Major Fairs
- Brown County Fair & 4-H Show – Aberdeen
One of South Dakota’s largest county fairs, featuring concerts, rodeo, carnival, livestock, and 4-H exhibits every August.
- Central States Fair – Rapid City
Major Black Hills fair with PRCA rodeo, concerts, livestock shows, carnival, and the Western Junior Livestock Show.
- Clay County Fair – Vermillion
Traditional county fair with 4-H, livestock, exhibits, carnival, and family entertainment.
- DakotaFest – Mitchell
The state’s largest outdoor farm show, with ag exhibits, equipment demos, livestock, and seminars every August.
- Sioux Empire Fair – Sioux Falls
The largest fair in eastern South Dakota, with concerts, carnival, livestock, 4-H, and family attractions.
- South Dakota State Fair – Huron
The state’s premier fair, featuring agriculture, concerts, carnival, rodeo, and the State 4-H Finals.
- Sully County Fair – Onida
Long-running county fair with exhibits, rodeo, and community events.
- Western Junior Livestock Show – Rapid City
Major youth livestock show held each October at the Central States Fairgrounds.
Major Festivals
- Sturgis Motorcycle Rally – Sturgis
The world’s largest motorcycle rally, drawing hundreds of thousands for rides, concerts, and events every August.
- Tabor Czech Days – Tabor
A celebration of Czech heritage with polka, food, parades, and traditional costumes each June.
- Deadwood Jam – Deadwood
Annual outdoor music festival in historic Deadwood, featuring national and regional acts.
- Sioux Falls Downtown Riverfest – Sioux Falls
Summer festival with live music, food trucks, art, and family activities along the Big Sioux River.
- Hot Springs Main Street Arts & Crafts Festival – Hot Springs
Arts, crafts, food, and entertainment on historic Main Street.
- Sisseton Arts Festival – Sisseton
Regional arts and crafts festival with music and food.
- Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup & Arts Festival – Custer
Watch cowboys and cowgirls round up hundreds of bison, plus enjoy art, crafts, and food vendors in September.
- Yankton Riverboat Days – Yankton
Three-day summer festival with a parade, concerts, arts and crafts, food, and fireworks on the Missouri River.
- Cookin’ on Kampeska BBQ Festival – Watertown
KCBS-sanctioned BBQ competition and festival with food, music, and family fun.
- South Dakota Harvest Festival – Statewide
Celebrates local food, farmers, and artisans with events across the state each fall.
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