May 27, 2021

This paid piece is sponsored by the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

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.

Crooks Community Days, June 3-6

Crooks Community Days are back on the calendar this year. The town’s celebration kicks off with Thursday Night Thunder at Critters Bar. Friday’s activities include a golf tournament, bingo and dessert, and an outdoor family movie. Saturday’s highlights include a parade at 10:30 a.m. and an antique tractor pull at 11:30 a.m. that is bringing in 250 contestants from across the U.S., Mayor Butch Oseby said. The Crooks Volunteer Fire Department is having water wars at 3 p.m. and a concert with Bad Neighbor and a beer garden from 7 to 10 p.m., followed by fireworks. Sunday, there’s a pancake breakfast, a community worship service and games. Rummage sales run throughout town from Thursday through Saturday. Find the full schedule and updates on the Facebook page.

Harrisburg Days, June 10-13

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 Ledfoot. Saturday’s highlights include a pancake feed, parade, car show, kids pedal tractor pull, cornhole and disc golf tournaments, Midwest All Pro Wrestling and The Johnny Holm Band concert. The event wraps up Sunday with a fishing derby for kids at the town pond, Lake Ole.  Get all the details at the event’s Facebook page or harrisburgdays.com.

Teapot Days, June 16-19

Festivities kick off Wednesday night with a free picnic and blood mobile drive. Ma & Pa Teapot are crowned Thursday night, and that’s when the Mighty Thomas Carnival opens. Friday’s activities include a kids pedal pull, the Teafest Hot Rod & Motorcycle Show & Shine and a street dance hosted by the Tea Steakhouse and O’Tooles Bar. Events on Saturday run from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., including a pancake breakfast, 5K, parade, vendors and vendors in the city park, the Tea Lions pork feed, fireworks and a street dance hosted by Sky Lounge. Find the full schedule at teasd.com.

Hartford Jamboree Days, June 17-20

The town’s annual celebration kicks off this year with Beetles & Brews Drive-In, a Volkswagen car show with live music and a food truck at Buffalo Ridge Brewing. Girls will compete in the Little Miss Hartford Pageant, and families can watch “Incredibles 2” under the stars. Friday night’s highlights include a car show and burnout contest. Saturday’s highlights include a 5K race in the morning, a parade at 10:30 a.m., family entertainment in the park all afternoon and a community supper that night followed by a concert in the park with the Judd Hoos Band. Everything wraps up with a community worship service Sunday. Get updates on the event’s Facebook page and see the full schedule at hartfordjamboreedays.com.

Worthing Cruise Night, June 18

The small town south of Sioux Falls is hosting a car show on Main Street starting at 6 p.m. and going until “whenever.” The SDSU Ice Cream Truck will be there, and Kim’s Korner Bar & Grill will be serving a smoked pork loin sandwich, smoked baked beans and chips for $7. It’s also offering live music outside from 7 to 11 p.m.

Garretson’s Jesse James Days, June 18-20

Garretson packs a lot into three days for Jesse James Days. Highlights Friday include a golf tournament, scavenger hunt, car show and bean ban tournament. On Saturday, there’s a road race, pancake feed and a parade at 11 a.m., followed by family entertainment. Sunday starts with a community church service. In the afternoon at Splitrock Park, there’s a fishing derby, free kayaking and food trucks. Download the full schedule at visitgarretson.com.

Photo courtesy of The Garretson Gazette

Dell Rapids’ Quarry Days, June 25-27

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 a.m. and a street dance at 7 p.m. with 10 Miles From Nowhere and Driven. On Sunday, 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 3-5

Lennox throws one of the biggest celebrations in the area. On Saturday night, drivers are invited to cruise on Main Street and participate in a burnout contest. The town’s street dance, featuring Judd Hoos with Denham, starts at 6 p.m. Saturday and ends at 1 a.m. Sunday’s activities include a community worship service and a firefighters’ water fight. Because the Fourth is on a Sunday, the main attractions are on Monday, including the big parade at 10:30 a.m. There’s also a road race, car show, kids tractor pull, Little Miss Lennox contest, 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.

Photo courtesy of The Lennox Independent

Humboldt’s Main Street Days, July 9-10

When Dave Derschan bought the Main Street Humboldt Bar nine years ago, he started a community festival. Friday night features a baseball game followed by fireworks and then karaoke at the bar. Saturday, there’s a car and bike show, parade at 2:15 p.m., bean bag tournament and street dance with On Point. Get the details on the bar’s Facebook page.

Valley Springs Booster Days, July 9-11

Booster Days activities in Valley Springs kick off Friday with supper in the park and then fireworks at dusk. On Saturday, there are games for kids and a parade. The community wraps up the celebration with a worship service Sunday morning. The American Legion will host a freewill pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The mud volleyball tournament has been canceled because of construction.

Hudson Street Dance, mid-July

Waddy’s Bar & Grill typically hosts a street dance in mid-July, but a date hasn’t been set yet.

Colton Country Days, July 23-25

The fun starts Friday night with a baked potato supper and chalk sidewalk art contest for kids at Taopi Hall and then an indoor street dance at TJz Bar & Restaurant. Highlights on Saturday include a parade, pork loin feed, kids pedal pull, firefighter water wars and car show. Activities in the park include free inflatables and other activities for kids. Whiskey Rich plays at 7 p.m. in the park, followed by fireworks at dusk. Sunday’s activities start with a worship service and include lunch at the hall, bingo and a cakewalk. The full schedule will be posted on the event’s Facebook page.

Celebrate Canton, July 29 and 31, Aug. 1

While Celebrate Canton now has activities all summer, the main celebration continues to be held in late July. Thursday, July 29, is Town & Country Day with a petting zoo, pork feed and music in Jack Fox Park. Saturday in the Park is July 31 and includes a car show, music, inflatables and more. There’s a parade at noon and the popular money pit for kids at 2 p.m. Sunday morning, there’s a community worship service in the park. Other events this summer include Depot Days from 4 to 7 p.m. July 14 at the Canton Depot Museum, Vast Movie Night on July 19 at The Canton Barn and Noid’s Street Bowling & Bags on July 24. Get updates at Celebrate Canton’s Facebook page.

Beresford’s Old-Fashioned Weekend, July 29-31

The town’s celebration kicks off with a community dinner on Thursday night. Tour the old autos in the Old 77 Museum Friday and Saturday. There’s a truck and tractor pull Friday night. Saturday’s activities include a vendor show in the park with free inflatables and games for the kids. There’s a backyard barbecue cookoff, a car show from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. and a burnout contest at 6, followed by a car cruise. A street dance at Classics bar that starts at 8 p.m. features The Last Call Band. The full schedule will be posted on the event’s Facebook page.

Renner Days, Aug. 20-22

The unincorporated community north of Sioux Falls is having several days of activities this year. The kickoff party is Friday night. Most of the fun is Saturday with a car show, luncheon at the fire hall, firefighter water wars, games for kids, a petting zoo and local vendor fair and craft show. The parade starts at 3 p.m. Renner Days wraps up with a breakfast and golf tournament Sunday. Proceeds support the Renner Volunteer Fire Department. Details will be posted on the event’s Facebook page.

Brandon Hometown Days, Sept. 18

Brandon typically celebrates Hometown Days the first weekend in August, but the celebration has been scheduled this year Sept. 18. Once activities are set, they’ll be posted at brandonhometowndays.com and on the event’s Facebook page.