Levitt by the numbers: A season of success and what’s next

If you visited Levitt at the Falls this season, you had a lot of company.

The 2021 concert season drew more than 60,000 people to the lawn on North Phillips Avenue this summer for 37 free, professionals concerts. The average was 1,788 people per show.

More than 50,000 viewers streamed the concerts online through a partnership with South Dakota Public Broadcasting.

In its first season with 30 concerts, Levitt drew more than 58,000 people. It went dark in person last year and did online music and neighborhood-level shows.

“Levitt at the Falls was able to take our pivoted digital and neighborhood programming from 2020 and build on the success of the 2019 inaugural concert season to bring an integrated, robust programming approach to 2021,” executive director Nancy Halverson said in a statement.

“We saw in-person audience numbers grow from our record-breaking 2019 season and were able to significantly increase our impact online through livestreaming as well as increase our artist outreach in the community.”

Boost for musicians

Levitt has a big impact for those making a career in music. This season, Levitt at the Falls was able to employ more than 300 musicians. Three shows had to be canceled for weather or artist illness.

And more than 100 volunteers gave more than 2,000 hours of community service to make the concert series a reality.

More good news

Not only will Levitt at the Falls be back next year, but for the first time it will offer its full lineup of 50 free concerts.

“We are grateful that our community has continued to embrace the Levitt and our mission to build community through music,” Halverson said. “We look forward to continued growth in 2022.”