Tag: live music

Join Us for the 11th Annual Riverfest: A Family-Friendly Celebration of Music and Community!

Posted on by Brandon Hanson

Celebrate Community and Music at Riverfest 2024!

Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc. (DTSF) is thrilled to announce the 11th annual Riverfest, generously sponsored by The Bancorp, Inc. This highly-anticipated event will take place on August 17th, 2024, bringing together the community for a day of music, fun, and family-friendly activities along the beautiful Big Sioux River.

An Impressive Musical Lineup

This year’s Riverfest features an outstanding lineup of bands that will keep you entertained throughout the day. We are excited to feature:

  • The Teals: Kicking off the event with their unique blend of indie and alternative rock. Check out The Teals on Facebook
  • Mat D & Roadside Revival: Known for their hard-hitting Americana and soulful tunes, Mat D & Roadside Revival will keep the energy high with their dynamic performance. Learn more about Mat D & Roadside Revival
  • Kid Dakota: Bringing an eclectic mix of indie rock and thoughtful lyrics, Kid Dakota will captivate the audience with their distinctive sound. Discover Kid Dakota
  • Indigenous: Our headliner, Indigenous, will close out the event with their powerful blues-rock performance. Indigenous is known for their electrifying shows and musical prowess. Explore Indigenous

A Family-Friendly Extravaganza

Riverfest offers more great music; it’s a celebration designed for the whole family. This year, we are proud to offer a variety of activities and amenities to ensure everyone has a fantastic time:

  • Food Vendors: Enjoy delicious treats from our wide array of food vendors, including cotton candy, cookies, hotdogs, and more.
  • Activity Tents: Engage in fun and interactive activities for all ages. Our activity tents will feature games, crafts, and other exciting programming geared towards family fun.
  • Performances and Games: Throughout the day, there will be performances and games designed to entertain and delight children and adults alike.

Building Community Through Festivals & Events

At DTSF, we believe in the power of festivals to bring people together and strengthen our community. Riverfest showcases our commitment to creating events that foster connections, celebrate local talent, and provide a platform for families to enjoy quality time together.

Riverfest stands out as the go-to destination for family-friendly entertainment. We invite you to join us for a day filled with music, fun, and community.

Photo Credit: Experience Sioux Falls

Get Involved

Don’t miss out on this incredible event! Mark your calendars for August 17th, 2024, sign up to volunteer, and bring your family and friends to Riverfest. For more details and updates, follow us on Facebook/Instagram and visit DTSF.com.

About Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc. (DTSF)

Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc. (DTSF) boldly leads the downtown community by fostering diverse experiences, economic growth, and a healthy environment. Visit DTSF.com for more information.

We look forward to seeing you at Riverfest, where music, family fun, and community come together!

10 Things You Need to Know about St. Patrick’s Day in downtown Sioux Falls

Posted on by Charlee Riker

The community has embraced the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and made it a tradition for those with Irish heritage and the Irish-at-heart, for the past 40 years. Here are 10 things you need to know about St. Patrick’s Day in downtown Sioux Falls!

1. The annual Sioux Falls St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the city’s longest running parade.

In 1979, the city’s matriarch Sylvia Henkin called a group of friends around her kitchen table to discuss her idea to bring a “people’s parade” to celebrate the Irish spirit in Sioux Falls. As with most things that Sylvia set her mind to, the idea quickly turned to reality. The first parade was held in 1980 in downtown Sioux Falls, and the tradition has never wavered. Take part in the city’s longest running parade and celebrate Sylvia’s legacy during the 40th Annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 16, 2019, starting at 2:00pm in downtown Sioux Falls. Click here for a parade map.

2. The Falls will be lit green. 

Visit the city’s namesake while it’s lit green for the holiday! Falls Park Visitor Center will be open St. Patty’s Day weekend, 10:00am – 5:00pm on Saturday and Sunday.

3. Mrs. Murphy’s is the only Irish store in South Dakota.

For over 20 years, Mrs. Murphy’s Irish Gifts has been a must-see shop, selling the finest jewelry, clothing, food and gifts imported from Ireland, right here in downtown Sioux Falls.

4. Canadian Khartum Temple Pipe & Drums visit downtown every St. Patrick’s Day.

Parade founder Sylvia Henkin invited the drum group to the event in its inaugural year, and they’ve returned every year since. Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect!

5. Watch traditional Irish dancing with the Sioux Falls Celtic Steps.

The Celtic Steps School of Irish Dance is a growing community in Sioux Falls. Seriously, two dancers went to Scotland for the World Irish Dancing Championships.  See the group dance a jig at the St. Patrick’s Day Holiday Inn party,following the parade.

6. Hugh Grogan is this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade grand marshal.

Hugh Grogan has strong Irish connections and serves as an advocate in the Sioux Falls area.  The Grogans celebrate by making a family float for the parade every year. Learn more about Grogan here.

7. Get the official St. Patrick’s Day button and support Special Olympics South Dakota.

Official buttons are not only a festive accessory, but also serve as the annual St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser.  Over $160,000 has been raised for local nonprofits from button sales. Get yours at the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce or Mrs. Murphy’s Irish Store for just $3.

8. Help paint the street green! 

Every downtown St. Patrick’s Day celebration kicks off with the painting of a shamrock in the middle of historic Phillips Avenue. Beginning at 11:00am, the corner of 9th and Phillips Avenue will be covered with the classic Irish symbol.

9. Listen to traditional Irish music at the Old Courthouse Museum.

Enjoy the Dakota District Pipes & Drums and Maggie in the Meantime with food and drinks during the St. Patrick’s Celebration of Traditional Irish Music at the Old Courthouse Museum.

10 . Eat, drink and be merry at DTSF’s authentic Irish Pub.

Feast on traditional bangers and mash with a tall Guinness at Blarney Stone Pub, downtown’s only Irish pub. There will be a number of food and drink specials during the day, as well as one of the best patios in the area. Find a full list of restaurants and bars under the Dine & Drink section.

Find all downtown happenings in our Events calendar. Parking in downtown is free on weekends and the public is encouraged to make arrangements for safe transportation through Lyft & local cab companies.