Fall South Dakota Festivals

Central States Fair - Rapid City, SD - Aug 16 to Aug 24, 2024
Live entertainment, carnival, food and commerical exhibits, livestock shows and horse events, kids entertainment and more!

South Dakota State Fair - Huron, SD - Aug 28 to Sep 2, 2024
Petting zoo and pony rides, paleontologist dig, acrobats, bears, puppets, four stages of live entertainment, horticultural exhibits, guest artists and authors, cooking demonstrations, carnival and wine pavilion all help South Dakota celebrate the beginning of fall. Since 1885.

Wine Express Train - Hill City, SD - Sep 7, 2024
Entertainment and snacks paired with regional wines while riding the historic 1880 Train.

Hill City 1880 Train Oktoberfest - Hill City, SD - Sep 28, 2024
Annual Oktoberfest Express with live music prior to departure. On board, there’s seasonal beer, traditional German foods, and costume contest. Tickets are $59 per adult and it’s 21+ only on the train. $5 discount for designated drivers. Tickets sell out weeks in advance so purchase early. Entertainment for approximately one hour prior to departure and roundtrip ride lasts approximately two hours.

Deadwood Oktoberfest - Deadwood, SD - Oct 4 to Oct 5, 2024
Celebrate Oktoberfest in the Wild West in early October. Enjoy food, beer, dancing, live German music, as well as the Tour de Oktoberfest, famous Wiener Dog Races and beer barrel games. They feature a number of events such as the STRONGMAN competition, German cook off, and giveaways.

Winterfest - Aberdeen, SD - Nov 18 to Nov 19, 2023
Fine arts gallery, 50 artisan booths, food and entertainment on the weekend before Thanksgiving since 1978.

Autumn Festival, An Arts and Crafts Affair - Sioux Falls, SD - Nov 17, 2023
Hundreds of artists and crafters, plus music, gift certificates, food and drink and more, with free parking.

Aberdeen Oktoberfest - Aberdeen, SD - Oct 14, 2023
Beer and wine garden, craft beer tastings, traditional German foods and entertainment, root beer garden and more.

Bark in the Park - Sioux Falls, SD - Oct 7, 2023
This is a Walk/Run to raise funds for homeless and neglected pets in the Sioux Falls area.

Newton Hills Festifall - Canton, SD - Oct 7, 2023
Fall arts & crafts, pumpkin carving demonstrations and other pumpkin activities, live bluegrass music, hayrides, campsite fun and more at Newton Hills State Park. If you want, your carved pumpkins can be used on the Candlelight Walk that night!

Great Scarecrow Festival - Huron, SD - Oct 5 to Oct 10, 2023

Brandon Harvest Festival - Brandon, SD - Sep 30, 2023
Live music, food, plus vendors, hay maze, pumpkin painting, and more

Corks and Kegs for CF - Sioux Falls, SD - Sep 29, 2023
Corks & Kegs for CF is a fun and popular night out where attendees enjoy handcrafted beers, wines, and chef-inspired cuisine. Join in for a fun night of delicious samples, unique live and silent auction items, great music, entertainment, and dancing! This event supports the mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – to cure cystic fibrosis and to provide all people with the disease the opportunity to lead full, productive lives by funding research and drug development, promoting individualized treatment, and ensuring access to high-quality, specialized care.

SiouxperCon - Sioux Falls, SD - Sep 29 to Oct 1, 2023
SiouxperCon is a fan convention that celebrates several mediums: comic books, sci-fi, fantasy, anime, board games, and video gaming. SiouxperCon has quickly grown into the most anticipated annual Siouxland nerd event. From its humble beginnings as a question posed on Facebook, SiouxperCon morphed into an event that aims to celebrate all nerdoms in a safe, educational, and inclusive environment. Brought to you by a group of local customer service professionals, SiouxperCon is your friendly, neighborhood fan convention.

Buffalo Roundup & Arts Festival - Custer, SD - Sep 28 to Sep 30, 2023
Feel the thunder and join the herd at Custer State Park. 150 arts/crafts vendors, Dutch oven cook-off, chili cook-off and watch the cowboys and cowgirls roundup buffalo.

Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival - Rapid City, SD - Sep 23, 2023
Visit Main Street Square and venture down Sixth St. and into Memorial Park for a pumpkin catapult, giant pumpkin weigh-off, chef competition, the Regional Health and Scull Construction Kidz Zone, wagon rides, vendors and more. Free Parking in Downtown Rapid City.

Pumpkin Festival at Riverview Farm - Canton, SD - Sep 23 to Oct 15, 2023
Riverview Christmas Tree Farm hosts this pumpkin festival with pumpkin picking, painting, and pumpkin themed games, inflatables and train rides, farm animals, food vendors, live music, local wine and beer, baked goods and more

South Dakota Festival of Books - Brookings, SD - Sep 22 to Sep 24, 2023
Four day event with author presentations, book signings, panel discussions, readings, banquets and children’s activities.

Deadwood Jam - Deadwood, SD - Sep 15 to Sep 16, 2023
Two days of outdoor concerts in the Black Hills with rock, reggae and blues for 20+ years. Plus, enjoy art auction, food, Wild West entertainment and breath-taking views of the Black Hills. Two days of music for $55.

