Looking for a Weekend Adventure? Head to Brookings

Explore the Brookings Summer Arts Festival

If you're looking for the perfect summer road trip this weekend, point the car north toward Brookings.

The 55th annual Brookings Summer Arts Festival returns to Pioneer Park on Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, and it's much more than an art show. For more than five decades, this has grown into one of South Dakota's biggest and most beloved summer traditions.

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More than 175 juried artists from around the country will fill the park with everything from paintings and photography to pottery, jewelry, woodworking, sculpture, and handmade gifts. Whether you're shopping for something unique or just love browsing beautiful artwork, there's plenty to explore.

Savor Delicious Food & Find Fun Activities for Kids

Of course, no festival is complete without great food. Visitors can sample everything from sweet treats to gourmet specialties and ethnic favorites from dozens of food vendors. There's also an Artisan Food and Naturals area featuring homemade jams, sauces, baked goods, spices, soaps, lotions, and other locally crafted products.

Families will find plenty to keep the kids entertained, including a children's activity area, while live music and performances will fill three stages throughout the weekend. The festival also celebrates South Dakota's heritage with its popular Living History area, where visitors can watch traditional craftsmen and historical demonstrations.

Best of all, admission is free.

Plan Your Visit: Festival Hours and Location

The Brookings Summer Arts Festival runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pioneer Park. Pioneer Park is located on the west side of town on U.S. Highway 14/Sixth Street.

Free shuttle service is available from the South Dakota Agricultural Museum on North Medary Avenue and 11th Street. The shuttles will run continuously during the festival, making it easy to spend a relaxing summer day enjoying great art, delicious food, live entertainment, and one of South Dakota's favorite annual traditions.

South Dakota's Biggest Free Playground Is Open And Awesome!

Gallery Credit: Jacobson Plaza Sioux Falls-Ben Davis

Dives Worth a Drive in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota

Almost every small South Dakota town has a watering hole. It’s where the locals go to kick back a few brews and engage in conversation.

Some of these establishments are located in buildings almost as old as the town itself. There might be a fresh coat of paint on the walls or new vinyl on the booth seats, but the ambiance is still reminiscent of a good ol’ dive.

If you think a "dive" is all about the sketchy clientele, the smell of the Devil’s lettuce, and stale Grain Belt, you’d be wrong. Not every dive has a bad reputation.

What makes a dive, a dive?

A dive has character. Neon beer signs and local memorabilia adorn the walls.

You might find a pool table, dart board, and a few video lottery machines.

The bartender knows the regulars by name and they know what you drink.

Some dives don't even serve food except for bags of chips and pickled eggs that sit in a jar of brine on the bar.

Dives aren't fancy. You might see 70's-style wood panels on the walls and wobbly tables leveled with a folded napkin.

Finally, the bathrooms. The bathrooms in dives are in a class by themselves and could be a whole topic on its own.

There are several small-town dives in our area with friendly faces, cheap booze with a burn, and even really good food! We use the term "dive" in the most affectionate way.

Make a Day Trip! Brookings Summer Arts Festival Returns

Explore the Brookings Summer Arts Festival

Savor Delicious Food & Find Fun Activities for Kids

Plan Your Visit: Festival Hours and Location

South Dakota's Biggest Free Playground Is Open And Awesome!

Dives Worth a Drive in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota