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

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

Jul 16, 2026

Stay up to date with The Dakota Scout + Lyrical Limelight event listings from 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.

Submit your events to The Dakota Scout and Lyrical Limelight by emailing events@thedakotascout.com.

THIS WEEK

Friday, July 17

DTSF Summer Crazy Days

Friday, July 17–Saturday, July 18
Downtown Sioux Falls | Free

Downtown Sioux Falls hosts Summer Crazy Days with deals and discounts at participating downtown retailers. Store hours vary by location, so readers should check participating businesses before heading out.

Balloons Over Brookings

Friday, July 17–Sunday, July 19
Brookings | Free

Balloons Over Brookings brings a weekend of hot air balloon flights and family-friendly activities to Brookings, weather permitting. The event is built around sunrise and evening balloon viewing, with exact timing dependent on conditions.

Festival in the Park

Friday, July 17–Sunday, July 19
Spearfish City Park, Spearfish

Spearfish’s Festival in the Park returns for a weekend of art, vendors, music, food and community gathering in Spearfish City Park. The event runs Friday through Sunday.

Weekly Grill-out at the Co-op

Friday, July 17, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Sioux Falls Food Co+op, Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls Food Co+op continues its weekly summer patio grill-out. Guests can purchase grill items inside, bring the receipt outside and grab lunch on the patio while supplies last.

Bubbles with the Butterflies

Friday, July 17 • 10–11 a.m.
Butterfly House & Aquarium, Sioux Falls

The Butterfly Conservatory opens its Friday morning with bubbles floating among the butterflies, turtles and quail. The experience takes place during the first hour of the facility’s regular operating day.

adult tennis players playing in tournament

77th Annual South Dakota Open Tennis Tournament

Friday, July 17–Sunday, July 19
GreatLIFE Cares Foundation at Tomar Park and McKennan Park, Sioux Falls

The South Dakota Open brings competitive tennis players from across the region to Sioux Falls for a three-day tournament. The Level 4 Open is part of the Dakota Circuit and includes singles and doubles competition.

Rowena Ceili Band at the Old Courthouse Museum Summer Concert Series

Friday, July 17, noon–1 p.m.
Old Courthouse Museum, Sioux Falls | Free

The Rowena Ceili Band performs in the plaza behind the Old Courthouse Museum as part of the Friday summer concert series. The concert gives downtown readers a free lunchtime live music option.

Free Summer Concerts: Carmen Schooler

Friday, July 17, noon
Diamond Store Park, Mitchell | Free

Carmen Schooler performs as part of Mitchell’s Free Summer Concerts traveling series. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and settle in downtown for a midday concert.

Friday Night Farmers Market

Friday, July 17, 4–7 p.m.
Pomegranate Market, Sioux Falls

The Friday Night Farmers Market brings local food and handmade goods to Pomegranate Market near the Cherapa complex. It is a short evening stop for readers looking to shop local before the weekend begins.

"What is Home?" Artwork By Willie Baronet and Leah den Bok

Artist Reception

Friday, July 17, 5–8 p.m.
Washington Pavilion Visual Arts Center, Sioux Falls | Free

Washington Pavilion hosts a free artist reception for the Visual Arts Center’s newest exhibitions. Visitors can meet featured artists, explore the galleries and spend a quieter Friday evening with local and regional art.

Fireworks and Fine Wine

Friday, July 17, 6–8 p.m.
Plum’s Cooking Company, Sioux Falls | $100 plus tax

Plum’s Cooking Company hosts Fireworks and Fine Wine with instructor Rachel Elias. The class explores American wines, from Willamette Valley selections to California classics.

Downtown Friday Nights

Friday, July 17, 6–9 p.m.
Downtown Spearfish

Downtown Friday Nights continues in Spearfish with live music, food, beer, crafts and kids activities. The weekly summer series gives the northern Black Hills a reliable Friday evening gathering place.

Sioux Falls Canaries vs. Lincoln Saltdogs

Friday, July 17–Sunday, July 19
The Birdcage, Sioux Falls

The Sioux Falls Canaries host the Lincoln Saltdogs for a three-game weekend series. Friday’s game starts at 7:05 p.m., with additional games scheduled Saturday and Sunday.

