Category: Uncategorized

By Laura Johnson

What’s on your agenda this weekend? The weather should be gorgeous — perfect for taking in the many great events taking place around the state. Fairs, rodeos, wacipis and more — there’s too many to list, so we’ll mention a handful and let you peruse our events page for the rest.

As I type this, two young boys are wrapping up in white crepe paper in our conference room, getting ready to terrify the Yankton Riverboat Days kiddie parade watchers as a couple of mummies. They’ll fit right in with the theme of this year’s event,”Weekend at the Movies.”

Oahe Dam is turning 50 this year. The dam was dedicated on August 17, 1962 by President John F. Kennedy. There are a variety of activities planned to celebrate, including presentations, a screening of film footage of JFK’s visit and the dam’s construction, tours of the Oahe Chapel and more.

The dark night skies of the Badlands will be taken full advantage of this weekend for the Badlands Astronomy Festival. Timelapse photographer Randy Halverson will be there, showing his Badlands sky video.

Note to fairlovers: the Central States Fair starts tonight in Rapid City, and the Meade County Fair and Black Hills Threshing Bee will provide a little more excitement for folks in the Sturgis area. The Brown County Fair and Butte/Lawrence’s joint fair wrap up this weekend, so get there while you can, and have a little cotton candy for me.

By Laura Johnson

“I do not like the look of these clouds.” Surely that’s a phrase all South Dakotans say at least once a summer. Kathleen Taylor had her camera out before and after the sirens blared in Redfield last weekend.

Employees of the D. C. Booth Fish Hatchery didn’t mind the look of a baby skunk that recently paid them a visit, but its smell was a different story.

Sanaa’s skunk cookies are less odiferous…and more appealing.

For kitchen-based thrill-seeking, try pressure cooker canning.

Of course, we cannot mention the wild side of life in South Dakota this week without mentioning the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

By Laura Johnson

Some of us here at South Dakota Magazine are heading up to Sioux Falls tonight for the opening of the “Treasure Box” exhibit at the Ipso Gallery at 6 p.m. We’re excited to unveil our collection, and see what the other collectors have on display. In honor of the evening’s festivities, have a look at some of the South Dakota stories and tidbits I’ve gathered for you this week.

• Don’t send your wild snake stories to Reptile Gardens! They will bust every myth you present them with, shattering all your big snake illusions in the process.
  
• Do you know your South Dakota license plates? Refresh your knowledge of each county’s plate number with Ben Lippert’s handy list.
  
• Every couple has to work out how to divide responsibilities. Sanaa writes about show she and her husband handle the work…particularly in the garden.
  
• If you’re interested in natural construction and happen to be headed out Pine Ridge way, Shannon Freed at Earth Tipi could use a hand.
  
• Pe’Sla, or Reynold’s Prairie, was one of the endangered places we wrote about in our July/August issue. Chase Iron Eyes recently wrote about that site’s significance to the Lakota and the importance of protecting other sacred spots.

By Laura Johnson

How many people does it take to make a town hum? In Bijou Hills, they have two — Wayne and Pat Surat. The Surats are keeping the once-bustling Brule County community alive with their vineyard and a website that covers Bijou Hills history.

They don’t list population figures for Reva on my map of South Dakota, but the little Harding County location will be holding their 36th annual Turtle Races this weekend. Over in Brookings County, Bruce (population 204) will be celebrating Honey Days.

The insulating properties of straw inspired Carthage’s museum, which in turn led to Straw Bale Days, held August 3-5 this year. Fishermen and fun lovers will flock to the Walleye Classic & Festival in Akaska (pop. 42) the following week.

Planning a community event is hard work. Small town boosters deserve extra credit for doing more with less help. Thanks for keeping things interesting, guys!

By Laura Johnson

Sure, the weather’s hot and everything’s dry, but that’s no reason to take life too seriously. Here’s a handful of sites that are bound to bring a smile.

• Teen visitors to South Dakota State University were playfully creative at Animation Camp this week.
  
• Sioux Falls humor has been popping up on tumblr.
  