North Country Fiber Fair - Watertown, SD - Sep 15 to Sep 17, 2023
Annual event for 20+ years on the 3rd weekend of September that provides educational and marketing opportunities for producers, fiber artists and consumers of natural fibers. Held at the Codington County Extension Complex.

South Dakota Film Festival - Aberdeen, SD - Sep 14 to Sep 17, 2023
A filmmaker-friendly small town event with a casual vibe. Since 2007.

Sidewalk Arts Festival - Sioux Falls, SD - Sep 9, 2023
A free outdoor event with over 250 vendor booths featuring the region’s best fine art, folk art and craft artisans. Enjoy activities for kids, live entertainment, food vendors and more on the streets surrounding the Washington Pavilion. This event is a fundraiser for the Visual Arts Center at the Washington Pavilion and is the region’s largest one-day arts festival.

Kuchen Festival and Twin Rivers Old Iron Harvest Festival - Delmont, SD - Sep 9 to Sep 10, 2023
Takes place the weekend after Labor Day, with the Kuchen Festival and craft vendors on Saturday, and tractors, homemade baked goods, farm demonstrations, parade, kids pedal pull, live music, bbq pork supper, bean bag toss, quilt & fabric arts show and more.

Polkapalooza at Palmer Gulch - Hill City, SD - Sep 8 to Sep 9, 2023
The Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch once again plays host to the area’s only polka festival! Enjoy great German food, beer, two live polka bands will provide the music and more! Admission is only $5

Ribs Rods & Rock’n Roll - Vermillion, SD - Sep 8 to Sep 9, 2023
South Dakota BBQ Championship with $10,000 in prizes. Car show, food court live music and beer garden. Motorcycle charity poker run.

Wine, Brew & BBQ - Hill City, SD - Aug 25 to Aug 26, 2023
This Kansas City-sanctioned barbecue is a national competition and opportunity for the public to sample and appreciate great barbecue from 24 competitors plus wine and beer from local crafters. Live music under a big tent on Hill City’s Main Street.

Fall River Hot Air Balloon Festival - Hot Springs, SD - Aug 25 to Aug 27, 2023
Annual hot air balloon with sunrise and skydiving options

Corn Palace Festival - Mitchell, SD - Aug 23 to Aug 27, 2023
Head to the world’s only corn palace for a few days of festival fun!

Riverfest - Sioux Falls, SD - Aug 19, 2023
Live music, kids activities, food trucks, cold drinks, retail vendors, canoe rides, live art, and more.

Car Show & Rib Cookoff - Menno, SD - Sep 17, 2022
Car show with trophies awarded for different classes, and a barbecue cook-off. Sponsored by the Menno Volunteer Fire Department.

Northeast South Dakota Celtic Faire - Aberdeen, SD - Sep 17 to Sep 18, 2022
Held on the third Saturday of every September at the Richmond Lake Youth Camp. Come enjoy learning about Celtic heritage, history, arts, sports, dance, music, food, lifestock and dog breeds.

FernsonFest - Sioux Falls, SD - Sep 17, 2022
Held at Fernson Brewing with music from locals and out-of-towners offering up jazz. bluegrass and more

605 Black Hills Classic Beer & Music Festival - Lead, SD - Sep 10, 2022
Live music and beers from across South Dakota for tasting. $10 entry for all, or $30 entry with unlimited beer tasting wristband.

Germanfest - Sioux Falls, SD - Sep 10, 2022
This Sioux Falls Oktoberfest has beer tent and more than ten food and beverage vendors with 10+ varieties of beer. All proceeds from wiener dog races benefit Dakota Dachshund Rescue. Kids activity area will have a puppet show, inflatables, face painting and trains rides. Location: Falls Park-West, Phillips Ave., Sioux Falls

Country Apple Orchard Oktoberfest - Harrisburg, SD - Oct 15 to Oct 17, 2021

Bierborse - Rapid City, SD - Oct 9, 2021
Free admission to a local craft beer festival at Main Street Square. Experience ticketed microbrew tasting, sample homebrew, win contests, beer stock exchange, polka music, stein holding competitions, and have fun at The Black Hills Beer Beverage Garden.

Pumpkin Festival - Harrisburg, SD - Oct 8 to Oct 10, 2021
Pumpkin Fest activities includes tractor wagon rides to pick your own apples and pumpkins, pony rides, kiddie train rides, inflatable playground, children’s barn, homemade apple pies, caramel apples, Kettle Korn, apple brats, and much more. There is also a weigh-in for the state-wide giant pumpkin contest, so come to see 500+ lb pumpkins too

Sodak Stamm Oktoberfest - Menno, SD - Oct 2, 2021
A German buffett with entertainment at the Menno City-School Auditorium.

Harvest Festival - Harrisburg, SD - Oct 3 to Oct 4, 2020
Harvest Fest activities includes tractor wagon rides to pick your own apples and pumpkins, pony rides, kiddie train rides, inflatable playground, children’s barn, homemade apple pies, caramel apples, Kettle Korn, Big O’s Apple BBQ pulled pork, apple brats, and much more