Winter in South Dakota means long, leisurely days curled up by a roaring fire and getting outdoors for epic adrenaline rushes as we zip down hills on sleds, snow tubes, and skis, depending on our mood that day. Part of the magic of the season, the holidays add almost non-stop magic with so many ways to celebrate the season, from marveling at the Christmas light displays in South Dakota to attending some of the season's best activities and events. Pack your schedule with some of the best things to do in winter in South Dakota. Here's some inspiration to get you started.
Holiday Events In South Dakota
Christmastime in South Dakota allows us to relive some of that childhood magic as we look forward to the merriest day of the year. A drive through the neighborhood to see all of the Christmas lights - and decide which house has the best - allows us to harken back to a simpler time. But that's just the beginning of the seasonal fun. From Christmas light displays to Christmas festivals, South Dakota transforms into a wonderland during the holiday season.
1. Watertown Winter Wonderland
Location: Watertown
Popularity: Can get busy
Price: Free, but donations are welcome
Embrace the Christmas spirit by piling the whole family into the car for a drive through the Watertown Winter Wonderland, a magical drive-thru Christmas lights display in South Dakota. Hosted by the Watertown Optimist Club, the beloved annual event generally runs on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Turn on the Christmas carols, sing along, and slowly meander through this holiday lights display, one of the best free things to do in South Dakota in winter.
2. McCrory Gardens
Location: Brookings
Popularity: Popular, so tickets must be purchased in advance
Price: General admission $9
Bundle up for a wintertime stroll through McCrory Gardens' annual Garden Glow. One of the best family things to do in South Dakota in winter, Garden Glow boasts thousands of twinkling lights. Meander past shimmering Christmas trees and through a light tunnel on your adventure. Garden Glow runs from early December to the beginning of January. Stop by between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. nightly. The Christmas event in South Dakota is closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve. Tickets go on sale in late November and must be purchased in advance.
3. Winter Wonderland
Location: Sioux Falls
Popularity: Extremely popular
Price: Free
Embark on one of the most enchanting Christmastime experiences with a visit to
Winter Wonderland at Falls Park. One of the best family things to do in South Dakota in winter, Winter Wonderland promises countless magical moments. The awe-inspiring light display boasts more than 355,000 LED lights, 270 decorated trees, and more than 25 miles of light strings. Don't forget your camera for your visit to this magnificent light display in South Dakota, which runs from mid-November through early January.
4. Holiday Celebration and Winter Market
Location: Rapid City
Popularity: Busy
Price: Free
Kickstart the Christmas season with a visit to the
" target="_blank">Holiday Celebration & Winter Market at Main Street Square in Rapid City. Set for Nov. 25, 2023, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., the celebration's main event is the lighting of the Christmas tree. While you're there, get a bit of Christmas shopping done at the winter market.
5. Frontier Christmas
Location: Lake City
Popularity: Can get busy
Price: $5 per person for lunch; a park license is required
Travel back through the pages of time and celebrate a
Frontier Christmas at Fort Sisseton Historic State Park. Slated for Dec. 9, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., this family-friendly Christmas event in South Dakota will feature a full menu of activities, including crafts, candle lighting, and caroling. Climb aboard a sleigh ride, and indulge in such scrumptious treats as homemade bread and roasted chestnuts.
6. Holidazzle Light Parade
Location: Spearfish
Popularity: Extremely popular
Price: Free
Make your way to Main Street in Spearfish for the beloved annual
Holidazzle Light Parade, set for Dec. 2, 2023, at 6 p.m. Find a spot along the parade route that runs from the parking lot at Spearfish High School to Main Street and Grant Street. Don't forget your camera. The Christmas parade, after all, is one of the best free things to do in South Dakota in winter.
Christmas Towns In South Dakota
With all there is to do during the Christmas season, we can sometimes forget to slow down and really enjoy the magic of the season. See if you can carve out some time in your holiday schedule for a day trip, or even a weekend getaway, to one of these delightful Christmas towns in South Dakota.
7. Pierre
Location: Pierre
Popularity: Can get busy
Price: Free
Embrace the magic of the season with a visit to the enchanting town of
Pierre for the beloved Christmas at the Capitol, which runs from late November through Dec. 23, 2023. The celebration, which features a full menu of live entertainment, kicks off with the lighting of the Christmas tree in late November.
