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 02, 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 3

Fire Bros. Fireworks 10 Year Anniversary Party

Friday, July 3, starting at 5 p.m., fireworks at dusk
Fire Bros. Fireworks, 8201 W. 12th St., Sioux Falls | Free

Fire Bros. Fireworks celebrates its 10-year anniversary with a Friday evening party featuring food trucks, bouncy houses and a fireworks show at dusk. The event adds another family-friendly fireworks option to the holiday weekend calendar.

Fort Pierre Rodeo and Boots & Roots weekend

Friday, July 3–Saturday, July 4
Stanley County Fairgrounds, Fort Pierre

The 100th annual Fort Pierre Rodeo continues into the holiday weekend with Friday slack at 10 a.m., SDRA rodeo action at 5:30 p.m. and a Wade Hayes concert at 7:30 p.m. The celebration continues Saturday with a 10 a.m. parade, a 7 p.m. rodeo and a fireworks display sponsored by the Fort Pierre Fire Department.

The Spearfish America 250th Parade

Friday, July 3, 2 p.m.
Downtown Spearfish | Free

Spearfish marks America’s 250th with a Friday afternoon parade. The route begins at Spearfish High School before turning onto Hillsview Road and moving through town.

Lake Norden Community Barbecue & Independence Day Celebration

Friday, July 3–Saturday, July 4
Lake Norden

Lake Norden’s two-day Independence Day celebration begins Friday with the annual community barbecue and live music from 5–7 p.m., along with bouncy houses, balloon art, equipment displays and family activities. Saturday includes a triathlon, baseball and fireworks.

DTSF Open Streets

Friday, July 3, 5–8 p.m.
Phillips Avenue between 6th and 7th Street, Sioux Falls | Free

Downtown Sioux Falls opens part of Phillips Avenue to pedestrians for its July Open Streets event. This month’s edition celebrates America’s birthday with vendors, performers, kid-friendly activities, food trucks and a car-free block downtown.

Free First Friday

Friday, July 3, 5–8 p.m.
Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls | Free

The Washington Pavilion opens the Kirby Science Discovery Center and Visual Arts Center for Free First Friday. Children 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

Mina Lake Freedom Festival

Friday, July 3–Saturday, July 4
Mina Lake

Mina Lake’s Freedom Festival includes live music, kids activities, a fun run and walk, parade, car and motorcycle show, family picnic and fireworks over the lake. The fireworks are scheduled for dusk Friday, around 10 p.m., with the community parade set for 10 a.m. Saturday.

Custer’s Fourth of July Celebration

Friday, July 3–Saturday, July 4
Custer

Custer’s Fourth of July Celebration runs across the holiday weekend with a Patriot’s Parade, street dance, arts and crafts fair, games, races and fireworks from Pageant Hill at dark Saturday. Check the full schedule before heading west, since individual activities vary by day.

Springfield 4th of July Celebration

Friday, July 3–Sunday, July 5
Springfield

Springfield’s holiday celebration includes mutton busting, Bull-O-Rama and a street dance Friday, followed by a Firecracker 5K, marina activities and fireworks Saturday. Sunday programming includes games in the park.

Gold Camp Jubilee

Friday, July 3–Sunday, July 5
Lead

Lead’s Gold Camp Jubilee continues through the holiday weekend with vendors, live entertainment, family activities, music, sports tournaments, food and fireworks. This year’s celebration also marks the 100th Gold Camp Jubilee, Lead’s 150th birthday and America’s 250th.

Black Hills Roundup

Friday, July 3–Saturday, July 4
Black Hills Roundup, Belle Fourche | Ticketed

The Black Hills Roundup continues its July 1–4 run in Belle Fourche with rodeo, carnival programming, concerts, food and holiday events. Daily schedules vary, so check the full event calendar before driving.

Downtown Friday Nights

Friday, July 3, 6–9 p.m.
Downtown Spearfish

Spearfish’s weekly Downtown Friday Nights series brings live music, food, beer, crafts and kids activities downtown. The series runs through July with a few special August dates.

