Aberdeen
Around Aberdeen
Photo: H2O2 at English Wikipedia · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · South Dakota · 41k people
Aberdeen
“Hub City”
A warm spot on the open prairie
GoldMaroon
Welcome to Aberdeen, where the prairie meets the glacial lakes and everyone knows your name. Whether you're here for a Wings game, a day on the water, or just a slice of kuchen, you'll find a friendly community that's proud of its roots. Take a deep breath of that fresh air and settle in—you're home.
Clubs for Aberdeen
No clubs for Aberdeen yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Aberdeen. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Aberdeen. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Wylie Park Large city park with a lake, trails, and Storybook Land.
- Storybook Land Children's theme park with storybook characters and play areas.
- Dacotah Prairie Museum Regional history museum with pioneer and Native American exhibits.
- Aberdeen Civic Arena Home rink of the Aberdeen Wings hockey team.
- Northern State University Public university with historic brick buildings and arts events.
- Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge Migratory bird refuge with trails and viewing towers.
- Outdoors Fish for walleye on Lake Oahe
- Outdoors Hike the trails at Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge
- With kids Visit Storybook Land
- With kids Ride the carousel at Wylie Park
- Evenings Aberdeen Wings hockey games
- Evenings Live music at downtown bars
- Locals love Hunting and fishing spots
- Locals love Small-town diners
Through the year
- Brown County Fair August The region's biggest summer fair with livestock, rides, and local food.
- Aberdeen Wings hockey season October–April Junior hockey games that draw the whole town to the Civic Arena.
- Aberdeen Farmers Market June–September Weekly market with local produce, baked goods, and crafts.
- Northern State Performing Arts Series Year-round Concerts, plays, and recitals on campus throughout the year.
A continental climate with long, harsh winters and short, pleasant summers. The best time to be out is from late May through September. Best: Late spring and early fall are ideal for being outside.
Talk like a local
- “You betcha”
- A common affirmation, as in 'you betcha'.
- “Pop”
- Soda or soft drink.
- “Hot dish”
- A casserole, often served at potlucks.
- “The lake”
- Any of the many glacial lakes in the area.
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Aberdeen Wings NAHL
Also rooting for Minnesota Vikings (NFL), Minnesota Twins (MLB), Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA), Minnesota Wild (NHL), South Dakota State Jackrabbits (NCAA), University of South Dakota Coyotes (NCAA)
Eat and drink
- Chislic Cubed meat (lamb or beef) fried, a South Dakota specialty
- Kuchen German-style fruit or cream pie
- Walleye Freshwater fish, often fried
- Bison burger Lean prairie game meat
Where people go
- Prairie towns Tight-knit communities with grain elevators and main streets
- Glacial lakes Numerous lakes for fishing and recreation
- Small-town diners Classic cafes serving home-style meals
- Hunting and fishing spots Pheasant hunting and walleye fishing
Heritage and traditions
Aberdeen is proud of its German-Russian heritage, its 'Hub City' nickname, and its strong sense of community rooted in agriculture and the prairie.
This time of year in Aberdeen
- Pheasant hunting October The fall pheasant season draws hunters from across the country.
Say it like a local: “You betcha” — Yes, certainly.
Festivals
- Oktoberfest September German-Russian heritage celebration with food, music, and beer.
- Prairie Arts Festival June Showcases local artists and crafts.
- Mobridge Walleye Derby June Annual fishing tournament on Lake Oahe.
- Christmas Stroll December Downtown Aberdeen's holiday open house with caroling and lights.
Landmarks with a story
- Milwaukee Railroad Depot Restored train depot from Aberdeen's railroad heyday.
- Brown County Courthouse Historic courthouse in the center of Aberdeen.
- St. Mary's Catholic Church Historic parish with beautiful architecture.
- Klein Museum Local history museum in Mobridge.
Food traditions
- Knoephla soup A German-Russian dumpling soup, a comfort food in winter.
- Verenika Cottage cheese dumplings, often served with cream sauce.
- Borscht Beet soup, another German-Russian staple.
- Lefse Norwegian flatbread, found in Scandinavian households.
Music and arts
- Aberdeen Community Theatre Local theater group producing plays and musicals.
- Northern State University music programs University concerts and recitals open to the public.
- German-Russian folk music Accordion and polka music at heritage events.
A little history
- 1881 Founded in 1881
- late 1800s German-Russian immigration
- 1901 Northern State University founded
- 1888-1891 L. Frank Baum lived here
- 1880s Brown County Fair established
Rivalries
- Aberdeen Central vs. Aberdeen Roncalli Intense high school football and basketball games.
- Aberdeen Wings vs. Bismarck Bobcats NAHL hockey rivalry with plenty of travel between towns.
- South Dakota State vs. University of South Dakota College football rivalry that splits local loyalties.
- Game day Northern State Wolves basketball
- Game day High school football
- Outdoors Ice fishing on Richmond Lake
- Outdoors Snowmobiling on prairie trails
- With kids Visit the Aberdeen Aquatic Center
- With kids Play at Wylie Park's playground
People in Aberdeen speak with a mild Upper Midwestern accent, using phrases like 'you betcha' and 'ope.' German-Russian food terms like 'kuchen' and 'chislic' are common.
Only here
- Aberdeen is known as the 'Hub City' of South Dakota.
- Storybook Land is a free park with life-sized storybook characters.
- The Wylie Park carousel is a historic merry-go-round.
- Sand Lake is a major stopover for migratory birds.
New here? A few tips
- Dress for harsh winters; temperatures can drop below zero.
- A car is essential; distances between towns are long.
- Try chislic at a local bar; it's a regional specialty.
- Learn to pronounce 'Aberdeen' as 'AB-er-deen' (rhymes with 'seen').
- Join a local church or community group to meet people.
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Nearby
Every areaRedfieldSouth DakotaOpen skies, open heartsHuronSouth DakotaWhere the prairie meets the skyWatertownSouth DakotaWhere the prairie meets the lakesLisbonNorth DakotaWhere the prairie meets the riverGlacial LakesSouth DakotaWhere the prairie meets a thousand lakesMobridgeSouth DakotaBig skies, warm townsJamestownNorth DakotaWhere the prairie meets the riverWahpetonNorth DakotaWhere the prairie meets the Red River
Aberdeen, SD. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.