Festival of Cultures is back — and bigger — for 2025

This piece is sponsored by LSS.

The Festival of Cultures will return to downtown Sioux Falls on Saturday, June 14 — and this year’s celebration is the biggest yet.

The LSS Multi-Cultural Center and Levitt at the Falls are continuing their partnership and expanding the event’s footprint. The festival now will span the entire length of the Levitt lawn and south parking lot, making even more room for the city’s diverse communities to celebrate and share what makes their cultures unique.

“The MCC’s vision is that every South Dakotan is healthy, safe and accepted,” explained Valeria Wicker of the LSS Multi-Cultural Center. “The Festival of Cultures brings that vision to life. It allows us to see each other, learn about different global cultures and connect with our community.”

An assortment of food, live entertainment and family-friendly activities will be available throughout the day. Local vendors representing a wide array of cultures also will be sharing recipes, clothing and art. The Global Village, which debuted last year as a way for people not connected to an organization or business to share their customs, also is returning.

“We had 10 booths last year, and this year we have 20,” Wicker said. “We also have nine food vendors, which is more than ever.”

605 Island Guy — a truck serving Polynesian dishes — is back by popular demand, along with Hunny & Bunny, a local Mediterranean vendor, and King of Gyros, among others.

“There’s so much great cuisine in town, and we’re excited to bring as much of it as possible together in one place,” Wicker said.

The event will kick off at 10:30 a.m. with a concert by multicultural family music band Hot Peas ‘N Butter, followed by a number of acts: jazz/funk band Etta and the Vendetta, local Burundi drumming group Abatimbo, a Parade of Flags and an end-of-night performance by Colombian pop/rock fusion band Espiral7.

“The flag ceremony is especially popular — we’ve even added new flags this year,” Wicker said. “Being in the audience during the flag parade is a really moving experience.”

Be part of the celebration

With the expanded footprint, there’s more ground to cover — meaning more volunteers are needed to make the event possible.

“We could not do this without our volunteers,” Wicker said. “It makes us happy every day to see new sign-ups.”

There are plenty of ways to get involved — whether running beverage sales, T-shirts or working on the hospitality team, which includes everything from greeting attendees to making sure the area stays clean.

Every role serves a purpose: to bring together people from different cross-sections of the community to form new friendships and take pride in the heritages that bring life and vibrancy to Sioux Falls, helping everyone feel not just accepted but celebrated.

“People who contribute to the festival, whether they perform, cook food or participate in the Global Village, say they feel overwhelmed with joy to be able to share their culture and see it being appreciated,” Wicker said.

To volunteer for the Festival of Cultures, or view a full schedule of events, visit Festival.LssSD.org.