East of Westreville with guest fiddler Kenny Putnam

Friday, July 3, 7 p.m.
Levitt Shell, Sioux Falls | Free

Join us for a free outdoor concert at Levitt at the Falls featuring East of Westreville, with their Americana classics, joined by legendary fiddler, Kenny Putnam. Bring a lawn chair, your crew, and your own snacks — or enjoy food trucks and beverages on site!

Sitting Bull Stampede Rodeo

Friday, July 3–Saturday, July 4, 7:30 p.m. nightly
Mobridge

The Sitting Bull Stampede Rodeo brings PRCA-sanctioned rodeo action to Mobridge as part of the community’s major annual celebration. The event includes rodeo performances, carnival activities, main street parades and fireworks after the rodeo on July 4.

Freedom & Fireworks Watch Party

Friday, July 3, 8:30-10:30 p.m.
Hotel Alex Johnson, Rapid City | $10

Hotel Alex Johnson hosts an all-ages indoor watch party for the Mount Rushmore fireworks livestream. The ticketed event includes backyard-style games, appetizers and beverages available for purchase.

Fireworks explode over Mount Rushmore National Memorial, with the face of the sculpture illuminated by their multicolored light.

Mount Rushmore Fireworks

Friday, July 3
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Keystone area

South Dakota’s America 250 programming includes a fireworks display at Mount Rushmore National Memorial on Friday.

Julius Caesar by Bare Bodkins

Friday, July 3, Sunday, July 5 and Thursday, July 9, 7 p.m.
Queen Bee Mill ruins at Falls Park, Sioux Falls | Free

Bare Bodkins brings Julius Caesar to the Queen Bee Mill ruins at Falls Park for its 29th season of Shakespeare in the Park. The free 90-minute performances are open seating, with tickets available at the gate 30 minutes before each show. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, since the ruins are not built for seating.

American Legion Sunday Fundays

Friday, July 3–Sunday, July 5
American Legion, Pierre | Free

American Legion Sunday Fundays brings three days of live music to Pierre over the holiday weekend. John Swanson performs Friday, Side Hackers play Saturday and Lithium Project closes the run Sunday.

Saturday, July 4

Fall River 4th of July

Saturday, July 4; registration begins at 6 a.m.
Hot Springs

Hot Springs starts Independence Day early with the Firecracker Mile, 5K and 10K, followed by a parade at 10 a.m., community picnic, duck race, car show, cornhole tournament and more afternoon programming in Centennial Park.

Independent Independence

Saturday, July 4, music, art and food starts at noon
The Den, 909 N. West Ave., Sioux Falls | $15 advance, $25 at the door

Independent Independence brings an all-ages Fourth of July show to The Den with music, art and food starting at noon. The lineup includes Sad Eyed Pearl, Misty Cans & The Horny Toads, Donnybrook Brawlers, Freya Jane and the Nightshades, Gloves and Shovels, Devils on Deck, King Sized Coffin, The Gormandizers, Brian Hoffman, Adam Houghtelling, Beer Goblins and The Shirks.

Sioux Falls Independence Day Parade

Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m.–noon
Phillips Avenue in downtown Sioux Falls | Free

The Sioux Falls Independence Day Parade returns for America’s 250th anniversary, with the route running on Phillips Avenue from 13th Street to 6th Street. Floats are scheduled to begin moving at 10 a.m.

4th of July Food Truck Madness

Saturday, July 4, 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Corner of 6th Street and Phillips Avenue, downtown Sioux Falls | Cost varies by vendor

Food Truck Madness brings food trucks, live bands and a public vote for the “maddest and baddest” food truck champion to downtown Sioux Falls during the Independence Day parade. The event is sponsored by Experience Sioux Falls and gives paradegoers another reason to linger downtown before the afternoon clears out.

Interior 4th of July

Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m.
Interior

Interior celebrates the Fourth in the Badlands with a 10 a.m. parade, 11 a.m. car show, 1 p.m. cornhole tournament, 5 p.m. Triathlon Rodeo, 9 p.m. fireworks and live music at Lulu’s Bar after the fireworks.

