Experience community: Here’s your guide to small-town festivals

May 30, 2019

This paid piece is sponsored by the Minnehaha County and Lincoln County Economic Development Associations.

Now is the perfect time to explore everything the communities of Minnehaha and Lincoln counties have to offer, starting with their signature summer events.

Here’s your complete guide to this year’s festivals.

Harrisburg Days, June 7-9

The carnival offers a preview night Thursday, but the fun kicks into full gear Friday night with food trucks, a beer garden, the Little Miss Harrisburg pageant and a concert with Undercover. Saturday’s highlights include a parade, car show, kids pedal tractor pull, an all-school reunion and The Johnny Holm Band concert. The event wraps up Sunday with a pancake feed and kids fishy derby at Lake Alvin State Recreation Area. Get all the details at the event’s Facebook page or harrisburgdays.com.

Hartford Jamboree Days, June 13-16

While there’s something to do every day in Hartford during Jamboree Days, the main attractions are Friday and Saturday. Visitors will find a carnival, crafts and food vendors, car and quilt shows and live music. There’s a burnout contest at 9 p.m. Friday. Saturday highlights include a parade at 10:30 a.m., family entertainment in the park from noon to 4 p.m. and a community supper that night followed by a street dance with the Brandon Jones Band. See the full schedule on the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce’s website.

Teapot Days, June 12-15

Festivities kick off Wednesday with the CommuniTEA BBQ at Trinity Lutheran Church. The Mighty Thomas Carnival runs Thursday night through Saturday. Other highlights include the crowning of Ma & Pa Teapot on Thursday and a kids pedal pull and the Teafest Hot Rod & Motorcycle Show & Shine on Friday. Events on Saturday run from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., including a pancake breakfast, parade, vendors in Tea Park, the Tea Lions pork feed and fireworks. This year, there will be street dances on Friday and Saturday nights. Find the full schedule at teasd.com.

Garretson’s Jesse James Days, June 14-16

Garretson packs a lot into three days for Jesse James Days. There’s the usual golf tournament, road race, Firemen’s Breakfast, car/tractor show, kids pedal tractor pull and then there’s the more unusual $500 treasure hunt, comedy dinner, firetruck and horse wagon rides, movie in the park and family kite fly. Catch the parade at 11 a.m. Saturday. Download the full schedule at visitgarretson.com.

Worthing Cruise Night, June 21

The small town south of Sioux Falls is scaling back its community event this year. There will be a car show on Main Street starting at 6 p.m. Friday and going until “whenever.” A DJ will play music and there will be a contest see how long it takes a junked car’s engine to blow up while running without oil or fluids.

Dell Rapids’ Quarry Days, June 21-23

Dell Rapids will celebrate Quarry Days with activities for all ages. Friday features a golf tournament and baseball game. On Saturday, highlights include a parade at 10:30 a.m. and a street dance at 7 p.m. with 35th & Taylor. On Sunday, L.G. Everist is offering train rides from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A car show and fishing derby begin at noon, and fireworks start at 10 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, arts and crafts vendors will be in the park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  For a full schedule, go to dellrapidschamber.com.

Lennox’s Old Fashioned Fourth of July, July 3-4 & 7

Lennox throws one of the biggest celebrations in the area. On Wednesday night, drivers are invited to cruise on Main Street and participate in the burnout contest. The town’s street dance with The Johnny Holm Band starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday and ends at 1 a.m. The main attractions are on the holiday, including the big parade at 10:30 a.m. There’s also a road race, car show, kids tractor pull, Legion baseball game, live music, arts in the park and a Lennox Municipal Band concert at 8 p.m., followed by fireworks. Get the details at lennoxnews.com.

Humboldt’s Main Street Days, July 5-7

When Dave Derschan bought the Main Street Humboldt Bar seven years ago, he started a community festival. Friday night features a dart tournament and karaoke. Saturday, there’s a car show, parade, bean bag tournament and street dance with Arch Allies. The event wraps up Sunday with a poker run.  Get the details on the bar’s Facebook page.

