Sioux Falls
Around Sioux Falls
Photo: Maxpower2727 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · South Dakota · 308k people
Sioux Falls
Locals say Sioux Empire · “The Best Little City in America”, “The Falls”
Where the prairie meets the falls
Navy bluePrairie greenSunset gold
Welcome to the Sioux Empire! Whether you're here for the falls, the food, or the hunting, you'll find a friendly community with a strong sense of place. We're glad you're here.
Clubs for Sioux Falls
No clubs for Sioux Falls yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Sioux Falls. 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 Sioux Falls. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Falls Park Waterfall on the Big Sioux River, iconic downtown landmark
- SculptureWalk Outdoor sculpture exhibit along Phillips Avenue
- Denny Sanford Premier Center Major concert and sports venue
- Great Plains Zoo Family-friendly zoo with regional wildlife
- Butterfly House & Aquarium Indoor butterfly garden and aquarium
- Washington Pavilion Houses the Kirby Science Center and visual arts
- Outdoors Hiking at Falls Park
- Outdoors Biking the Big Sioux River trail
- With kids Great Plains Zoo
- With kids Butterfly House & Aquarium
- Evenings Downtown Sioux Falls bars
- Evenings Live music at the Levitt
- Locals love Farm-to-table restaurants
- Locals love Craft breweries
Through the year
- Sioux Empire Fair August Annual county fair with rides, livestock, and concerts
- Sioux Falls JazzFest August Free outdoor jazz and blues festival in Yankton Trail Park
- Levitt at the Falls June–August Free summer concert series at the Levitt Shell
- Sioux Falls Marathon September Marathon and half-marathon through the city and along the river
- Art in the Park June Juried art fair set in Falls Park
Sioux Falls has a continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. The best time to be out is late spring and early fall. Best: Late spring and early fall
Talk like a local
- “Sioux Empire”
- The metro area
- “the falls”
- Falls Park
- “the river”
- Big Sioux River
- “the mall”
- Empire Mall
Getaways
- Brookings Home of South Dakota State University
- Vermillion University of South Dakota and the National Music Museum
- Yankton Missouri River recreation and historic downtown
- Mitchell Home of the Corn Palace
Local flavour
Teams
- Sioux Falls Canaries American Association
- Sioux Falls Skyforce NBA G League
- Sioux Falls Stampede USHL
Eat and drink
- Chislic Cubed, seasoned meat (often lamb or beef) grilled or fried, a South Dakota specialty
- Knoephla soup German-Russian dumpling soup with chicken, a regional comfort food
- Pheasant dishes The state bird is a popular game meat, often served in local restaurants
Where people go
- Falls Park The iconic waterfall and quartzite cliffs in the heart of the city
- SculptureWalk An outdoor gallery of sculptures along downtown streets
- Prairie and farmland Vast open fields and rolling hills define the surrounding region
Heritage and traditions
Sioux Falls is proud of its prairie roots and Midwestern friendliness, its strong Scandinavian and German heritage, and the way the Big Sioux River falls right through downtown, giving the city its name and its heart.
This time of year in Sioux Falls
- Pheasant hunting season October–November A fall tradition for hunters from all over.
Say it like a local: “You bet” — You're welcome or sure, a friendly affirmation.
Festivals
- Sioux Falls Oktoberfest September German heritage with beer, brats, and polka music.
- Sioux Falls St. Patrick's Day Parade March Irish heritage parade with green beer and bagpipes.
- Sioux Falls Greek Festival June Greek food, dancing, and culture at the Greek Orthodox Church.
- Dell Rapids Quarry Days June Small-town celebration with a parade, carnival, and quarry history.
- Canton Days Summer Hometown festival with a parade, live music, and food vendors.
- Tea Days Summer Family fun with a carnival, car show, and community activities.
Landmarks with a story
- Pipestone National Monument Quarries for sacred pipestone, used for peace pipes by many Native American tribes.
- Cathedral of Saint Joseph Historic Catholic cathedral in Sioux Falls, known for its architecture.
- Pettigrew Home and Museum Home of Senator Richard Pettigrew, a pioneer and early leader of Sioux Falls.
Food traditions
- Lefse Norwegian flatbread made at Christmas, rolled with butter and sugar.
- Krumkake Norwegian waffle cookie, often filled with whipped cream.
- Bierock German-Russian meat pie brought by Volga Germans, a hearty pocket pastry.
- Hotdish A casserole staple at potlucks and church suppers, often with tater tots.
- Bison burgers Lean prairie meat, a local specialty.
Music and arts
- The Spill Canvas Indie rock band formed in Sioux Falls, known for emotional, melodic rock.
- Sioux Falls Symphony Orchestra Classical music performances throughout the year.
- Washington Pavilion Arts center with a visual arts gallery and performing arts theater.
- SculptureWalk An outdoor art exhibit with over 50 sculptures in downtown.
A little history
- 1856 Sioux Falls founded by the Dakota Land Company.
- 1878 Railroad arrives, connecting the city to the nation and spurring growth.
- 1889 Pettigrew Home built by Richard Pettigrew, later a museum.
- 1969 Big Sioux River flood causes damage and leads to flood control efforts.
- 1980s Rapid growth as a healthcare and retail hub, with the Sioux Empire emerging as a regional center.
Rivalries
- SDSU Jackrabbits vs. USD Coyotes College football rivalry between South Dakota's two largest universities
- Sioux Falls Roosevelt vs. Lincoln high school football Annual crosstown showdown
- Sioux Falls Canaries vs. Lincoln Saltdogs American Association baseball rivalry
- Sioux Falls vs. Rapid City Friendly statewide rivalry for the title of 'biggest city'
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Game day Sioux Falls Canaries baseball
- Outdoors Ice skating at Falls Park
- Outdoors Cross-country skiing on the bike trails
- With kids The Outdoor Campus
- With kids Sioux Falls Canaries games
People speak with a friendly Midwestern accent, with Scandinavian and German words sprinkled in. You'll hear 'pop' for soda, 'uff da' for surprise, and 'you bet' for sure.
Only here
- The Big Sioux River falls over pink quartzite right in the middle of downtown.
- The SculptureWalk has over 50 sculptures on display, changing annually.
- The city is nicknamed the 'Sioux Empire' – a nod to its regional influence.
- The Sioux Falls Canaries baseball team has a bird mascot and a quirky name.
New here? A few tips
- Dress for extremes: cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers. Layers are essential.
- Learn to say 'Sioux' as 'soo' – it's the city's name and the river.
- Try chislic (cubed meat, often fried) at a local bar – it's a regional specialty.
- Embrace the outdoors: there are miles of bike trails and the falls right downtown.
- Be ready for snow – the city is well-equipped to handle it, but give yourself extra time.
Make this page better
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Nearby
Every areaMadisonSouth DakotaWhere the prairie meets the skyPipestoneMinnesotaWhere the prairie meets the pipestone.Sioux CenterIowaWhere the tulips meet the prairieBrookingsSouth DakotaPrairie spirit, Jackrabbit heart.VermillionSouth DakotaPrairie roots, river spiritWorthingtonMinnesotaHeart of the Turkey CapitalYanktonSouth DakotaWhere the Missouri meets the prairie and history lives onLe MarsIowaWhere the cornfields meet the creamery
Sioux Falls, SD-MN. 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.