Greatest Show on H2O

Friday, July 17, 7 p.m.
Catfish Bay, Sioux Falls

Catfish Bay hosts a Friday night performance of the Greatest Show on H2O, its long-running family-friendly water ski show. Online general admission tickets are listed at $17 for adults, $16 for seniors and military and $15 for kids ages 4-12.

Oh He Dead

Friday, July 17, 7 p.m.
Levitt Shell, Sioux Falls | Free

Oh He Dead plays a free outdoor concert at Levitt at the Falls. The Washington, D.C., group brings a mix of funk, pop and rock to the Levitt lawn.

Disney’s Frozen the Broadway Musical

Friday, July 17–18
Brookings

Disney’s “Frozen the Broadway Musical” continues in Brookings with an evening performance. The stage adaptation follows Elsa, Anna and the world of Arendelle with songs, spectacle and family-friendly theater.

2026 Summer Dinner Theatre

Friday, July 17, 6:30–10 p.m.
Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell

Dakota Wesleyan University’s Summer Dinner Theatre presents “Love, Sex, and the I.R.S.” The evening pairs a four-course dinner with a live comedy production.

Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo

Friday, July 17–Sunday, July 19
Stampede Park, Mitchell

The Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo continues in Mitchell with weekend rodeo performances at Stampede Park. The Friday performance begins at 8 p.m., with additional rodeo events scheduled through Sunday.

Saturday, July 18

Kid’s Day at the Butterfly House & Aquarium

Saturday, July 18 • 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Butterfly House & Aquarium, Sioux Falls | Regular admission applies

Kid’s Day includes a scavenger hunt, crafts and presentations from the facility’s biologists and aquarists. An axolotl talk begins at 1 p.m., followed by an Under the Dock feeding demonstration at 3 p.m.

Friends of Blood Run 5K Trail Run/Walk

Saturday, July 18, 8 a.m.
Blood Run National Historic Landmark, Granite, Iowa area

Friends of Blood Run hosts a 5K trail run and walk tied to the Blood Run National Historic Landmark area. The event was shared through Dakota Scout event submissions and is worth keeping in the future/current-week mix.

Farmers Market

Saturday, July 18, 9 a.m.–noon
300 block of 6th Ave., Brookings

The Brookings Farmers Market continues its Saturday morning season with local produce, food and vendors. The market is held near the Brookings Library and county courthouse.

club.presso

Saturday, July 18, 10 a.m.–noon
The Source Coffee Roastery + Taproom, Sioux Falls | Free

club.presso brings a Saturday morning DJ set to The Source in downtown Sioux Falls. It is part coffee stop, part low-key morning music hangout.

Rodeo Parade

Saturday, July 18, 10:30 a.m.
Main Street, Mitchell

The Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo Parade rolls through Mitchell on Saturday morning. It gives families and rodeo fans a daytime community event before the weekend’s evening performances.

AMPT! 2026

Saturday, July 18, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Phillips Avenue Plaza, Sioux Falls | Free

AMPT! brings live music and performance to Phillips Avenue Plaza during the Saturday lunch window. The downtown series runs through the summer with rotating performers.

Flat River Band

Saturday, July 18, 7 p.m.
Levitt Shell, Sioux Falls | Free

Flat River Band performs at Levitt at the Falls with a family-harmony sound rooted in country, bluegrass and Americana. The sibling trio brings a polished outdoor concert to the Levitt lawn.

Shakey Graves

Saturday, July 18, doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.
The District, Sioux Falls | All ages

Shakey Graves comes to The District for an all-ages Saturday night show. Doors open at 7 p.m., with music scheduled for 8 p.m.

JAMPOKE Live at Spearfish Pub

Saturday, July 18, 7:30 p.m.
Spearfish Public House, Spearfish

JAMPOKE performs Saturday night at Spearfish Public House. It adds a late evening live music option to a busy Festival in the Park weekend.

Sunday, July 19

The Art of Cold Brew

Sunday, July 19, 10 a.m.–noon
Plum’s Cooking Company, Sioux Falls | $50 plus tax

Barista Noah Adams leads The Art of Cold Brew at Plum’s Cooking Company. The class focuses on smooth, refreshing coffee techniques for cold brew fans and curious beginners.

Good Earth Summer Concert Series: Alexis Lorene

Sunday, July 19, 4-6 p.m.
Good Earth State Park at Blood Run, Sioux Falls area | Free with park entrance license

Alexis Lorene performs as part of the Good Earth Summer Concert Series. Visitors are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket, and a food truck is planned for the outdoor show.

