hours are 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Gates are open 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Shuttle buses from parking locations are available.
Free concerts on Main Street Deadwood are awesome, but that's not all! You can also check out the National Dock Dogs Competition and learn the tricks of gold panning and sluicing from Black Hills pros right on Main Street. There's also a weekend-long classic car auction, and free concerts by top bands. Have fun celebrating the life and times of Wild Bill Hickok in Deadwood.
Wild Deadwood Reads is an annual event held at The Lodge at Deadwood Gaming Resort in Historic Deadwood. Our multi-author, multi-genre Book Fair is just one of the exciting events happening, along with a basket raffle to support a local nonprofit organization, numerous giveaways and prizes, and much more. In attendance will be more than 100 authors from all over the country, including bestselling and award-winning authors of every genre—romance, historical, Christian, children’s, mystery, thrillers, Western, non-fiction and more. You will be able to find something for everyone in the family to enjoy. Admittance is free, so bring the whole family and find your new favorite books and authors.
Head to historic downtown Yankton for the annual Rock-n-Rumble Motorcycle Rally. Highlights of this fun event include the motorcycle parade, food vendors, and live music. Events and activities run all day Saturday. 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the event.
The annual Quilt Show sponsored by the Black Hills Quilters Guild is held in early June at The Monument in beautiful downtown Rapid City. There will be 400-500 quilts on display and about 20 vendors with quilt-related products. The show, one of the largest in the Dakotas, is a colorful feast for the eyes. Show hours are 5-8 p.m. on Thursday (preview), 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $7 per day, or $10 for a three-day pass. Free admission for children. See our website for the latest updates and information.
Celebrate the holiday season with the Annual Festival of Lights in Downtown Brookings. This annual celebration brings together the entire community for lots of lights, hot chocolate, and your favorite holiday tunes. The parade goes down Main Avenue to 3rd Street, up 5th Avenue, across 6th Street, and back to Main Avenue. Pre-parade activities start at 4 or 5 p.m. and the parade kick-off at 7 p.m. 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the celebration.
Dazzling lighted holiday floats and music flood historic Phillips Avenue from 13th Street to 5th Street in downtown Sioux Falls. The Annual Parade of Lights is the official start to the downtown holiday season. Join in the fun the Friday after Thanksgiving, 7:30-9 p.m. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the holidays! 2022 marked the 30th year of the event.
Visit with Santa and his animal friends 8-10 a.m. at Bramble Park Zoo in Watertown. Enjoy breakfast along with other activities inside the Discovery Center. Please wear proper winter attire to view the animals outside at the zoo. Participation is limited to 200 people, so get your tickets early at the Zoo or at County Fair of Watertown. Find more admission information on our website.
The Dakota Angler Ice Institute was started in 2008 to give ice fishermen an opportunity to see the latest and greatest in the ice fishing industry and to learn from the experts how to use the equipment. Throughout the years, the Ice Institute has a had a number of professors share their knowledge. A few of those have included the "Godfather" of ice fishing - Dave Genz, Jason Mitchell, Chip Leer, Brad Hawthorne, Dennis Kassube, Brian Brosdahl, and many, many more. You'll be able to see all the latest and greatest in the ice fishing world, including portable and permanent ice shacks, augers, electronics, as well as plenty of jigs and lures. Held at the Sioux Falls Convention Center & Arena, admission is $7 per day, or get a weekend pass for $15. Hours are 3-9 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday; and 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sunday.
The Food Truck Festival is being held at Bramble Park Zoo in Watertown and it will feature several different food trucks with items for purchase. The festival runs 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and the food trucks will be located around the zoo. (The Zoo is open 10 a.m.-7 p.m.) Regular admission (or membership) is required.
