June 2, 2022

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

Now is the perfect time to explore everything Sioux Falls-area communities have to offer, starting with their signature summer events.

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

Crooks Community Days, June 2-5

Crooks Community Days kicks off with Thursday Night Thunder at Critters Bar. Friday’s activities include a golf tournament, kids bicycling parade, bingo and dessert, and an outdoor family movie. Saturday’s highlights include a 5k run/walk at 8 a.m., parade at 10:30 a.m. and the second annual antique tractor pull that brings in competitors from nearby states at 11:30 a.m. There’s a kids pedal pull at noon. The Crooks Volunteer Fire Department is having water wars at 2 p.m., a concert with the Undercover Band and a beer garden from 7 to 11 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 9-12

Mac’s 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 4 Sure. Saturday’s highlights include a parade, car show, touch-a-truck, kids tractor pedal pull, cornhole and disc golf tournaments and The Johnny Holm Band concert. The event wraps up Sunday with a pancake feed and 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 15-18

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, Miss Tea pageant and a street dance with Driven hosted by Boss’ Pizza. Events on Saturday run from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., including a pancake breakfast, the Junior Achievement 5K Bacon Run, parade, live music in the city park, the Tea Lions pork feed, fireworks and a street dance with Sugar Daddy hosted by Sky Lounge. Find the full schedule at teasd.com.

Hartford Jamboree Days, June 16-19

The town’s annual celebration kicks off Thursday with the Little Miss Hartford Pageant and an outdoor family movie night. Friday night’s highlights include a car show and burnout contest. Saturday’s highlights include a 5K run/walk in the morning, a parade at 10:30 a.m., family entertainment all afternoon in the park and a community supper that night followed by a concert in the park with IV Play. 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 17

“Blow the dust off your classic car, bring it to Worthing, SD, park on Main Street, and let the BS begin.” That’s the description for the annual event that drew 85 cars last year. There’s no fee to park on Main Street. The event is from 6 p.m. to “whenever.” There will be a DJ and food, including pulled pork sandwiches. All proceeds go toward building a new community center.

Garretson’s Jesse James Days, June 17-19

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 and pancake feed in the morning. The parade is at 11 a.m., followed by family entertainment, including the Silver Creek Mavericks Wild West Show. Catch baseball games in the afternoon and evening, and wrap up the day with a street dance with Undercover hosted by The Gulch and The Combine. Sunday starts with a community church service. In the afternoon at Splitrock Park, there’s a fishing derby. Find the full schedule at visitgarretson.com.

Photo courtesy of The Garretson Gazette

Dell Rapids’ Quarry Days, June 24-26

Dell Rapids will celebrate Quarry Days with activities for all ages. Friday features a golf tournament. On Saturday, highlights include a parade at 10 a.m., 3-on-3 basketball and volleyball tournaments, a backyard barbecue competition and a street dance at night with We’re No Angels. On Sunday, there will be a car show, kids fishing derby and peddle-pull tractor pull. Vendors and food trucks will be in the park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For a full schedule, go to dellrapidschamber.com.

Humboldt’s Main Street Days, July 1-3

When Dave Derschan bought the Main Street Humboldt Bar a decade ago, he started a community festival. Friday night features bingo and karaoke at the bar. Saturday, there’s a car and bike show, parade at 2:15 p.m., bean bag tournament and more karaoke. Sunday night starting at 9 is the street dance with the Johnny Holm Band. Get the details on the bar’s Facebook page.

Lennox’s Old Fashioned Fourth of July, July 2-4

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 Devon Worley, starts at 6 p.m. Saturday and ends at 1 a.m. Sunday’s activities include a community worship service. Monday’s fun kicks off with the annual Firecracker Road Race. The big parade down Main Street starts at 10:30 a.m. There’s also a 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

Salem Barn Raisin’ BBQ, July 9

The county seat in McCook County is hosting the second annual Barn Raisin’ BBQ at the fairgrounds. Activities include a cornhole tournament and kids pedal tractor pull that start at 3 p.m., a rib cook-off with judging at 5 p.m. and a barn dance with Colin Donley that night. To sign up for an event, call 605-261-5851.

Valley Springs Booster Days, July 8-10

The mud volleyball tournament is back after being canceled last year because of construction. The competition is Saturday; find registration details here. Booster Days activities kick off Friday with a picnic in the park and then fireworks at dusk. On Saturday, there are games for kids and a parade in the evening. 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.

Colton Country Days, July 22-24

The fun starts Friday night with a baked potato supper and chalk sidewalk art contest for kids at Taopi Hall and then a free indoor/outdoor street dance with Rewinder at TJz Bar & Restaurant. Highlights on Saturday typically include a 5k run and fun walk, kids pedal pull, firefighter water wars, parade,  pork loin feed, car show. Activities in the park include free inflatables and other activities for kids. Saturday night usually wraps up with a concert and fireworks at dusk. Sunday’s activities usually start with a worship service and include lunch at the hall, bingo and a cakewalk. A co-ed softball tournament will be held Saturday and Sunday. The full schedule will be posted on the event’s Facebook page.

Celebrate Canton, July

This year, Saturday in the Park and Town & Country Day aren’t being held on the same weekend. Saturday in the Park is July 23 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The annual parade starts at noon. Activities in Jack Foxx Park include a duck pond, inflatables, dunk tank, live music, craft and food vendors, car show, rib cook-off and the kid-favorite “money pit.” Cruise Night is from 6 to 9 p.m. Town & Country Day in the park will be July 28 from 5 to 8 p.m. Activities include a petting zoo, pork feed, live music and the Canton Open-Air Market. Other events this summer include Depot Days from 4 to 7 p.m. July 13 at the Canton Depot Museum, Movie Night on July 14 at The Canton Barn and the Gate City Rodeo and Dance on July 30. Get updates at Celebrate Canton’s Facebook page.

Hudson Street Dance, Aug. 20

Waddy’s Bar & Grill is hosting a street dance Aug. 20 with Weston Frank.

Renner Days, Aug. 19-21

The unincorporated community north of Sioux Falls will have its kickoff party 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, late summer

Once activities for Brandon Hometown Days are set, they’ll be posted on the event’s Facebook page.