The week ahead: June 29-July 5

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.

June 29: Recognition party

The team at Blend Interactive is celebrating the national recognition it recently received. The web design and developers were named to Inc. magazine’s Best Workplaces list. Join them from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday on the rooftop at the Boyce-Greeley Building & Dandar Properties, 231 S. Phillips Ave.

June 29: Paddle away

Members of Sioux Empire Paddlers will lead Paddling 101 for those who want to try the sport – although those of you with experience also are welcome – at Covell Lake. The event at 6 p.m. Thursday will focus on the basics of paddling. The club will have stand-up paddleboards, single kayaks and a tandem kayak to try. They’ll have gear, but if you have your own, please bring it.

June 29: KindnessFirst @ Levitt at the Falls

It will be a night of South Dakota pride at the Levitt at the Falls concert this Thursday! Starting at 6:30 p.m., The First National Bank in Sioux Falls will be handing out free popcorn balls from Sioux Falls’ own Poppy’s Popcorn Co. Rapid City singer and former “The Voice” contestant Rowan Grace takes the stage after the opening act at 7 p.m., so grab your sweet treat while supplies last.

June 30: Aerial performance

Crave American Kitchen & Sushi Bar offers drinks, dinner and aerial performances on the patio Friday. A professional lollipop lyra performance designed for small spaces, presented by South Dakota Aerial & Arts, Cirka Performance Arts and Jeffry Umberger, is scheduled for the patio at 201 E. Eighth St. from 7 to 10 p.m. No tickets are needed.

July 1: Food tour

Whether you’re a local or visitor, there’s no better way to experience Sioux Falls than through local cafes, breweries and restaurants. Sioux Falls Food Tours and Severance Brewing Co. are hosting a food tour offering an inclusive, varied tasting experience of the best downtown Sioux Falls has to offer. Stops will include everything from sweet to savory. You can purchase your ticket here. It runs from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday.

July 4: Independence Day

Looking for a way to celebrate the Fourth of July? Here are some suggestions for Tuesday:

• The Lennox Municipal Band always begins the Fourth of July parade in Lennox. It will start at 10:30 a.m. and include floats, tractors, car, horses, firetrucks and candy for the kids. The parade route runs from the sports complex to Main Street, north to First Avenue, east to Cherry, Cherry south to Sixth Avenue and ends at Highway 17. The day also includes the Firecracker Road Race, arts and crafts booths, a car show, ballgames, a band concert and fireworks.

Photo courtesy of The Lennox Independent

• The Sioux Falls Municipal Band will present Let Freedom Ring, featuring patriotic classics and popular hits, at 11 a.m. at Levitt at the Falls. It’s free. It’s part of a day of activities in Sioux Falls that includes a fun run/walk, parade, free meal for the first 3,000 people and a performance by Mogen’s Heroes. Learn more here.
• The house band Heinous 3 will perform from 8 to 10 p.m. at Dada Gastropub, 402 N. Main Ave. Rather do it yourself? Open mic and karaoke starts at 8 p.m. at Wileys, 330 N. Main Ave.
• Lance Ubben of Illuminate Real Estate – Keller Williams Realty and Laurel Ridge Barn are joining together for a star-spangled Fourth of July celebration with DJ Chris Hintz, a petting room, a bubble machine, the Backyard BBQ food truck, SDSU ice cream, inflatables, a mechanical bull and games. It runs from 4 to 8 p.m. at 47675 Slip Up Creek Road.
• Inwood, Iowa, will host its third annual Insanity Clash demolition derby at Foote Park on West Church Street. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with the main event at 6 p.m. It will include full-size stock class, mini-vans and mini-trucks, an ’80s and newer class, and a mods class. It starts with a kids power-wheel derby and ends with fireworks. Tickets are $15.
• A fun family event at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds will run from 7 to 10:30 p.m. and conclude with fireworks set to music on Sunny 93.3. Parking and admission are free, and there will be shuttles. Food trucks will be on the grounds. There will be a kids area and Mr. Twister twisting balloons, along with free entertainment on stage and a flyover.