• The Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan’s police log is generally a good source of humor. Recently, the Mother City’s finest confronted a fierce intruder at a local motel. Nathan Johnson has the full story.
  
• A bronze memorial to Methuselah, Reptile Gardens’ beloved Galapagos tortoise, was recently unveiled at the popular Black Hills attraction. Visitors were allowed to sit on the sturdy replica, and there was much clowning with free watermelon, Methuselah’s favorite treat.

• Edgemont’s old sale barn will be the stage for theatrical silliness when the Edgemont Theater Company performs the melodrama”Somebody Save my Baby, Ruth or Foil that Villain!” this weekend.

If you have any other examples of South Dakota silliness, please share them with us in the comments section!

Pride and patriotism were on parade this week, as South Dakota communities celebrated Independence Day in style. The activity started early in Fulton, which held its 125^th birthday party on June 30. South Dakota blogger/photographers shared scenes from parades in Mobridge, Redfield (watch for the giant fiberglass pheasant!) and Faulkton after this week’s festivities were over.

By Laura Johnson

Happy Father’s Day weekend! Here’s a few of the father-friendly activities going on in South Dakota in the next few days.

Dads with a penchant for western flavor can take in Deadwood’s Will Bill Days or Estelline Rodeo Days. At Finn Fest in Frederick, fleet-footed men have a chance to win their wife’s weight in beer. My dad, a long time barbecued rib man, will perhaps swing up to Beresford for Wheels N Squeals. Speed-cravers can take in the hydroplane boat races in Chamberlain on Saturday and Sunday. If your dad’s more of a solitary outdoorsman, he might like a nice hike at Bucher Prairie Park, a Minnehaha County nature preserve, or a paddle around Humboldt’s Beaver Lake.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

Strike up the band and fire up the ferris wheel! Nothing beats the parties South Dakota towns throw for themselves every summer. Here’s a few taking place this weekend.

Ipswich Trail Days celebrates the Edmunds County town’s status as home of the Yellowstone Trail. Volga’s Old Timers Weekend features a parade, live music, children’s activities and fireworks. “Men who are not afraid to show their feminine side” are welcome to compete in the Womanless Pageant at Harrisburg Days (there’s also a car cruise, softball, fishing derby, arts festival, carnival and more). On Saturday, the Galena Historical Society will raise funds for the renovation of their 1882 schoolhouse with a historic walk through the Black Hills ghost town, barbecue and a little bluegrass music. History’s also the focus of Sunday’s Clark Heritage Day, held at the Clark County Historical Society grounds. Elkton’s Harvest Festival spills over into Monday and Tuesday with a parade, carnival, food and the Miss Elkton pageant.

By Laura Johnson

Trails, treasure hunts and wild desserts — Saturday is National Trails Day, so check the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks website for a family-friendly hiking opportunity at a state park near you.

Custer-area hikers can get an extra-close look at the world’s largest sculpture in progress at the 27^th annual Crazy Horse Volksmarch. The Black Hills chapter of the American Volksport Association expects over 10,000 people to make the 6.2 mile trek up and down the mountain.

Who knew you needed shoes to go barefoot running? Daryl Stisser recommends them for avoiding animal droppings on your way to the Mickelson Trail, “perhaps the best place in the world to start barefoot running.”

Tractors of all shapes, colors and sizes are welcome at the South Dakota Ploughing Association’s Tractor Ride this Saturday at Prairie Village near Madison. For the tractorless, there’ll be the usual Prairie Village fun — steam driven carousel rides, rug making demonstrations, a chance to ride the train and more.

Explore Dakota Territorial transportation history at the Yankton Dakota Territorial Museum‘s Riverboats, Roads and Rails event tomorrow from 10-4. Wheel-loving kids will be in heaven, with chances to win prizes in Freddy the Fur Trader’s Scavenger Hunt, examine vintage automobiles, watch a model railroad in action and meet local firemen. If you’re there between noon and 2 pm, stop in the Hovden Log Cabin to see yours truly demonstrate her knitting prowess in a suitably rustic and historic setting. Just don’t ask me about railroad history, ok?