Experience community: Here’s your guide to 2024 small-town festivals

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, May 29-June 2

Crooks Community Days kicks off Wednesday with its annual citywide rummage sales, which run through Friday. Thursday night, there will be food trucks and yard games at the Crooks Community Center from 5 to 8. Friday’s activities include a golf tournament, “Retro Vibes” bicycle parade for all ages, bingo and an outdoor family movie. Saturday’s highlights include a 5k run and 1 mile walk at 8 a.m., parade at 10 a.m. and a car, bike and antique tractor show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There’s a kids pedal pull at 1 p.m. The Crooks Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a splash pad for kids from 2 to 4 p.m. The evening features  a free all-ages concert with King Izzy and Breaking BoB, followed by fireworks at 11 p.m. Sunday, there’s a pancake breakfast, community worship service, bean bag tournament and games. Find the full schedule and updates on the Facebook page or the CAWT website.  

Photo courtesy of Samantha Jacobs Photography

Harrisburg Days, June 6-9

Harrisburg begins celebrating its annual festival with a preview night for Mac’s Carnival Thursday, with the rides running Friday night and all day Saturday starting at noon. New this year is a special carnival hour with free rides for children with special needs. That’s from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday. On Friday night, there will be food trucks, a beer garden, the Little Miss Harrisburg pageant and a street dance with Judd Hoos. Saturday’s highlights include the Tiger Trot 5k, a parade at 11 a.m., cornhole and disc golf tournaments, kids tractor pedal pull 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 12-15

Festivities kick off Wednesday night in Tea with a free picnic, bloodmobile drive and the crowning of. Ma & Pa Teapot. The Mighty Thomas Carnival opens Thursday night. Friday night’s activities include a kids pedal pull, the TeaFest Hot Rod & Motorcycle Show & Shine, a beer garden and music by Chris Graves. Events on Saturday run from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., including a freewill donation pancake breakfast, the Junior Achievement 5K Bacon Run, parade at 10 a.m., vendor fair and live music in the city park, the Tea Lions Pork Feed, a pie and ice cream social, John King concert, fireworks and a street dance with Sugar Daddy hosted by Sky Lounge. Find the full schedule at teasd.com.

Photo courtesy of Jerri Birger

Hartford Jamboree Days, June 13-16

Hartford’s annual celebration kicks off Thursday with the Little Miss Hartford Pageant and an outdoor family movie night. Friday night’s highlights include crafts, food, beer and music in the city park, along with a car show and the annual John Zimmer Memorial Burnout Contest. Saturday’s events start with a 5K run/walk, a parade at 10:30 a.m., family entertainment and music all afternoon in the park and an outdoor concert with Brandon Jones at night. Everything wraps up with a community worship service Sunday morning. Get updates on the event’s Facebook page and see the full schedule at hartfordjamboreedays.com.

Garretson’s Jesse James Days, June 14-16

Garretson packs a lot into three days for Jesse James Days. Highlights on Friday include a car-antique tractor-motorcycle show, cornhole tournament and the second annual Glow Kayak at Split Rock Park. Bring your kayak and glow sticks at dusk for a ride down the creek. On Saturday, there’s a road race, pancake feed and blood drive in the morning. The parade begins at 11 a.m. and includes a staged Jesse James robbery in front of the Garretson Museum. Family entertainment in the afternoon includes inflatables, horse-drawn wagon rides, toddler train rides, firetruck rides, a petting zoo and the Silver Creek Mavericks Wild West Show from 1 to 4 p.m. at the softball field. The street dance with 10 Miles From Nowhere will go from 9 p.m. to midnight. Sunday features a fishing derby below the Split Rock Park dam and a baseball game in the afternoon. Find the full schedule at visitgarretsonsd.com.

Worthing Cruise Night, June 21

Update June 21: Because of flooding, Worthing Cruise Night has been rescheduled for June 28. “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 draws at least 70 cars. There’s no fee to park on Main Street. The event is from 6 p.m. to “whenever.” There will be a DJ and Kim’s Korner Bar & Grill will sell food.

Worthing Days, June 22

Update June 21: Because of flooding, the 5K, parade, kids activities, vendor fair and bingo have been canceled. The bean bag tournament and street dance are still on weather pending. Plans are underway for the community festival, which was resurrected last year after several years without one. Last year, organizers put together a variety of activities focusing on kids, but with plenty of fun for adults too. Check the town’s website and the event’s Facebook page for updates.

Dell Rapids’ Quarry Days, June 20-23

Update June 21: Because of heavy rain, the golf tournament has been canceled, and the baseball game has been postponed to Tuesday night. Dell Rapids will celebrate Quarry Days with activities for all ages. A final schedule hasn’t been posted yet, but events typically kick off Thursday night with the Quarry Days Pageant. Friday features a golf tournament. On Saturday, highlights include a 5K run/walk; parade at 10 a.m.; 3-on-3 basketball and volleyball tournaments; peddle-pull tractor pull; and a street dance at night. Last year on Sunday, there was an outdoor church service, Blast From the Past car show, L.G. Everist train ride and kids fishing derby. The Dell Rapids Has Talent show is back for a second year on Sunday night and the festival typically wraps up that night with fireworks. Vendors and food trucks will be in the park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For updates, visit the Quarry Days Facebook page, and to see the full schedule once it’s posted, go to dellrapidschamber.com.

Salem Barn Raisin’ BBQ, June 29

Headed into its fourth year, the Barn Raisin’ BBQ at the McCook County Fairgrounds keeps growing. Activities include 5k and 10k races, a cornhole tournament, kids pedal pull competition, baseball games, activities for kids, rib cook-off, live music and fireworks. At 10:30 a.m. Sunday, there’s a community church service in the Salem City Park, followed by a potluck. Find the schedule and contest entry info at barnraisinbbq.com and updates on the Facebook page.

