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

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 [email protected].

Friday, Aug. 21-23 • Activities begin at 8 a.m.Downtown Deadwood • Free Main Street concerts

Kool Deadwood Nites rolls through its final weekend with classic cars, auctions, cruising and live music. Friday’s schedule includes a rod run and performances by Stereo Trip, Play Some Petty, Mr. Wu’s Thunderstruck and Hotel California. The event continues through Sunday.

Friday, Aug. 21 • Activities throughout the dayRiverside Park and throughout Yankton

Yankton’s signature summer celebration runs Friday through Sunday with a juried arts festival, food, music, family entertainment, a Saturday parade and events around Riverside Park.

Friday, Aug. 21 • 10 a.m.-5 p.m.Throughout Custer

Custer’s community-wide Crazy Days returns Friday and Saturday with sales, shopping and activities at participating businesses throughout town.

Friday, Aug. 21 • 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.The Steel District, Sioux Falls

Short Notice Trio performs during Downtown Sioux Falls’ lunchtime AMPT! summer music series.

Friday, Aug. 21 • 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.12th Street Plaza, Sioux Falls • Free

The weekly downtown gathering pairs lunchtime entertainment with rotating food trucks at the 12th Street Plaza.

Friday, Aug. 21 • Fair opens at noonCentral States Fairgrounds, Rapid City

The Central States Fair begins its Aug. 21-29 run with carnival rides, food, exhibits and a week of grandstand entertainment. Friday night’s headline attraction is ArenaCross & Freestyle MotoX.

Friday, Aug. 21 • Noon-1 p.m.Old Courthouse Museum plaza, Sioux Falls • Free

Geoff Gunderson performs during the Old Courthouse Museum’s outdoor summer concert series.

Friday, Aug. 21 • 4-7 p.m.Pomegranate Market, Sioux Falls

The weekly market brings local growers, food producers and other vendors together for an early-evening stop in downtown Sioux Falls.

Friday, Aug. 21 • Registration at 5 p.m.Hayti Football Field, Hayti

Special Olympics South Dakota hosts a football-night Polar Plunge in Hayti. Registration begins at 5 p.m., with the plunge taking place after the football game.

Friday, Aug. 21 • 5 p.m.ICON Events, DaDa Gastropub and additional downtown venues, Sioux Falls • $30 single day / $45 weekend • All ages

Four Winds opens a two-day downtown festival spanning rock, punk, metal, emo and alternative music. The festival uses multiple downtown venues and continues Saturday.

Friday, Aug. 21 • 6-8 p.m.Plum’s Cooking Company, Sioux Falls • $90 plus tax

Chef April Johnson leads a hands-on cooking class built around elevated takes on familiar comfort-food dishes.

Friday, Aug. 21 • 6 p.m.Downtown Spearfish

Spearfish closes another week with live music, food, drinks and downtown activity during its summer Friday-night series.

Friday, Aug. 21-22 • 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.Trio Jazz Club, Sioux Falls

Jeremy and Jon Hegg lead an ensemble through the music of Sting during a three-night, six-show engagement at Trio Jazz Club. As of Trio’s Aug. 17 venue email, Friday’s 6:30 p.m. performance was sold out with only a few seats remaining for the 9 p.m. show.

Friday, Aug. 21 • 7 p.m.Brown County Speedway, Aberdeen

Friday-night dirt-track racing returns to Brown County Speedway with six racing classes scheduled as Aberdeen’s season heads into its late-summer stretch.

Friday, Aug. 21 • 7 p.m.Black Hills Speedway, Rapid City • $15 general admission

The 2026 points season reaches championship night with IMCA Hobby Stocks, WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds, 360 Sprint Cars, WISSOTA Mod Fours, IMCA Modifieds and WISSOTA Street Stocks. Gates open at 5 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 21 • 7 p.m.Levitt at the Falls, Sioux Falls • Free

Minnesota roots band Pert Near Sandstone headlines the Levitt lawn with its acoustic mix of bluegrass, old-time music and contemporary songwriting. MoonCats opens the evening.

Friday, Aug. 21 • 7 p.m.Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls

Riley Green brings the Cowboy As It Gets Tour to Sioux Falls with Justin Moore, Mackenzie Carpenter and Adam Hood.

Friday, Aug. 21 • 7:05 p.m.The Birdcage, Sioux Falls • Tickets from $13.75

The Canaries open a weekend series with Kansas City on Kids Night and RCM Fireworks Friday. Gates open at 6:05 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 21 • 8 p.m.Spearfish Public House, Spearfish

Lucas Olsen performs a Friday-night set at Spearfish Public House.

