54 Fun Things to Do this Summer around the Sioux Falls Area
Apr 29, 2021 ● By The Hood Magazine
Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History
Adventure awaits at your Great Plains Zoo! Visit hundreds of animals from around the globe from Red Pandas to Humboldt Penguins to Black Rhinos, embark on a guided tour, meet an animal up-close, and take a ride on our train or carrousel all summer long!
Skate City
Skate for as little as $1 per session all summer. Summer Skate Cards are regularly $12.00, but if you purchase yours early in May you save 50% on your cards! That’s just $6.00 per card! Cards are valid for use from July 1st to August 31st. Purchase yours online or in-rink!
Museum of Visual Materials
Get creative with us in our craft classroom! Variety of unique art and craft classes planned all while located at our historical building in downtown Sioux Falls. Creative, educational, and fun classes can be found on our website. New affordable classes added monthly. Registration required in advance online.
Butterfly House & Aquarium
www.butterflyhouseaquarium.org With an annual membership to the Butterfly House & Aquarium, you get access to endless exploring (plus more perks) for one low price. Pick from our flexible family pass options to find the package that’s right for your crew.
Wild Water West
As the largest waterpark in the state, Wild Water West is the best summer entertainment in South Dakota! We’ve been in the business of providing safe, family fun for over 30 years. Thousands visit every year, traveling from near and far. With water and land attractions for the young and the young at heart, everyone can get their fill of thrills.
Galaxy Gaming
Galaxy Gaming offers an out of this world Laser Tag arena, Virtual Reality and Gaming experience. Your ultimate entertainment destination.
Washington Pavilion
Start your summer adventures at the Washington Pavilion! There is always something to do for the whole family – play with dinosaurs, reach new heights in our exhibits, become inspired by amazing artwork, watch a fun movie and so much more. Kids love to explore the Washington Pavilion – call 605-367-6000 to buy your tickets today!
Sioux Falls Skatepark Association
www.lets-skate.com The Sioux Falls Skatepark Association will be hosting free skateboarding classes at Drake Springs Skatepark every other Saturday for the duration of the spring and summer. Find us on social to sign up (IG: @skate.sfsd or FB: www.facebook.com/lets.skate.sioux.falls) and learn more about our mission and the future of skateparks in Sioux Falls on our website.
SafeSplash
Want to swim but the weather is not cooperating? Take your swimming inside with a private family open swim session for up to 10 swimmers for 1 hour. Call Dan @ 612.670.5498 for details.
Bounce Around Inflatables
Most inflatables are pay 1 day, get up to 3 days FREE (Fri - Mon)! We have over 200 inflatables with our standard bouncers starting at $99! Cool down with one of our waterslides or have fun with an obstacle course! Call Today: 605-310-9529.
All American Gymnastics Academy
www.allamericangymnastics.com Endless fun is awaiting you! Come experience gymnastics, ninja, cheer, parkour, trampoline, inflatables, bumper cars, foam pits and much more. Don’t forget about the events too…private birthday parties, nerf battles, and summer programs.
Breakfast at the Farm
Head to Ode Family Farm in Brandon on June 19th for a morning of activities. Tour the dairy farm to see baby calves, enjoy kid’s activities and crafts, and much more.
Build-Your-Own-Burger Night
Grilling is great in the summer but forget about plain burgers. Grab some unique toppings and make your own gourmet burger – or even a brats or hotdogs.
Park Parade
There are over 80 parks in Sioux Falls. Create a bucket list of ones your family wants to visit over the summer.
Falls Park Adventure
Start your Saturday morning with a visit to the Falls Park Farmer’s Market, venture across the street to the Stockyards Ag Experience, and end it with lunch or ice cream from Falls Overlook Café while enjoying the Falls.
Read Under a Tree
Grab a good book and settle in under a tree for some outdoor learning. Visit the Siouxland Libraries to check out a book or REACH Literacy where kids can choose five free books each visit.
Reel in a Big One
Hit up one of the local fishing holes and try your hand at reeling in fish. The Outdoor Campus is a great resource to learn more about this and other ways to connect with nature. Or check out Family Park’s ponds, where you can also bring your dog to enjoy the nearby dog park.
Sidewalk Paint
Looking to take your sidewalk chalk to a new level? Head over to the Hood Magazine (click here!) and search sidewalk chalk for an easy recipe including corn starch, baking soda, water, and washable paint. The kids will have a blast painting the sidewalk or driveway.
Ice Cream Bar
After an afternoon of outdoor play, set up an ice cream bar with a variety of toppings – syrups, sprinkles, candy – and cool down with your own cool creation.
Travel the Loop
Did you know Sioux Falls has a bike trail that is a 19-mile loop? Map out chunks of this loop and travel the entire circuit this summer by walking, running, or biking with the family.
Familyfest
Looking to get out and support local family businesses in the Sioux Empire? Take part in the Familyfest Fun Cruise on July 24 from 10am-2pm. Check out www.familyfestsf.com to join in on the fun!
Downtown Stroll
There are so many things to do downtown! Check out the Sculpture Walk. Grab a bite to eat. Go shopping. Visit the River Greenway and Arc of Dreams. It’s a great place to get out and explore.
Smell the Roses
Visit one of the many gardens in the Sioux Falls area. Bring a pad of paper and colors to draw what you see. Mary Joe Wegner Arboretum, McKennan Park, or the Japanese Gardens at Terrace Park are great places to check out to see nature in full bloom.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
Visit the Bridcage to enjoy a Canaries game or head out to one of the local ball fields for your own game. Grab a few neighbors and friends to field a team!
Movie Under the Stars
Moonlight Movies is a FREE outdoor movie series at Fawick Park. Bring your favorite blanket or chair and enjoy a movie as a family. Popcorn, candy and soda are available for purchase on site.
