Winter Weekends event series to bring ice bumper cars, entertainment downtown

You’ll be able to drive bumper cars on ice, have a beverage, take in some entertainment and even have a Chick-fil-A sandwich downtown on weekends this holiday season.

A partnership between the city of Sioux Falls and other public and private partners is bringing a Winter Weekends event series to the 10th Street Mural Plaza in front of the city parking ramp on 10th Street east of Phillips Avenue.

The goal is to further activate the downtown area, said Shawn Pritchett, city finance director.

“Activation by itself creates energy, safety, and ultimately we’re trying to attract people downtown to shop and take advantage of the great resources that have built up downtown,” he said. “People love the farmers market in the summer, they love First Friday, so we’re trying to build on that experience with something that’s more holiday-themed.”

A centerpiece of the Winter Weekends event series will be a glice, or synthetic ice rink, that will host bumper cars for all ages instead of traditional skating. Tickets for a 12-minute session will be $10 for adults and $5 for children.

Additionally, there will be large, lighted, holiday-themed installations designed for photos, including a walk-in lighted ornament and large Santa stationed on top of the ramp.

Each weekend will host a different theme with related activities. Beverages — including those for adults — will be sold. The final three weekends will include the option to buy one of two sandwiches from Chick-fil-A Empire Place and make it a meal with chips and a cookie.

Black Iris food truck will sell warm nonalcoholic beverages throughout the event along with baked goods. The beverage menu includes the Black Iris signature latte, chai tea latte, mulled apple cider, hot chocolate and coffee. Baked goods include apple hand pies, candied pecans, French almond cake and sea salt chocolate chip cookies.

MarketBeat is serving as the presenting sponsor of the event, in addition to the plaza it sponsors farther south on Phillips Avenue next to the federal courthouse.

“When we heard that the city wanted to activate the parking ramp plaza over the holidays, we were immediately excited about the opportunity to expand the MarketBeat Holiday Plaza to a second location,” MarketBeat founder and CEO Matt Paulson said.

“Adding additional attractions downtown over the holidays is a fantastic way to get more people downtown and shop from local retailers. We think the plaza is great for downtown businesses and fun entertainment for people visiting downtown.”

The project “is a great example of how public and private entities can work together to get things done,” Paulson added. “We are really impressed with the work that the city and the Washington Pavilion have done in a short period of time to spin up a second holiday plaza at the parking ramp site.”

MarketBeat also sponsored the mural painted on the ramp earlier this year.

The synthetic ice is part of a sponsorship from First Premier Bank/Premier Bankcard, which originally helped purchase it, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire, which sold it to the city at a reduced cost.

The Washington Pavilion is coordinating entertainment throughout Winter Weekends, from carolers to street performers.

“Everyone is very excited to be a part of this,” Pavilion president and CEO Darrin Smith said. “There’s a lot of pride feeling like we’re at the epicenter of art and entertainment in the community and in the region, and, of course, we’re in the heart of downtown. I think this is really something the community is going to get a taste of this year, a little bit of a precursor of what’s to come in the future.”

The project also is a way for the city to learn how programming could take place at the future Jacobson Plaza, which is under construction at Falls Park and will include an ice ribbon.

Here’s a look at the additional plans for each weekend:

Celebrate Downtown: Nov. 24-26

Downtown comes alive for the holidays Nov. 24 with the lighting of the tree at the Washington Pavilion at 6:25 p.m. The Glice Rink will be open for the season from 5 to 9:30 p.m. DJ music by Dakota Entertainment will play holiday songs from 5 to 10 p.m., with alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages for purchase. The Parade of Lights starts at 7:30 p.m. and runs north on Phillips Avenue from 13th to Fifth streets.

On Nov. 25, mark Small Business Saturday downtown by visiting the 10th Street Mural Plaza from 1 to 5 p.m. where there will be free yard games such as bean bags, giant Jenga and bocce ball along with a fall leaf craft and toddler obstacle course. Live music and beverages will be offered from 5 to 8 p.m. The plaza also will be open with yard games added from 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 26.

Adult-beverages options on Saturday and Sunday nights throughout Winter Weekends include:

Beer/hard seltzers: Coors Lite, Miller Lite, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, White Claw, High Noon, seasonal brews

Liquor/cocktails: Hot Glice, hot chocolate with Fireball Cinnamon Whisky; White Christmas, hot chocolate with Baileys; Jack Frost, hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps; Snowed-In, hot chocolate with RumChata; Santa’s Evening Coffee, hot chocolate with Mr Black Coffee Liqueur; and mulled wine.

This weekend is sponsored by Experience Sioux Falls.

North Pole Jingle & Mingle: Dec. 2-3

Santa and Mrs. Claus are the stars this weekend, making appearances at the plaza from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3. Do a meet-and-greet and photo for free. Additionally, there will be a candy cane hunt throughout downtown, with candy canes and riddles scattered throughout downtown business. Answer the riddle, score candy cane points, return to the plaza, and win a prize. It’s open to all ages.

From 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 2, wear your favorite holiday sweater to the plaza for some “carole-oke” with a singalong from Dakota Entertainment.

Bonus reason to stop: The ice bumper cars are free to ride Dec. 3 for an eight-minute spin.

This weekend is sponsored by First Premier Bank/Premier Bankcard.

Happy Grinchmas!: Dec. 9-10

Grinch fans, this weekend is for you. From 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 9 and 10, come to plaza for Grinch-themed activities. Decorate a Grinch bag, make a paper chain Grinch and listen to the classic story provided by Siouxland Libraries with readings at 2 and 4 p.m.

On Dec. 9, listen to the sounds of the season from 5 to 8 p.m. by joining friends downtown for live music featuring the Good Night Theatre Collective Caroling Choir, musician Jordan Jaacks and the Premiere Playhouse Christmas Carol Carolers.

This weekend is sponsored by AARP.

Winter Wonderland — 20th anniversary: Dec. 16-17

Say “happy anniversary” to Winter Wonderland with activities from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 16 and 17. Create a thumbprint Wonderland lights craft to take home with you. Enjoy playing a tree ring toss game, snowman bean bag toss, snowman darts and holiday bowling. Make your best guess on the Winter Wonderland facts game for the chance to win special prizes.

From 5 to 8 p.m., there will be live music from local performers to enjoy before heading to Falls Park to check out the light display.

This weekend is sponsored by the Sioux Falls Parks Foundation.

Throughout Winter Weekends, the ice rink will be staffed by Sioux Falls Parks & Recreation, and the adult beverages will be staffed by Sioux Falls Golf. DTSF will have its ambassadors there throughout the day, and the Washington Pavilion has hired security to monitor alcohol sales in the evening.