Centerville’s Tornado Days, July 3-7

Rather than celebrating the destructive weather phenomenon, Tornado Days take their name from the high school mascot. While the schedule hasn’t been released yet, activities typically include music in the park on Thursday night. On Friday, there’s a golf tournament, tractor pedal pull, toilet bowl races and the Firemen’s Street Dance. Saturday usually features a range of fun from a kids track meet to softball, volleyball and bean bag tournaments. Last year, the car show was from 3 to 6 p.m. on Main Street. Sunday typically is filled with activities from a community worship service in the morning to a bike parade, bingo and a community supper, wrapping up with fireworks at dusk. The unofficial Float the River invites people to grab a kayak or tube and meet from a starting point along the Vermillion River in town. For the full schedule once it’s posted, go to visitcentervillesd.com.

Lennox’s Old Fashioned Fourth of July, July 3-4

Lennox throws one of the biggest celebrations in the area. The official schedule isn’t ready yet, but activities include the traditional Main Street cruise night and street dance. There’s always a big parade down Main Street at 10:30 a.m, arts in the park and a Lennox Municipal Band concert in the evening, followed by fireworks. Check for the schedule at lennoxnews.com.

Photo courtesy of The Lennox Independent

Humboldt’s Main Street Days, July 5-7

When Dave Derschan bought the Main Street Humboldt Bar over a decade ago, he started a community festival. Friday night features trivia and karaoke at the bar. Saturday, there’s a car show, kid tractor pull, parade at 2:15 p.m. and bean bag and volleyball tournaments. The evening street dance has been expanded to the inaugural Musicfest with live music from 2:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Main Street. Sunday features live music with Mark Marquardt and Todd Casilli and bingo. Get the details on the bar’s Facebook page under the events tab.  

Valley Springs Booster Days, July 12-14

Booster Days activities kick off Friday with a picnic in the park and then fireworks at dusk. The popular mud volleyball tournament is Saturday; find registration details here. There also are games for kids and a parade in the evening. The community wraps up the celebration with a worship service Sunday morning, and the American Legion hosts a freewill pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Brandon Hometown Days, July 13

The Brandon Valley Optimist Club event for kids returns for its 15th  year. Activities will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Brandon Valley High School. There will be inflatables, a game trailer, clowns with balloons, princesses, Touch-a-Truck, reptiles, a DJ, a bike and scooter giveaway and food trucks. Find updates on its website or Facebook page. 

Colton Country Days, July 19-21

The schedule hasn’t been finalized, but here are a few highlights to expect on Friday: a baked potato supper and kids sidewalk chalk contest. On Saturday, events kick off with a 5k run/1-mile walk. The parade starts at 10 a.m., and the Dakota Kids pedal pull begins at 1 p.m. There are vendors in the park, and there’s usually chicken bingo, free inflatables and face painting, a pork loin feed, outhouse water races, concert and fireworks. On Sunday, there will be bingo and a bake sale. The Eric “Boone” Oyen Memorial Country Days Co-ed Softball Tournament will be Saturday and Sunday. The full Colton Country Days schedule will be posted on the event’s Facebook page.

Celebrate Canton, July 19-28

The Canton Chamber of Commerce is spreading out its summer community festival over 10 days. July 19: Depot Days vendors, food truck, music, model trains and kid train rides. July 20: Inaugural Depot 5K run. July 21: Community church service at Jack Fox Park. July 22: Reading and arts in the park. July 23: Water hydrant party at Lawrence Elementary. July 24: Bike Rodeo & Parade. July 25: Town N Country Day with vendors, pork meal, music, petting zoo and tractor parade. July 27: Saturday in the Park with kids activities. July 26-28: Canton Car Show for Generations is returning after nine years. The car show is Sunday, but there will be a Chase the Ace drawing and Show N Shine on Friday and Touch-a-Truck, Poker Run and Cruise Night on Saturday. Find other summer events and updates at Celebrate Canton’s Facebook page.

Baltic Dog Days, Aug. 9-11

While a final schedule hasn’t been released yet, most of the activities likely will be the same as last year. Friday night featured a beanbag tournament and karaoke at Someday Cafe, followed by a fireworks show. Saturday’s highlights included a 5K run/mile walk, kickball tournament, kids activities, a parade at 11 a.m., fire department water wars and a street dance. Sunday included church services in the park, a community lunch, car show, wine tasting and a fishing derby.

Canton Civil War Days, Aug. 17-18

This two-day event in a field at North Bridge and Third streets gives festival-goers a chance to tour camps, see cannon demonstrations and learn more about the Civil War. At 1:30 p.m. both days, there will be battle reenactments. Tickets are $15 at the gate; those 12 and younger get in for free. Tuesday night, there is a free dance on the green. Get all the details at CantonSouthDakota.com. 

Renner Days, Aug. 18-20

The unincorporated community north of Sioux Falls will have its kickoff party Friday night at the Monarch Lounge. Most of the fun is Saturday with a car show that’s so popular it has to turn down entries, lunch at the fire hall, firefighter water wars pitting Renner against local volunteer fire departments, games for kids, and local vendor fair and craft show. The parade starts at 3 p.m. Renner Days wraps up with a breakfast at the American Legion and golf tournament Sunday. Proceeds from all activities support the Renner Volunteer Fire Department. Details will be posted on the event’s Facebook page.

Hudson Street Dance

Waddy’s Bar & Grill will host its annual street dance in August, but a date hasn’t been announced yet. Check the bar’s Facebook page for updates.