Yankton All-American 4th of July Celebration & Fireworks

Saturday, July 4
Riverside Park, Yankton

Yankton celebrates Independence Day with free family activities in Riverside Park, food vendors, Ben’s Brewing, evening concerts and fireworks from the upper deck of the Meridian Bridge at dusk, around 10 p.m.

Deadwood Independence Day Parade and Live Music

Saturday, July 4–Sunday, July 5
Historic Deadwood

Deadwood’s Independence Weekend Celebration includes a parade on Main Street at 3 p.m. Saturday and live music across the weekend. The event is part of a larger year of programming tied to Deadwood’s 150th anniversary.

Red, White and Wu Independence Day Weekend

Saturday, July 4–Sunday, July 5, 1 p.m. daily
Mr. Wu’s, Deadwood

Mr. Wu’s hosts a two-day weekend celebration for America’s 250th and Deadwood’s 150th, with live music, complimentary barbecue, draft beer, Kung Fu Lion Dancers, Deadwood Alive performances and more beginning at 1 p.m. each day.

Andrea Ross & Her Big Band

Saturday, July 4, 7 p.m.
Levitt Shell, Sioux Falls | Free

Join us for a free outdoor concert at Levitt at the Falls featuring Andrea Ross, an internationally acclaimed vocalist and Broadway performer. Bring a lawn chair, your crew and your own snacks — or enjoy food trucks and beverages on site!

Sioux Falls Fireworks

Saturday, July 4, 7–10:45 p.m.
W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds, Sioux Falls | Free

The Sioux Falls Fireworks event returns to the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds for America’s 250th birthday. The event includes free grandstand seating, food and drinks available from vendors, free parking and courtesy shuttles.

Sunday, July 5

Vintage Base Ball Game in Lead

Sunday, July 5
Mountain Top Field, Lead

Lead and Deadwood mark their 150th anniversaries with a vintage baseball game played using 1877 to 1885 rules. The public is invited to watch the throwback game at Mountain Top Field.

Good Earth Summer Concert Series: Corrie DeVries

Sunday, July 5, 4 p.m.
Good Earth State Park at Blood Run, 26924 480th Ave., Sioux Falls

Good Earth State Park at Blood Run hosts Corrie DeVries as part of its summer concert series. The Sunday afternoon show offers an outdoor music option just outside Sioux Falls after the Fourth of July weekend rush.

Monday, July 6

Summer in Italy

Monday, July 6, 6–8 p.m.
Plum’s Cooking Company, Sioux Falls | $90 plus tax

Chef Andrew Ernst leads a Summer in Italy cooking class at Plum’s Cooking Company, with a menu built around rustic Italian flavors. The class is listed on the Downtown Sioux Falls calendar for Monday evening.

River Cities Cornhole

Monday, July 6, registration at 6:30 p.m., start at 7 p.m.
Devine Park, Pierre | $10 per participant

River Cities Cornhole continues its Monday evening tournament series at Devine Park, weather permitting. The event includes four games of rounders followed by a double-elimination bracket, with all players guaranteed at least six games.

Tuesday, July 7

Bigs Bar 3110 W. 12th St. Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Destiny Bond with Fear of Falling, People Without Wings and Topanga

Tuesday, July 7, 6–10:30 p.m.
Bigs Bar, Sioux Falls $15

Bigs Bar hosts a Tuesday night heavy music bill with Destiny Bond, Fear of Falling, People Without Wings and Topanga. The event is listed on Bigs Bar’s current events calendar.

Comedy Open Mic

Tuesday, July 7, 6:30–9:30 p.m.
ICON Events + DaDa Gastropub, Sioux Falls | Free

ICON Events + DaDa Gastropub host a Tuesday comedy open mic downtown.

Meet the City of Pierre Mayor Open House

Tuesday, July 7
Pierre | Free

The Pierre Area Chamber calendar lists a Meet the City of Pierre Mayor Open House for Tuesday.

Wednesday, July 8

Canyon Acoustic Series

Wednesday, July 8, 6 p.m.
Spearfish City Park, Spearfish | Free

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