Beloved Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society Dissolves After 35 Years

One of the biggest music festivals in Sioux Falls was The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival – JazzFest. The Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society hosted the giant music weekend along with other events including The Jazz Diversity Project, The All-City Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Camp, and scholarship programs.

For the last couple of years, the local Sioux Falls JazzFest has been canceled with the hopes of its triumphant return. Unfortunately, the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society made the difficult decision to dissolve the organization.

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Our partners at Dakota News Now are reporting that the sudden announcement is not something the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society takes lightly. The COVID-19 pandemic did not help the struggles of the organization. Here's a statement from the Board of Directors shared with Dakota News Now:

“The last few years, including during the pandemic, have been challenging not just for SFJB but also other smaller arts non-profits. We are proud of the programming we supported during this time and especially proud that we are able to continue our mission of music and arts education through Levitt at the Falls and the Sioux Falls Arts Council. THANK YOU to the community, volunteers, staff, directors, and sponsors for their support over the years.”

So what happens with the current funds of the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society? The funds will be distributed to the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation and the Sioux Falls Arts Council’s Artist Micro-Grant program. The hope is to use the funds for educational music programs.

More information about the announcement from the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society and where the funds are going can be found here.

Flashback 1992: Inside Sioux Falls Old Washington High School

The modern marvel that is YouTube never ceases to amaze me. Sure, there's plenty of garbage there, but you can also find some gems.

Like this video from 1992. It's a sort of video time capsule of the old Washington High School in Sioux Falls. If you came to The Queen City in the last couple of decades, you may only know the building downtown as the Washington Pavilion, a center of Sioux Falls arts and culture.

Before it was the Pavilion, the corner of Main Avenue and 11th Street in Sioux Falls was home to many of the city's schools for most of the 20th century.

Built on the site of the former Central School, WHS's first class of 328 students started in 1908. It was the only high school in Sioux Falls until Lincoln High was completed in 1965.

The class of 1992 was the last class of Sioux Falls to graduate from the old Washington High. That fall the new WHS, constructed on N. Sycamore Ave on the east side of the city, took over the name and educational mission.

Check out the shots below for a flashback to 1992.

My Top 5 Favorite South Dakota Made Foods

As I was slicing a piece of cheese off my block of Dimock Dairy Colby cheese and boiling a ring of Bluebird Locker German sausage on the stove, I started thinking, "What foods is South Dakota known for?'

Then I realized the state is known for some of my favorite foods, are they're actually made right here in South Dakota!

So, I decided to search my cupboards and refrigerator looking for other South Dakota-made foods and came up with my Top 5.