8. Mitchell
Location: Mitchell
Popularity: Very popular
Price: Parade of Lights is free
Bring the whole family to the darling town of
Mitchell, an idyllic way to get into the Christmas spirit. The small South Dakota town hosts the Parade of Lights at the end of November, and town shops and restaurants compete in a window-decorating contest. Even if you can't make it to the parade, spend a day in this quaint small town, where you can go Christmas shopping and dig into a delicious meal.
9. Deadwood
Location: Deadwood
Popularity: Can get busy
Price: Free
Feel as though you've stepped into a winter wonderland when you visit the adorable South Dakota town of Deadwood. Join the town in a holiday celebration at Community Christmas, set for Dec. 8, 2023, from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Spend some time Christmas shopping and indulging in a delicious meal or two, too.
Outdoor Activities
South Dakota is an outdoor lover's paradise all year round, but it's something magical during the winter. Whether you prefer a laidback adventure as you glide around an ice skating rink or you prefer an adrenaline rush by zipping down a hill on a snow tube. Not sure what to do next this winter? Check out these South Dakota winter activities.
10. Main Street Square Ice Rink
Location: Rapid City
Popularity: Very popular
Price: $9 day pass; $5 skate rentals
Spend a winter day gliding around the ice at the
" target="_blank">Main Street Square ice rink in Rapid City. One price gives you access to the rink all day, where you can hone your skating skills and enjoy the fresh winter air. The ice skating rink is open seasonally from the end of November to late February.
11. Great Bear Ski Valley
Location: Sioux Falls
Popularity: Gets busy.
Price:$8-$24 depending on day and time
Spend the day zipping down the hill on a snow tube at
Great Bear Ski Valley. Billed as the largest snow tubing park in South Dakota, Great Bear Ski Valley's Kirby Family Tubing Park boasts 12 lanes and a conveyor belt to take you back to the top. Try to visit for nighttime tubing at least once, too. The resort, which also offers skiing and snowboarding, generally opens in mid to late December.
12. Mitchell Activity Center
Location: Mitchell
Popularity: Reservations suggested
Price:$4-$6
For one of the best cheap things to do in South Dakota in winter, look no further than
Mitchell Ice Arena for a round of bumper cars on ice. If you thought traditional bumper cars were fun, wait until you try 'em on ice. Waivers are required for all participants. If you prefer ice skating to bumper cars on ice, lace up your skates for an ice skating session. Season passes are available for ice skating.
Winter Getaways
Most people naturally think of summer when it comes to planning a getaway. However, there's something oh-so-magical about a winter getaway, especially after it's snowed. The world is a little bit quieter; the landscape transforms into a wonderland, and we have the chance to appreciate nature in a whole new way. Before the doldrums set in, plan a winter getaway in South Dakota.
13. Custer State Park Resort
Location: Custer
Popularity: Reservations necessary
Price: Starting at $55
Escape for a winter getaway to Custer State Park Resort, where you'll find a variety of accommodations, including rustic cabins. The resort boasts a full menu of amenities, including some of the best food in South Dakota. If you're looking for one of the best romantic things to do in South Dakota in winter, you've just found it.
14. Hisega Lodge
Location: Rapid City
Popularity: Can get busy
Price: Starts around $155 a night
Both a bed and breakfast and a self-described "adventure lodge,"
Hisega Lodge Bed and Breakfast provides an idyllic backdrop for a winter getaway in South Dakota. Snuggled in the Black Hills, this quaint B&B makes it easy to relax. Spend the day snowshoeing or exploring the snow-capped landscape before taking it easy in front of a roaring fireplace after a day of fun.
15. Secluded Cabin – Coyote Ridge Lodge
Location: Spearfish
Popularity: Book in advance
Price: Around $175 a night
Get away from it all when you check into this
secluded cabin at Coyote Ridge Lodge in Spearfish. Tucked on 10 acres, the cozy cabin comfortably sleeps up to six guests in its two bedrooms. Curl up by the wood-burning fireplace or wrap yourself in a blanket to watch the snow fall outside of the picture window. The quaint South Dakota cabin is perfect for a romantic getaway for two or for a family vacation.
What are your favorite things to do in South Dakota in winter? Let us know in the comments! On the hunt for more free things to do in South Dakota in winter? How about going on a refreshing winter hike in South Dakota? For even more of the best hikes in South Dakota, head over to AllTrails.
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