Get Your Groove On
Lounge back and enjoy some music this summer at various places around town. McKennan Park has a free concert series all summer long on Mondays. The Levitt at the Falls will be bringing in artists of all genres during the week and weekends for the public to enjoy.
Ready, Set, Get Wet
Pioneer Spray Park is a fun way to cool off with the little ones! This dinosaur designed spray park also features an open picnic shelter, children's play area, basketball court, soccer field, and tennis courts.
Rainy day Activities
We all love to enjoy the outdoors in the summer, but some days that isn’t possible. Thankfully, there are many indoor activity places to visit to keep your kids busy, like 605 Ninja, Bowling, Frontier Climbing, Scheels, Sky Zone, West Mall 7, or Wings Gymnastics…just to name a few.
Feed Your Backyard Friends
Find a DIY bird seed recipe to create fun feeders for the birds that visit your backyard. Build a birdhouse following our “Make Your Own Birdhouse” tutorial on the Hood Magazine website. Click here to check it out!
Chalk the Sidewalk
When families are out for walks, it’s hard to NOT participate with a course or hopscotch activity! Make a walk fun for your neighbors by drawing one out on your sidewalk.
Glow in the Dark
Grab a few glow sticks and play hide-and-seek after dusk.
Car Wash
Kids love to play with water, so let them have fun while cleaning your car. Little hands are great at cleaning tires, too.
Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt
Create a list of fun landmarks around your neighborhood for your kids to find while you’re on walks. It’ll keep them entertained and help burn off some energy!
Pay It Forward
Grab a roll of quarters, tape, and some paper and head downtown. Help your kids decorate little cards of encouragement with quarters attached and then tape them to the meters.
Yard Games
Visit Game Chest, Kidtopia or Child’s Play Toy stores and pick up a fun game to play outdoors. Frisbee, Ladder Ball, and Lawn Dart are all fun activities. Or get even more creative and create your own Yard Yahtzee or Farkle set with a few blocks of wood and some dots of paint. Find the tutorial on The Hood Magazine and searching Yard Yahtzee.
Go For a Swim
The public pools will be open this summer! Some feature fast slides for the big kids, and some sandy areas, shallow wading pools, and zero depth entrances for the little ones. There’s a pool for all age groups.
Head to the Arcade
Your kids will love playing Skee-Ball, Pinball and Press Your Luck games at the local arcades. Whether you hit up Electric Rainbow, The Fun Zone at Pizza Ranch, The Country Fair in Brandon, or Thunder Road, there are lots of options to play the day away!
Cool Down with a Sweet Treat
Ice cream is a great way to end a long day of fun. For a special treat, hit up Stensland’s Ice Cream, Parlour, B&G Milky Way, or Dakota Snow/Sub Zero Desserts.
Dig in the Sand…Inside
The beach isn’t the only place you’ll find sand these days. Head down to Harrisburg and check out The Sandlot. You can drop in during an open dig or you can book your private dig time as well!
Camp at Home
If you’re not able to enjoy a get-a-way at a campground this summer, you can still make use of your tent by setting it up in the backyard! The bonus is you’ll have the comfort of your own bathroom nearby and no need for shower shoes.
Science Experiment
Science can get messy! Find a fun experiment your kids want to do and let them explore away outside.
Host an Outdoor Show
Let your kids imagine they are hosting their own show on Discovery™. Grab your phone and allow them to explain the different things in your yard or neighborhood and talk about what it is, how it helps the environment, or how they interact with it.
Set Up an Obstacle Course
Use all sorts of things around your house to allow kids to climb, crawl, or jump around in the yard. Chairs, hula hoops, pool noodles, laundry baskets…the possibilities are endless. Get creative!
Create Your Own Popsicles
Blend up fruits, add some water, pour into a cup with a stick, and freeze. Try mixing different fruits together to find your family’s favorite concoction.
Try out Parent & Me Classes
Our friends at Sanford fit have some of our favorite new options for 3-5 year-olds! These classes are both entertaining and enriching (give us all the parenting tips, right?). Get moving together, try animal breathing, learn new social and emotional skills, and bond at the same time! There are so many options, from tot yoga to educational make-and-take crafts, you can really find something that interests you. Find these events on our calendar.
Looking to get out town for a day? Try out these places not too far away!
SiouxNami, Sioux Center
This waterpark is just over an hour from Sioux Falls and features indoor and outdoor water slides, an outdoor aqua zip line, a lazy river, a 16-foot climbing wall, and more!
Kellen Ponderosa, LaMars
Have some fun in the sun! Go for a swim, hit the slides or high jump, or relax on the beach. You can also rent their Pond Shed for gatherings.
Arnolds Park, Okobojj
Spend the day taking in the scenery while enjoying amusement park rides. Games, rides, and food… Arnold's Park has it all for the whole family.
LaunchPAD Children’s Museum, Sioux City
Lots of fun is waiting to be had at the LaunchPAD Children’s Museum. Your children will enter a world full of fun and learning which will help them grow.
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Omaha
Spend the day at one of the country's best zoos! Thousands of animals, an amazing splash park, and giant outdoor adventure playground makes this zoo a full day of family fun.
Splash Central Waterpark, Huron
Take a day and cool off this summer at Splash Central Waterpark. Enjoy water slides, a lazy river, and more. Prefer to stay dry? Take a walk in the sensory garden and take in the awesome picnic areas.
Verne Drive-In Theater, Luverne
Go back in time for old fashioned summer fun from the comfort of your car or tailgate. This drive-in theater shows popular movies all summer long.
Children’s Museum of South Dakota, Brookings
Take a quick trip up north for outdoor play on the prairie. Mama T. Rex and her son Max await you, along with other play opportunities in their outdoor space.