No matter what time of year it might be, there are ALWAYS tons of festivals coming up at some point all over South Dakota. From exciting rodeos to outdoor music events, you have got to experience them yourself! Here are some of the downright best events and festivals in South Dakota that everyone ought to experience at least once:
- Sturgis Motorcycle Rally - Sturgis
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally/Facebook Whether you are a biker, motorcycle enthusiast, or just an observer, the annual motorcycle rally held in Sturgis is quite the sight to behold. Thousands of bikers from all over gather to take a scenic drive through the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota in one huge group ride. There are tons of things for everyone to see and do on main street in Sturgis each year.
- Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant - De Smet
Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant/Facebook Get the show of a lifetime out on the prairie stage. Every year, De Smet holds this pageant that draws hundreds of people to see the history of life in South Dakota played out in front of them in spectacular fashion. Other activities and events are held during the day. Take a trip to the past at this awesome event! Fan of North Dakota’s history will be fans of this little event!
- Wild Bill Days - Deadwood
Historic Deadwood/Facebook This is the event that really packs them in to historic Deadwood, SD. Live music performances, shows, vendors, you name it - everything that makes a great festival is at Wild Bill Days. Just prepare for it to be busy!
- Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo - Rapid City
Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo/Facebook One of the biggest stock shows in South Dakota is held annually in Rapid City. Tons of events are held here every year. Rodeo sports like barrel racing and bull riding are some favorites. Hundreds of stock animals are bought and sold here, and there are plenty of vendors selling their wares: everything from delicious food to handmade art. Come to browse or come for the excitement of the rodeo; either way, you’re in for a good time. If you’re a fan of stock shows, you might also enjoy some of the amazing flea markets in South Dakota.
- Jazzfest - Sioux Falls
Bill Tetrault/Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society/Facebook Let the music overtake you at the annual Jazzfest in Sioux Falls. There is live music from local artists and national stars alike, all day. Even if you’re not a jazz fan, you should check this one out at least once. It’s an amazing experience! This event is one of those things to love about South Dakota we wish was all year long.
- Fort Sisseton Historical Festival - Lake City
Fort Sisseton Historic State Park/Facebook Thousands of people visit this historic state park in South Dakota each year to experience this festival, featuring live shows and plenty of other activities to make the day awesome. Discover history through the amazing performances at Fort Sisseton Historical Festival.
- Days of ‘76 Rodeo - Deadwood
Days of 76’ Rodeo/Facebook All the thrills of a rodeo packed into one awesome festival! The Days of ‘76 Rodeo is just loaded with awesome events and everything you could ever think of to be at a rodeo. Horses and riders especially show off in some intense competitions that will have you on the edge of your seat. It’s just an all-around great time to be had. Besides, rodeos are just one of those things people from South Dakota are good at.
- Yankton Riverboat Days & Summer Arts Festival - Yankton
Yankton Riverboat Days & Summer Arts Festival/Facebook Enjoy a summer day out in the sun while browsing through tons of beautiful works of art by many artists and vendors from all over the place. It’s also a great way to see picturesque Yankton. Be sure to get there in time for the parade through town at this iconic summer festival in South Dakota.
- South Dakota State Fair - Huron
South Dakota State Fair/Facebook The best time of the year for many is the annual state fair, and South Dakota’s state fair does not disappoint. All the carnival rides and stand favorites everyone knows and loves and some amazing events take place every year in Huron, South Dakota. Don’t forget about the fair food - you’ll be stuffed by the end of the day! This is one of those things to do in South Dakota before you die if we ever saw one.
- Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup – Custer
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally/Facebook
Whether you are a biker, motorcycle enthusiast, or just an observer, the annual motorcycle rally held in Sturgis is quite the sight to behold. Thousands of bikers from all over gather to take a scenic drive through the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota in one huge group ride. There are tons of things for everyone to see and do on main street in Sturgis each year.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant/Facebook
Get the show of a lifetime out on the prairie stage. Every year, De Smet holds this pageant that draws hundreds of people to see the history of life in South Dakota played out in front of them in spectacular fashion. Other activities and events are held during the day. Take a trip to the past at this awesome event! Fan of North Dakota’s history will be fans of this little event!
Historic Deadwood/Facebook
This is the event that really packs them in to historic Deadwood, SD. Live music performances, shows, vendors, you name it - everything that makes a great festival is at Wild Bill Days. Just prepare for it to be busy!
Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo/Facebook
One of the biggest stock shows in South Dakota is held annually in Rapid City. Tons of events are held here every year. Rodeo sports like barrel racing and bull riding are some favorites. Hundreds of stock animals are bought and sold here, and there are plenty of vendors selling their wares: everything from delicious food to handmade art. Come to browse or come for the excitement of the rodeo; either way, you’re in for a good time. If you’re a fan of stock shows, you might also enjoy some of the amazing flea markets in South Dakota.
Bill Tetrault/Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society/Facebook
Let the music overtake you at the annual Jazzfest in Sioux Falls. There is live music from local artists and national stars alike, all day. Even if you’re not a jazz fan, you should check this one out at least once. It’s an amazing experience! This event is one of those things to love about South Dakota we wish was all year long.
Fort Sisseton Historic State Park/Facebook
Thousands of people visit this historic state park in South Dakota each year to experience this festival, featuring live shows and plenty of other activities to make the day awesome. Discover history through the amazing performances at Fort Sisseton Historical Festival.
