What's going on, South Dakota? | Upcoming events & entertainment

Submit your events for The Dakota Scout's Lounge section by emailing events@thedakotascout.com

Apr 23, 2026

Stay up to date with our listing of events happening across the state. From festivals and concerts to theater performances, local sports and community gatherings, we bring you the latest updates on entertainment and activities for all interests. Whether you’re seeking family-friendly fun, cultural experiences or vibrant nightlife, you’ll find plenty of exciting events to explore.

Read to the end to see upcoming events and future events to keep on your radar.

Events this Week

April 24–30

Party for the Planet

Saturday, April 25 • 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Sertoma Park, Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls Zoo & Aquarium’s “Party for the Planet” Earth Day celebration combines outdoor fun with conservation education. The event begins with a Big Sioux River clean up, followed by open fishing at The Outdoor Campus, activities with local vendors and a book hike. Participants will receive a ticket for $1 off of admission at their next Great Plains Zoo or Butterfly House & Aquarium visit.

South Dakota Symphony Orchestra: Mozart & Bartok

Saturday, April 25 • 7:30 p.m.
Mary W. Sommervold Hall, Sioux Falls

SDSO ends the season with Mozart’s beautiful and brilliant Piano Concerto No. 21, followed by Béla Bartók’s vibrant Concerto for Orchestra, highlighting the talent and beauty of the orchestral sound. This concert will also feature a world premiere by Iranian composer Alireza Motevaseli.

Rapid City Woodworkers Annual Show

Saturday, April 25 • 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Meade Lumber Yard & Ace Hardware, Rapid City

The Rapid City Woodworkers Association welcomes visitors to see a variety of projects while providing demonstrations of their woodworking skills. Visitors can register for a door prize or buy raffle tickets to win special items made by the members. A silent auction will make larger projects available for purchase. Children receive a free wooden toy and can have their first names made out of wood.

Black Hills Jazz Fest

April 22–25
Downtown Rapid City

The Black Hills Jazz Festival encourages listeners to move through downtown Rapid City while discovering music in unexpected places. Inspired by global festivals recognizing International Jazz Day and Jazz Appreciation Month, the Black Hills Jazz Fest highlights South Dakota-based musicians performing alongside nationally and internationally touring artists. Ticketed performances will take place on Thursday and Friday, and there will be 10 free performances throughout Rapid City on Saturday.

GOP Gubernatorial Primary Debate

Monday, April 27 • 7:30 p.m.
Belbas Theater, Sioux Falls

The Dakota Scout and Sioux Falls Live are hosting one of the most anticipated debates of the 2026 GOP gubernatorial primary, featuring all four candidates in the Republican primary for governor: Gov. Larry Rhoden, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, House Speaker Jon Hansen and Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden. Though the venue is sold out, the event will be streamed online and televised on Forum Communications broadcast channels throughout the state.

Fellowship Jazz Center Orchestra featuring Andrea Ross

Thursday, April 30 • 7:30 p.m.
Orpheum Theater Center, Sioux Falls

Celebrate International Jazz Day and the one-year anniversary of the Fellowship Jazz Center Orchestra, Sioux Falls’ premier jazz orchestra, with an unforgettable evening of music. Augustana University’s Blue & Gold Jazz Combo will kick off the evening, highlighting the next generation of jazz artists. The orchestra will feature special guest vocalist Andrea Ross, described by The Boston Globe as “a phenom, whose poise and pipes are astounding.”

Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man

April 30–May 2
Mary W. Sommervold Hall, Sioux Falls

There’s trouble in River City when a fast-talking salesman gets his heart stolen by the town librarian. Meredith Willson’s six-time, Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Music Man follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill as he cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band that he vows to organize – this despite the fact that he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian, the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain’s fall. A pre-show lounge will open at 5 p.m. featuring an “Iowa Spring Picnic” for $16.50 as well as themed specialty drinks.

Cece Teneal’s Divas of Soul

Thursday, April 30 • 8 p.m.
Rec Center, Belle Fourche

Take a ride on the “Midnight Train to Georgia” over “River Deep, Mountain High” while award-winning vocalist CeCe Teneal delivers you the “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” you deserve in Divas of Soul, a one-of-a-kind concert event. Celebrate 50 years of chart-topping music from artists like Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston and more. An award-winning songstress in her own right, Teneal was chosen as the halftime headliner for the 2019 Citrus Bowl. Admission to the event is by season ticket only.

Paranormal Cirque Inferno

April 24–27 • Variable showtimes
Empire Mall, Sioux Falls

Paranormal Cirque Inferno will be taking over the Empire Mall, bringing a blazing spectacle where horror, mature humor, and jaw dropping acrobatics collide in one intense and unforgettable show. Tickets range from $20–$60. Children under the age of 13 are not allowed to participate, and ages 13–17 must be accompanied by an adult.

Drowning in Dirt: Joseph Hutton and the Dustbowl

February 2–April 30 • Noon to 4 p.m.
Mead Museum, Yankton

Joseph Hutton, one of the first soil scientists of South Dakota, brought a new concept to the state: not all soil was the same, and different soils required different farming practices in order to be sustainable. The Mead Museum showcases the Dust Bowl through Hutton’s perspective in a new exhibit featuring his photography, poetry, speeches, and research notes.