Culture and Art

In addition to its wealth of wildlife and outdoor recreation opportunities, southeast South Dakota provides a wide array of cultural and entertainment facilities.
As the region’s largest city, Sioux Falls offers historic museums, downtown dining and nightlife, art galleries and theaters. A trolley system provides a free ride to the Old Courthouse Museum and to a variety of formal and ethnic restaurants. Stop along the way at the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science - one of the only facilities in the country to house a visual arts center, a hands-on science center and a performing arts center. See a real Broadway show or hear the world-renowned South Dakota Symphony.
Community Theater:
You don’t have to go far to take in great community theater. Check out the Sioux Empire Community Theatre in Sioux Falls, Dakota Prairie Playhouse in Madison or the Lewis & Clark Playhouse/Dakota Theater at Yankton.
Visual Arts :
Discover outstanding works of art by Native American and other regional artists at the Dakota Discovery Museum in Mitchell, the Center for Western Studies and the Washington Pavilion’s Visual Arts Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings and other area museums and galleries.
A SculptureWalk with original works of art is on public display through the season in downtown Sioux Falls.
If you'd like to take home a piece of original art from South Dakota, visit the Prairie Breeze Gallery in Mitchell. This unique gallery features works of art by South Dakota artists: painters, potters, photographers, woodworkers, jewelry makers, musicians, and more!
Museums:
Explore natural and cultural history at the W.H. Over Museum in Vermillion. Historic museums in Sioux Falls, Freeman, Dell Rapids and Yankton also have preserved artifacts that showcase the rich Native American and pioneering history of this area. Specialty museums include Mitchell’s Enchanted World Doll Museum and the National Music Museum, Vermillion, featuring musical instruments spanning five centuries from around the globe.

ANNUAL ARTS EVENTS:
June:
Arts & Crafts Festival - Brandon
Art Falls, Falls Park - Sioux Falls
July:
Arts in the Park - Madison
August:
Riverboat Days & Summer Arts Festival - Yankton
September:
Northern Plains Indian Art Market - Sioux Falls
Sidewalk Arts Festival - Sioux Falls

See Calendar of Events for dates.