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, Aug. 21
Kool Deadwood Nites
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.
Yankton Riverboat Days & Summer Arts Festival
Friday, Aug. 21 • Activities throughout the day
Riverside 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.
Custer Crazy Days
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.
AMPT! featuring Short Notice Trio
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.
Fridays on the Plaza
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.
Central States Fair
Friday, Aug. 21 • Fair opens at noon
Central 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.
Geoff Gunderson at the Old Courthouse Museum
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 Night Farmers Market
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.
NESC Fourth & Freeze Polar Plunge
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.
Four Winds Music & Art Fest
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.
Elevated Comfort Foods
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.
Downtown Friday Nights
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.
The Music of Sting - A Hegg Brothers Show
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.
Brown County Speedway races
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.
Black Hills Speedway Season Points Championships
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.
Pert Near Sandstone
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.
Riley Green: Cowboy As It Gets Tour 2026
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.
Kansas City Monarchs vs. Sioux Falls Canaries
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.
Music by Lucas Olsen
Friday, Aug. 21 • 8 p.m.
Spearfish Public House, Spearfish
Lucas Olsen performs a Friday-night set at Spearfish Public House.
Saturday, Aug. 22
Four Winds Music & Art Fest
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.
Prairie Fest 2026
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.
Step Big Walk for Parkinson’s
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.
Annual Honoring at the Hiawatha Asylum Site
Saturday, Aug. 22 • Noon
Hiawatha 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.
Sizzlin’ Summer Nights Car & Bike Show
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.
McCrossan Boys Ranch Xtreme Event Challenge Rodeo
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.
Ruthie Craft with Devon Sants
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.
Mountain States Ford Demolition Derby
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.
Edward Bell Comedy at Lucky’s Club 224
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.
Mississippi Heat
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
Leading Ladies & Dakota Spirit Marathon
Sunday, Aug. 23 • 6 a.m. MDT
Lead 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.
SD State Championship at University Plains Speedway
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.
PRCA Range Days Rodeo
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.
Steely Dane: The Ultimate Steely Dan Tribute
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
Mondays at McKennan with Funk Uh Fried
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
Indian Taco Tuesday
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.
Trivia Tuesday
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
McCrory Gardens Community Day
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.
High Rise at Outlaw Square
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.
Monthly Comedy Contest at Lucky’s Club 224
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
Downtown @ Sundown
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.
Gary Allan with Julie Eddy
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.
The Clover Fold
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.
Paul Cauthen
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.
2026 Corn Palace Festival
Thursday, Aug. 27
Main 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.
Free Weekly Comedy Show at Billy Frogs
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.
Future Events
Check back each week for an updated list of future events.
Mac McAnally
Wednesday, Sept. 16 • 7 p.m.
The District, Sioux Falls
Veterans Stand Down
Friday, Sept. 18 • 8:30–11:30 a.m.
South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance, Sioux Falls
Downtown Sioux Falls Riverfest
Saturday, Sept. 19 • 3–8 p.m.
Cherapa Place Plaza, Sioux Falls
Eerie Echoes Vol. 6
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.
Josh Packard: Church Refugees and Meaning Making
Tuesday, Sept. 22 • 7 p.m.
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls • Free
Huron Fine Arts Hall of Fame Celebration Concert
Saturday, Sept. 26 • 7 p.m.
Huron High School Auditorium, Huron • Free
South Dakota Rock & Rollers Hall of Fame Induction Weekend
Saturday, Sept. 26–Sunday, Sept. 27
Ramkota Exhibit Hall, Sioux Falls
Jo Dee Messina: Bridges Tour
Sunday, Sept. 27 • 7 p.m.
Mary W. Sommervold Hall at the Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls
South Dakota Festival of Books
Saturday, Oct. 3
Holiday Inn City Centre and nearby downtown venues, Sioux Falls
James K.A. Smith: Who Are We Becoming?
Monday, Oct. 5 • 7 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 6 • 10 a.m.
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls • Free
Ronda Civic with Fuzz Evil, Nathan Gillis and Aerica Lauren
Thursday, Oct. 15 • 7 p.m.
The Grain Bin, Sioux Falls • $15 in advance / $20 at the door • All ages
Zach Top: Cold Beer & Country Music Tour
Thursday, Oct. 15 • 8 p.m.
Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls
Saints of Sickness Tour
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.
Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue
Thursday, Nov. 12 • 7 p.m.
Orpheum Theater Center, Sioux Falls
Disney On Ice presents Find Your Hero
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
Bert Kreischer: Permission to Party
Thursday, Dec. 10 • 7 p.m.
Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls
Toughest Monster Truck Tour
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
