Open Streets event to bring new activities, July 4 fun downtown

This event listing is sponsored by Downtown Sioux Falls Inc.

Celebrate Independence Day in downtown Sioux Falls by leaving your car behind and enjoying a special Open Streets event designed around walkability.

Downtown Sioux Falls Inc. will be transforming Phillips Avenue between Sixth and Seventh streets into a “joyful, community-centered celebration,” CEO Brandon Hanson said.

From 5 to 8 p.m., Fire Station 1 will be there with a firetruck and firefighters ready to celebrate with you. Enjoy live music, free watermelon, face painting and visiting kittens while a welcoming, laid-back atmosphere fills the block.

“We’re especially excited to invite downtown’s 4,000-plus residents to come out and connect with each other,” Hanson said. “Open Streets removes barriers and gives people a reason to step outside and feel a sense of belonging.”

There are plenty of downtown businesses open on July 4, plus a free concert at Levitt at the Falls at 7 p.m.

“Open Streets gives everyone a chance to explore, support local and rediscover why downtown Sioux Falls is consistently ranked among the most walkable districts in the region,” Hanson said.

The event marks the midway point of DTSF Open Streets events this summer. There will be two more coming on the first Fridays in August and September, and the first two in May and June were a huge success, Hanson said.

The event welcomed 3,200 people in May, followed by 2,100 in June.

“More importantly, the energy in the streets has been electric,” Hanson said.

“It’s clear that the people of Sioux Falls are craving ways to connect — with each other and with downtown itself. This initiative has become more than just a street closure. It’s a catalyst for community.”

Comments heard again and again include things like:

• “Do this all over downtown.”
• “This is amazing.”
• “Please do this more often.”

DTSF has learned a lot from Open Streets already and is still listening, Hanson said.

“One key takeaway is how important it is to connect downtown’s subdistricts, making it easier for people to travel between them on foot,” he said. “Businesses in these areas have seen real value, with foot traffic data showing that attendees are visiting retail shops and restaurants before and after the events, just as we hoped.”

Surveys show that people feel safer when streets are activated, he added.

“These events help create that natural sense of safety through movement, music and community presence,” he said. “We’re continuing to collect input from the public, artists, businesses and volunteers so we can refine and expand the program in a way that’s sustainable and impactful.”

The Open Streets events this year are made possible through an AARP Community Challenge grant. Downtown Sioux Falls Inc. was one of only 383 grantees selected out of more than 3,450 applications from across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The grants supports projects that make communities more livable in areas such as public spaces, housing, transportation and digital connectivity.

“We are incredibly proud that AARP has chosen to invest in downtown Sioux Falls to help make our community more livable for residents of all ages,” Hanson said. “This award underscores the momentum we’re building through public space activations like Open Streets — and affirms that Sioux Falls is on the map nationally when it comes to walkability, community connection and forward-thinking urban design.”

Get involved

If you love what DTSF is doing and want to get involved, the organization would appreciate your help.

“We have a variety of low-stakes, day-of volunteer opportunities that make it easy to be part of something bigger,” Hanson said. “Whether you have a few hours or all day, sign up, and help us build authentic community in the heart of our city.”

To learn more about volunteering with DTSF, visit here.

Summer events will bring new walkable areas to downtown Sioux Falls