Saturday, Aug. 22 • 2 p.m.ICON Events, DaDa Gastropub and additional downtown venues, Sioux Falls • $30 single day / $45 weekend • All ages

Four Winds opens a two-day downtown festival spanning rock, punk, metal, emo and alternative music. The festival uses multiple downtown venues.

Saturday, Aug. 22 • Early-bird activities 7-9 a.m. / Festival 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.Good Earth State Park, Sioux Falls • Free

Prairie Fest celebrates South Dakota’s grasslands with guided outdoor activities, live music from Maygen & The Birdwatcher, food trucks, wildlife programming, native-plant education and family activities. Registration is required for the limited early-bird sessions but not the main festival.

Saturday, Aug. 22 • Sioux Falls registration at 8:30 a.m.Brookings, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Watertown and Yankton • $35 adults / $25 youth

The South Dakota Parkinson Foundation hosts its annual statewide fundraising walk in five communities. Sioux Falls participants gather at Harrisburg North Middle School Track, with an opening ceremony at 9:15 a.m. and the walk beginning at 9:30 a.m. Times vary at the other locations.

Saturday, Aug. 22 • NoonHiawatha Indian Asylum site, Canton • Free

Community members gather at the former Canton Indian Insane Asylum site to honor Native people who were confined and died there. The public observance is followed by a potluck meal at Canton United Methodist Church.

Saturday, Aug. 22 • 4-8 p.m.Downtown Aberdeen • Free

Cars, motorcycles and other vehicles fill Main Street for Aberdeen’s annual Sizzlin’ Summer Nights. The downtown event also includes food and activity around Malchow Plaza.

Saturday, Aug. 22 • 5 p.m.McCrossan Boys Ranch, Sioux Falls • Adults $15 advance / $16 gate • Youth $5 advance / $8 gate

The 18th annual Xtreme Event Challenge Rodeo features the Northern Bull Riding Tour, mutton busting and a pre-show performance by Nobody You’d Know. Gates open at 3:30 p.m., entertainment begins at 4 p.m. and the rodeo starts at 5 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 22 • 7 p.m.The Custer Beacon, Custer

Austin-based singer-songwriter Ruthie Craft performs with Black Hills songwriter and storyteller Devon Sants for a Saturday night show at The Custer Beacon.

Saturday, Aug. 22 • 7 p.m.LEI Arena, Central States Fairgrounds, Rapid City • $20-$50

The Central States Fair turns the arena over to the Mountain States Ford Demolition Derby for a Saturday night of automotive destruction.

Saturday, Aug. 22 • 7-9:30 p.m.Lucky’s Club 224, Sioux Falls • $20-$25

Denver-based comedian Edward Bell headlines Lucky’s with Austin Black and Rob Mo. Bell’s debut album, Residual Income, reached No. 1 on the iTunes comedy chart, and his touring résumé includes comedy festivals around the country.

Saturday, Aug. 22 • 7 p.m.Levitt at the Falls, Sioux Falls • Free

Chicago blues group Mississippi Heat brings more than three decades of touring experience to the Levitt Shell under the direction of harmonica player and songwriter Pierre Lacocque.

Sunday, Aug. 23 • 6 a.m. MDTLead through Spearfish Canyon to Spearfish

Runners take on marathon, half-marathon, 10K and 5K distances through the northern Black Hills. The women’s marathon begins at 6 a.m., with additional races following that morning.

Sunday, Aug. 23 • Racing at 3 p.m.University Plains Speedway, Brookings • $5 ages 12 and older / Under 12 free

The Brookings dirt and clay oval hosts its state championship with mower, wing kart, flat kart and stinger classes. Spectator gates open at noon, with hot laps scheduled for 2 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 23 • 7 p.m.LEI Arena, Central States Fairgrounds, Rapid City • $20-$50

The Central States Fair begins three consecutive nights of PRCA Range Days Rodeo action with broncs, bulls, barrels and other professional rodeo competition.

Sunday, Aug. 23 • 7 p.m.Orpheum Theater Center, Sioux Falls • $35.81-$52.52

Steely Dane brings a large jazz-rock ensemble to the Orpheum for an evening built around the Steely Dan and Donald Fagen catalog.

Monday, Aug. 24 • 7-8:30 p.m.McKennan Park Bandshell, Sioux Falls • Free

Funk Uh Fried closes out the Monday evening concert series with funk and pop spanning several decades.