Days of 76’ Rodeo/Facebook
All the thrills of a rodeo packed into one awesome festival! The Days of ‘76 Rodeo is just loaded with awesome events and everything you could ever think of to be at a rodeo. Horses and riders especially show off in some intense competitions that will have you on the edge of your seat. It’s just an all-around great time to be had. Besides, rodeos are just one of those things people from South Dakota are good at.
Yankton Riverboat Days & Summer Arts Festival/Facebook
Enjoy a summer day out in the sun while browsing through tons of beautiful works of art by many artists and vendors from all over the place. It’s also a great way to see picturesque Yankton. Be sure to get there in time for the parade through town at this iconic summer festival in South Dakota.
South Dakota State Fair/Facebook
The best time of the year for many is the annual state fair, and South Dakota’s state fair does not disappoint. All the carnival rides and stand favorites everyone knows and loves and some amazing events take place every year in Huron, South Dakota. Don’t forget about the fair food - you’ll be stuffed by the end of the day! This is one of those things to do in South Dakota before you die if we ever saw one.
This really needs to be seen in person to get the true experience, but check out this video of a roundup from a few years ago! The giant herd of bison in Custer State Park is moved annually, and you can get a front-row seat to this exciting event that will put you right back into the old west.
What are some other awesome events and festivals in South Dakota you look forward to every year? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Festivals in South Dakota October 04, 2022 Tori Jane Which annual festivals in South Dakota should I add to my bucket list? Life in South Dakota is pretty low-key and quiet (unless you’re like us and you’re obsessed with the natural wonders of South Dakota, in which case, you’ll never be found indoors ever), but that doesn’t mean we don’t have our fair share of wonderful annual festivals in SD to check out. In June, there’s the Wild Bill Days festival in Deadwood, which celebrates the old-school wild, wild western life with food, games, re-enactments, and more. Then, locals and visitors alike come from all over the nation to participate in the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August, which attracts about half a million people every year. South Dakota is a happening place for festivals, we swear! What are some totally South Dakota events I need to do at least once? So, other than the two named above, there are… well… plenty more, to say the least. Some of our other favorite South Dakota events everyone should attend at least once are things like the Black Hills Bluegrass Festival, which typically happens in June and attracts thousands. It’s one of the more low-key festivals you can attend, and we love it for its laid-back vibes. Lovers of those laid-back vibes will also love the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival, which usually takes place in July and sees about 80,000 attendees each year. What small towns in South Dakota have the best events? It seems like just about every wonderful small town in South Dakota is host to SOME kind of event every year, and we could spend all day (and several pages) listing them all here. Among our favorite small South Dakota towns for events and festivals include places like Deadwood, which is fun always but especially during festival season, and there are numerous things going on at South Dakota’s state parks every year, too. You can’t go wrong with living in South Dakota, especially if you enjoy small towns and big events!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Festivals in South Dakota
October 04, 2022
Tori Jane
Which annual festivals in South Dakota should I add to my bucket list? Life in South Dakota is pretty low-key and quiet (unless you’re like us and you’re obsessed with the natural wonders of South Dakota, in which case, you’ll never be found indoors ever), but that doesn’t mean we don’t have our fair share of wonderful annual festivals in SD to check out. In June, there’s the Wild Bill Days festival in Deadwood, which celebrates the old-school wild, wild western life with food, games, re-enactments, and more. Then, locals and visitors alike come from all over the nation to participate in the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August, which attracts about half a million people every year. South Dakota is a happening place for festivals, we swear! What are some totally South Dakota events I need to do at least once? So, other than the two named above, there are… well… plenty more, to say the least. Some of our other favorite South Dakota events everyone should attend at least once are things like the Black Hills Bluegrass Festival, which typically happens in June and attracts thousands. It’s one of the more low-key festivals you can attend, and we love it for its laid-back vibes. Lovers of those laid-back vibes will also love the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival, which usually takes place in July and sees about 80,000 attendees each year. What small towns in South Dakota have the best events? It seems like just about every wonderful small town in South Dakota is host to SOME kind of event every year, and we could spend all day (and several pages) listing them all here. Among our favorite small South Dakota towns for events and festivals include places like Deadwood, which is fun always but especially during festival season, and there are numerous things going on at South Dakota’s state parks every year, too. You can’t go wrong with living in South Dakota, especially if you enjoy small towns and big events!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Life in South Dakota is pretty low-key and quiet (unless you’re like us and you’re obsessed with the natural wonders of South Dakota, in which case, you’ll never be found indoors ever), but that doesn’t mean we don’t have our fair share of wonderful annual festivals in SD to check out. In June, there’s the Wild Bill Days festival in Deadwood, which celebrates the old-school wild, wild western life with food, games, re-enactments, and more. Then, locals and visitors alike come from all over the nation to participate in the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August, which attracts about half a million people every year. South Dakota is a happening place for festivals, we swear!
What are some totally South Dakota events I need to do at least once?
So, other than the two named above, there are… well… plenty more, to say the least. Some of our other favorite South Dakota events everyone should attend at least once are things like the Black Hills Bluegrass Festival, which typically happens in June and attracts thousands. It’s one of the more low-key festivals you can attend, and we love it for its laid-back vibes. Lovers of those laid-back vibes will also love the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival, which usually takes place in July and sees about 80,000 attendees each year.
What small towns in South Dakota have the best events?
It seems like just about every wonderful small town in South Dakota is host to SOME kind of event every year, and we could spend all day (and several pages) listing them all here. Among our favorite small South Dakota towns for events and festivals include places like Deadwood, which is fun always but especially during festival season, and there are numerous things going on at South Dakota’s state parks every year, too. You can’t go wrong with living in South Dakota, especially if you enjoy small towns and big events!