Good Roots Pizza Nights

Sunday, July 19, 4:30–7:30 p.m.
Brookings

Good Roots Pizza Nights continues Sunday evening in Brookings. The recurring event gives readers a relaxed food-focused option to close out the weekend.

Karaoke Sunday Funday

Sunday, July 19, 6 p.m.
Crow Peak Brewing Co., Spearfish

Crow Peak Brewing Co. hosts Karaoke Sunday Funday. It is a casual Sunday night stop for readers who want to sing, listen or simply watch the brave souls take the mic.

Brookings Area Community Band

Sunday, July 19, 7:30–9 p.m.
Brookings

The Brookings Area Community Band performs Sunday evening. It adds a traditional community concert option to the Brookings weekend calendar.

Sioux Falls Municipal Band Presents: Viva Italia!

Sunday, July 19, 8 p.m.
Terrace Park, Sioux Falls | Free

The Sioux Falls Municipal Band presents Viva Italia!, a concert inspired by Italian culture and music. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for the Sunday night park performance.

Days of ’76 Rodeo & Parades

Sunday, July 19–Saturday, July 25
Days of ’76 Event Complex, Deadwood

Deadwood’s Days of ’76 Rodeo & Parades begins Sunday and runs through the following Saturday. The historic rodeo week brings rodeo performances, parades and Western tradition to Deadwood.

Monday, July 20

Spearfish, South Dakota, Black Hills, Spearfish Sasquatch, Baseball, Entertainment, Family Friendly

Spearfish Sasquatch vs. Casper Spuds

Monday, July 20, 6 p.m.
Black Hills Power Sports Complex, Spearfish

The Spearfish Sasquatch host the Casper Spuds for Monday evening baseball. It is the first game in a four-night home stretch against Casper.

Brulé

Monday, July 20
Outlaw Square, Deadwood

Brulé performs at Outlaw Square in Deadwood. Public calendar details are limited, so readers should check the event page for final timing before making the drive.

Mondays at McKennan: The Fabulous Fitty Band

Monday, July 20, 7 p.m.
McKennan Park Bandshell, Sioux Falls | Free

Mondays at McKennan continues with The Fabulous Fitty Band. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for a free Monday evening concert in the park.

Tuesday, July 21

Intro to Fishing

Tuesday, July 21, 4–5:30 p.m.
Brookings

Brookings hosts an Intro to Fishing class for people learning the basics of the sport. The listing is geared toward anyone looking for a hands-on outdoor activity.

Sioux Falls Canaries vs. Winnipeg Goldeyes

Tuesday, July 21-Thursday, July 23, 6:35 p.m.
The Birdcage, Sioux Falls

The Sioux Falls Canaries host the Winnipeg Goldeyes for a three-game weekday series. Games are scheduled Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 6:35 p.m.

Bingo with Ben

Tuesday, July 21, 6 p.m.
Crow Peak Brewing Co., Spearfish

Crow Peak Brewing Co. hosts Bingo with Ben on Tuesday evening. It is a low-key midweek option in Spearfish.

Sioux Falls Municipal Band Presents: That’s Amore!

Tuesday, July 21
Trail Ridge, Sioux Falls | Free

The Sioux Falls Municipal Band continues its summer schedule with That’s Amore! at Trail Ridge. The concert leans into warm, romantic and familiar selections.

Wednesday, July 22

McCrory Gardens Community Days

Wednesday, July 22, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
McCrory Gardens, Brookings

McCrory Gardens hosts Community Days on Wednesday. The event gives Brookings-area readers a full-day garden and community outing.

Tween Crafts Night

Wednesday, July 22, 3:30 p.m.
Grace Balloch Library, Spearfish

Grace Balloch Library hosts Tween Crafts Night on Wednesday afternoon. It is a creative option for younger readers and families in Spearfish.

Canyon Acoustic Series

Wednesday, July 22, 6 p.m.
Spearfish City Park, Spearfish | Free

The Canyon Acoustic Series continues with free Wednesday evening music in Spearfish City Park. The series includes local food vendors, arts and crafts, beer and wine.

Greatest Show on H2O

Wednesday, July 22, 7 p.m.
Catfish Bay, Sioux Falls

Catfish Bay adds a special Wednesday night performance of the Greatest Show on H2O. The water ski show blends tricks, stunts and family-friendly comedy.