Valley Springs Booster Days, July 12-14

Booster Days activities in Valley Springs kick off Friday with a roast beef supper in the park from 6 to 7 p.m. Fireworks start at dusk. On Saturday, there’s a kids tractor pull in the morning, a mud volleyball tournament, free kids’ games, a firefighter water fight in the afternoon and a parade at 7 p.m. The community wraps up the celebration with a worship service Sunday morning. American Legion will host a free will pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Brandon Hometown Days, July 20

Brandon celebrates Hometown Days at McHardy Park. The day is filled with inflatables and other fun for kids starting at 11 a.m. New activities this year include laser tag and a Nerf war area. Organizers also added a 5K run/walk at 9 a.m. There’s live music with new bands playing at the top of the hour. The day wraps up with a family-friendly movie on an outdoor screen starting at 6 p.m. Find the details at brandonhometowndays.com or the event’s Facebook page.

Hudson’s Street Dance, July 20

Experience a small-town street dance in Hudson with the Dustin Evans & the Good Time Band. The event runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., and it’s open to those 18 and older. Tickets are $10.

Celebrate Canton, July 25-28

While Celebrate Canton now has activities all summer, the main celebration continues to be held in late July. Thursday, July 25, is Town & Country Day with a tractor parade, pork feed, music, games and inflatables in Jack Fox Park. Friday night’s street dance will feature five bands, including Nashville headliner, Casey Donahew. The event runs from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday’s activities include a pancake breakfast and Fun Run at 8 a.m., a parade at 11:30 a.m. and a firefighter water fight at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Park activities include vendors, music, games and the popular money pit for kids. Sunday morning, there’s a community worship service. Other events this summer include Noid’s Street Bowling on June 15, a community picnic June 20 to mark the fifth anniversary of flooding in Canton, the Dave Powell Memorial Poker Run on June 29, Moe Parish Fireworks on July 4, Depot Day at the Canton Depot Museum on July 10, a bike parade and movie night on July 19 and the Miss Canton Pageant on July 20. Activities will be scheduled for August too. Get updates at Celebrate Canton Facebook page.

Colton’s Country Days, July 26-28

Hillbilly Days has a new name – Country Days – but there are still plenty of activities. Friday night features a baked potato supper, family karaoke and a street dance with the Blackwater Band that starts at 9 p.m. Highlights on Saturday include a parade, pork loin feed and car show. Activities in the park range from free inflatables and carnival games to a bake sale and chicken bingo. Firefighter water wars with Colton Fire and Rescue start at 3 p.m. There’s live music in the park  from 2 to 9 p.m., along with free yard games from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday’s activities start with a worship service and end with fireworks. In between there’s a vendor/rummage sale, Hillbilly obstacle course and bingo. The full schedule will be posted on the event’s Facebook page.

Beresford’s Old-Fashioned Weekend in the Park, Aug. 2-4

The Beresford Area Chamber of Commerce has retired Wheels ‘n Squeals and is bringing back an expanded version of its Old-Fashioned Saturday in the Park event. Friday night will feature a teen dance with a DJ. Saturday, there will be craft and food vendors and kids activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the park. Highlights include a car show, burnout contest and a downtown cruise night. The weekend wraps up Sunday with a community church service and potluck. The full schedule will be posted on the chamber’s Facebook page.

Renner Days, Aug. 16-17

The two bars in this unincorporated community north of Sioux Falls kick off Renner Days with specials Friday night. On Saturday, the activities include a car show, kids games, a petting zoo, parade, craft vendor fair, a free-will lunch at the fire station and a firefighter water fight. Organizers are looking for parade participants on Saturday and vendors. Here’s a link to the event’s Facebook page.

Rowena’s Junque Market

The tiny unincorporated town of Rowena usually is taken over four times every year by the Junque Market. Unique Junque, a repurposed furniture store there, organizes the event, but it hasn’t set dates yet. Co-owner Remington Cain is hoping to have the market in June, August, September and October. Up to 50 vendors sell their items, which are handmade, repurposed, vintage, antique of “just plain junk.”

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Experience community: Here’s your guide to small-town festivals

Now is the perfect time to explore everything the communities of Minnehaha and Lincoln counties have to offer, starting with their signature summer events.

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