Tuesday, Aug. 25 • 11 a.m.-1 p.m.McCrossan Boys Ranch Visitor Center, Sioux Falls

McCrossan Boys Ranch hosts its monthly Indian Taco Tuesday, with ranch residents serving lunch during the public community fundraiser.

Tuesday, Aug. 25 • 7:30-10 p.m.Wooden Legs Brewing Company, Brookings • Free

Teams test their knowledge during Wooden Legs Brewing Company’s weekly trivia night, with prizes available for the strongest collection of random facts.

Wednesday, Aug. 26 • 10 a.m.-7 p.m.McCrory Gardens, Brookings • Free

McCrory Gardens opens its grounds with free admission during its monthly Community Day. Last admission is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 26 • 6:30-8:30 p.m.Outlaw Square, Deadwood • Free

High Rise performs in downtown Deadwood as part of Outlaw Square’s Wednesday Night Free Summer Concert Series.

Wednesday, Aug. 26 • 7-10 p.m.Lucky’s Club 224, Sioux Falls • Free

Comedians compete in Lucky’s monthly contest hosted by Adam Goodge. The August show also includes a feature set from the previous month’s winner, Bill Bartor.

Thursday, Aug. 27 • Vendors at 5:30 p.m. / Music at 6 p.m.Downtown Brookings • Free

Brookings closes its five-week Downtown @ Sundown series with outdoor music, local food and beverage vendors, retail booths and free children’s activities.

Thursday, Aug. 27 • 7 p.m.Mary W. Sommervold Hall, Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls

Country singer Gary Allan performs at the Washington Pavilion with special guest Julie Eddy.

Thursday, Aug. 27 • 7 p.m.Levitt at the Falls, Sioux Falls • Free

Sioux Falls six-piece The Clover Fold brings its blend of Americana, outlaw country and traditional folk to the Levitt lawn.

Thursday, Aug. 27 • 8 p.m.The District, Sioux Falls

Paul Cauthen brings his country, rock and soul-influenced sound to The District. Doors open at 7 p.m. with the show scheduled for 8 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 27Main Street and Corn Palace, Mitchell

The Corn Palace Festival begins its official Aug. 27-30 run with carnival rides, food and specialty vendors, produce judging and festival activity surrounding the Corn Palace.

Thursday, Aug. 27 • 7:30-9 p.m.Billy Frogs Bar & Grill, Sioux Falls • Free

Billy Frogs hosts a different mix of local and touring comedians every Thursday, followed by karaoke. The official Sioux Falls event listing confirms the series runs weekly through Dec. 17.

Have an event we should consider for a future roundup? Send the event name, date, time, location, ticket or event link, and a short description to Lyrical Limelight/The Dakota Scout.

Check back each week for an updated list of future events.

Wednesday, Sept. 16 • 7 p.m.The District, Sioux Falls

Friday, Sept. 18 • 8:30–11:30 a.m.South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance, Sioux Falls

Saturday, Sept. 19 • 3–8 p.m.Cherapa Place Plaza, Sioux Falls

Saturday, Sept. 19 • 8 p.m.The Grain Bin, Sioux Falls • $30 • 18+ The lineup includes The Confused, The Disarmed, M.A.J., Twisted Darkness, Oswald and Morris and Spike Cadaver.

Saturday, Sept. 26 • 7 p.m.Huron High School Auditorium, Huron • Free

Saturday, Sept. 26–Sunday, Sept. 27Ramkota Exhibit Hall, Sioux Falls

Sunday, Sept. 27 • 7 p.m.Mary W. Sommervold Hall at the Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls

Saturday, Oct. 3Holiday Inn City Centre and nearby downtown venues, Sioux Falls

Thursday, Oct. 15 • 7 p.m.The Grain Bin, Sioux Falls • $15 in advance / $20 at the door • All ages

Thursday, Oct. 15 • 8 p.m.Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls

Thursday, Nov. 12 • Doors at 6 p.m.The Grain Bin, Sioux Falls • $20 in advance / $25 at the door • All ages

The touring bill includes Elisium, Etched in Embers, On My Six and Driven Under.

Thursday, Nov. 12 • 7 p.m.Orpheum Theater Center, Sioux Falls

Friday, Dec. 4 • 7 p.m.Saturday, Dec. 5 • 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.Sunday, Dec. 6 • 1 and 5 p.m.Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls

Thursday, Dec. 10 • 7 p.m.Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls

Friday, Jan. 22, 2027 • 7:30 p.m.Saturday, Jan. 23, 2027 • 1 and 7:30 p.m.Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls • Tickets start at $25

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