Levitt Shell announces major expansion

The Levitt Shell at Falls Park will be expanding in a big way.

Philanthropists Dick and Kathy Sweetman have donated the lead gift to provide a new entrance to the future Jacobson Plaza, creating a gateway to Falls Park and expanded space for Levitt, which is adjacent to the plaza at 504 N. Phillips Ave. in Falls Park West.

It will include community space for year-round programming, an expanded greenroom, staff offices and storage for lighting and sound.

“Thanks to this very generous lead gift by Kathy and Dick Sweetman, Levitt at the Falls is poised to continue a legacy of building our community through music,” Levitt president and CEO Nancy Halverson said in a statement.

“Since our first summer concert season in 2019, the community’s appetite for our programming has exceeded all expectations. With that enthusiasm has come a demand for more concerts, festivals, events and educational programming at the venue.”

The largest portion of the expansion will sit on the west side of the current band shell. The grassy area on the southwest corner of the venue will become a 2,600-square-foot programming space where the Levitt can host summer camps and professional development events for artists.

Currently, the western side of the shell is a grassy hill that leads up to the Levitt stage. The expansion will turn this area into offices for the Levitt staff, allowing the team to activate the space year-round. Tucked in this corner also will be a space for the sound and lighting production crew to store their equipment and operate during concerts, allowing the artists full use of the Levitt stage.

On the east side of the Levitt Shell, the expansion will include a ground-level storage space where Levitt staff can store equipment needed for each concert. There also will be room for an expanded dressing room, an additional restroom and a backstage ramp allowing greater accessibility for all Levitt artists. The grassy area on the southeast corner of the shell will become a larger greenroom where artists can prepare before concerts.

The gift will be allocated through the Sweetmans’ established fund at the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation. The family also recently donated to establish the Sweetman Planetarium at the Washington Pavilion.

“We are thrilled to champion the expansion of the Levitt, a cornerstone of our downtown’s vitality,” the Sweetmans said in a statement. “The Levitt’s mission not only enriches the cultural landscape of Sioux Falls but also invigorates the heart of our community. We are honored to be a part of their journey and to collaborate with such an inspiring organization. Contributing to their vision is more than an investment, it’s a celebration of our remarkable community.”

Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2025 with an anticipated completion date in the spring of 2026.

Levitt Shell Sioux Falls is part of a national network of outdoor Levitt music venues and concert sites dedicated to strengthening the social fabric of communities. Its next season of free concerts starts May 31.

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