1. Winter Is Cold, But It’s Also Seriously Awesome
Bundle up, because it gets cold out there. But luckily, locals can spend their winter days snowboarding, tubing, and skiing at the awesome Great Bear Recreation Park, so all that energy will keep you warm and toasty.
2. The Day Doesn’t Start Without Coffea
When the baristas at Coffea Roasterie have latte art competitions, you know they’re serious about their coffee.
3. The Sioux Empire Fair Is A Crazy Big Deal
More than 300 thousand people annually head to the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds for the Sioux Empire Fair for their share of cotton candy, carnival rides, livestock shows, national headline concerts, rodeos, and so much more entertainment you could hardly believe it.
4. Everyone Is Dressed Like They’re From Old Timey England For A Reason
If you’re seeing people in old-timey costumes at the beginning of July, they’re probably celebrating a tradition in Sioux Falls, the Siouxland Renaissance Festival.
5. There’s A Group Of Vikings Living In Sioux Falls
The small, liberal arts Augustana College makes big noise in Sioux Falls with its impressive choir and concert band, Vikings sports teams, and top-notch academics.
6. Circle The First Friday Of Every Month On Your Calendar
You have plans. First Fridays in Sioux Falls bring together local businesses to offer discounts, entertainment, and all sorts of goodies in the name of fostering community and supporting the hard-working small businesses of the area.
7. Don’t Be Afraid Of The Stampede
The beloved Sioux Falls Stampede have sent several hockey players to the NHL, and for good reason. The team is great, and the fan base is even greater.
8. Prepare Your Sweet Tooth For All Of This
Between Oh My Cupcakes, The Cookie Jar, and the magnificent creations at C.H. Patisserie, no sweet tooth will go unsatisfied in Sioux Falls.
9. If You’re A Hunter, You’re In From A Serious Welcome Wagon
Sioux Falls is a great place for hunting, and people across the country know it. So when they arrive at the airport, there’s a welcome committee to meet them and hand out orange goodies—for the dogs, too!
10. If You Don’t Win One Of Those Gigantic Stuffed Animals At Electric Rainbow, You Didn’t Play Hard Enough
Kids and kids at heart find a happy home at Electric Rainbow, playing arcade games until they can finally build up enough tickets to win that coveted massive stuffed animal.
11. The City’s Namesake? Yeah, It’s Gorgeous
Sioux Falls on the Big Sioux River is so incredible, they named the city after it. And you can still get so close that you can feel the water splashing.
12. You’ll Be Expected To Reel In Dinner
Okay, it’s not a dealbreaker, but many Sioux Fall locals are big into fishing, and there are loads of local hot spots to catch some delicious meals, particularly in the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks’ Outdoor Campus.
13. You Go To The Birdcage For The Canaries And Fireworks
Some of the best nights to go see the Canaries play baseball at the Birdcage are on fireworks nights.
14. Sioux Falls Is Where The Fish Makes Friends With The Butterflies
You know a place is pretty when lots of people host their weddings there. The Sertoma Butterfly House & Marine Cove has some stunningly beautiful butterflies, alongside an entire exhibition of marine life, and it’s a popular place for weddings and events as well as just visits.
15. You Go Here When You Want To Pretend It’s Hot Out
As the temperatures drop, there’s even more reason to go to Bracco World Café, where your rum drinks are served from parrot-shaped glasses, and you can pretend you’re relaxing on a tropical island.
16. Why Drive When You Can Bike?
In the months without snow on the ground, take advantage of the weather and bike to work or school. Or for just a pleasurable, scenic ride, travel around the River Greenway.
17. When You’re Feeling Nostalgic For Malt Shoppes, Go To Phillips Avenue Dinner
The Phillips Avenue Diner is iconic in Sioux Falls, but it’s not just for the mouth-watering malts and shakes, but its amazing staff. Oh, and the food is pretty darn good, too.
18. This Isn’t Bruce Springsteen’s Thunder Road
Sioux Falls locals who think they’ve got what it takes behind the wheel can challenge their friends and families to a go-kart race at Thunder Road Family Park.
19. Chicago Is NOT The Real Windy City
As far as Sioux Falls is concerned, it is the real windy city. And if you live here, you understand completely.
20. Please Do Feed The Animals
The Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History has its share of giraffes, primates, and even rare rhinos, but there’s also a section for kids to get face-to-face with animals, where they can ride a camel, feed sheep, and so much more.
21. There’s A Little Something Extra Downtown Every Summer
Each summer, artists have the chance to show their work in the Downtown Sioux Falls SculptureWalk, and locals get the chance to admire them all.
22. There Are Cougars Lurking In The Area
The University of Sioux Falls Cougars, despite being based in the small school, petitioned and won to compete in the NCAA, so you know they’re a force to be reckoned with.
23. The Greatest Show On H2O Is Incredibly Awesome
Catfish Bay doesn’t have your run-of-the-mill waterskiiers, it has epic performance and gymnastic acts on the water.
24. The Sioux Empire Spectacular Seriously Lives Up To Its Name
Drum corps members from across the United States head to the city for The Sioux Empire Spectacular to show off their crazy skills.
25. You’ll Be Walking In A Winter Wonderland
Every year, Sioux Falls gets totally decked out for the holiday season—and rumor has it, Santa and his reindeer even make a visit.
Did we miss anything? Tell us what you have to explain to out-of-towners about Sioux Falls in the comments below!
