The week ahead: April 16-22

The Week Ahead is our hand-picked event guide to the next seven days in Sioux Falls and slightly beyond. For guaranteed placement or to promote your event ahead of time, email [email protected] about a featured event listing.

April 17-19: DTSF retailers’ Spring Fling weekend

Find special offers for three days at retailers across downtown Sioux Falls. Many are offering free gifts with purchases and in-store events. Visit here for the full guide.

April 17: Artist receptions

An exhibition highlighting the creations of K-12 art educators from the Sioux Falls School District will go on display at the Washington Pavilion’s Visual Arts Center. An artist reception for “Teachers as Artists” will run from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. Presenting their artwork in a museum setting affirms that teaching art is inseparable from making art. At the reception, you’ll meet the featured artists.

A reception for artists Kristin Gifford and Judy Thompson also will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Visual Arts Center. Their exhibit is titled “Becoming Midwest: Life Between.”

April 18: Spring Planting Fest

Think spring at the Stockyards Ag Experience from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Falls Park. This free event allows guests to plant their own seeds or a plant to take home, plus offers story time, coloring and interactive activities. They’re hoping some baby chickens will be hatching!

April 18: Bakers convention

You don’t have to be a professional baker to attend the second annual South Dakota Bakers Convention. It will run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Sheraton Sioux Falls Hotel and Convention Center. Lauren “Lolly” Anderson, founder of Lolly’s Home Kitchen, will be the keynote speaker. The event will include swag bags, a catered lunch, stage presentations from industry professionals, hands-on technical classes and networking opportunities. You can purchase tickets here.

April 18: Arch Week

Create something amazing and meet South Dakota architects at an event celebrating Architecture Week, which concludes on Saturday. The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Washington Pavilion. There’s a question-and-answer session with architects at 1 p.m. Other activities include free-build and design-a-project activity stations. Various building kits and materials will be available for use on-site. It’s free to the public. Children 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

April 18: Polar Plunge

Saturday’s high is predicted to be in the 40s with a chance of snow. So that’s perfect weather for the Polar Plunge hosted by South Dakota Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit  Special Olympics South Dakota. It will begin at noon Saturday at Roosevelt High School and will include music and costumes. Funds raised support more than 3,000 athletes. Register here.

April 19: Fun run

Get ready for a crazy adventure with the B&G Milkyway Group Run on Sunday. Sioux Falls Area Running Club member Lance Smith will lead runners in a clockwise loop around the city, stopping at six of the ice cream shops and totaling 22 miles. The pace is casual, and there will be 10-minute stops at 721 S. Sycamore Ave., 3300 S. Centerfield Place, 6020 S. Cliff Ave., 3300 W. 69th St., 5508 W. 41st St. and a finish at the starting place: the B&G at 2410 W. 12th St. Start time is 10 a.m. For information, contact Smith at [email protected].

Coming up: April 26

With only 99 seats open, you’ll want to register now for the third annual Pint-Wood Derby at Severance Brewing Co., 701 N. Phillips Ave., on April 26. Registration and weigh-ins are from 11 a.m. to noon, when the races will begin. Closing ceremonies are at 4 p.m. There are three classes to participate in: classic, business or outlaw. Funds raised will be used to helping make Scouting affordable for all young people. You can learn more here.