Get ready to experience the ultimate autumn celebration! The Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival is not only the biggest annual event in Downtown Rapid City but a beloved tradition that embodies the heart and soul of the fall season. From Main Street Square to Memorial Park, this festival is a sprawling celebration that has something for everyone. 

From 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., The Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival brings to life a variety of festive fall fun. Shop from dozens of local vendors, taste your way through the creations of local food trucks, and participate in all the pumpkin-themed fun. This event is free, family-friendly, and the greatest way to kick-off the fall season in Rapid City.

Seasonal Operation: Open every weekend from Early September to late October.

Join us at the Back Forty Beef Adventure Farm & Corn Maze near Pierpont for family fun during the fall season! Explore a 12-acre corn maze, enjoy games, food trucks, and farm animals, and shop for local products, including homegrown beef and pumpkins. Special events will be held on select weekends. Visit the official website for more details.

Feel the ground shake as 1,300 bison thunder across the prairie during the annual Buffalo Roundup in Custer State Park. Every fall, visitors gather to witness this spectacular event, where real-life cowboys and cowgirls drive the herd into corrals for health checks and management. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime Wild West experience set against the stunning backdrop of the Black Hills. 

Experience a sweet South Dakota tradition at the annual Delmont Kuchen Festival, a community celebration honoring kuchen—the state's official dessert. Enjoy freshly made kuchen, explore local history through tours of historic sites and museums, and take part in small-town festivities that showcase the area's German heritage and welcoming spirit.

While you're in the area, don't miss the nearby Twin Rivers Old Iron Harvest Festival, featuring antique machinery, agricultural demonstrations, and family-friendly activities that celebrate the region's farming roots.

Check the official event websites for current dates, times, and festival details before planning your visit:

• Delmont Kuchen Festival: https://www.delmontsd.com/kuchen-festival

During the Fall Volksmarch, visitors can hike to the outstretched arm of the Crazy Horse Carving — a rare opportunity only available during this special event. The 10K trail winds through the beautiful Black Hills, offering breathtaking views along the way. It’s a one-of-a-kind chance to experience the world’s largest mountain carving up close while enjoying South Dakota’s crisp autumn scenery.

The FestiFall event is held annually on the first Saturday in October from 1-5 p.m. Come out to enjoy arts and crafts, kids’ games, hay rides and bluegrass music. In true fall fashion, you can compete in pumpkin decorating contest, pumpkin carving demonstrations and pumpkin catapulting.

The Candlelight Walk follows the FestiFall and leads visitors along 2.2 miles of a candlelit trails lined with glowing pumpkins through the woods of Newton Hills. This is a unique experience that you can’t get anywhere else except Newton Hills!

At the Great Scarecrow Festival, local Huron organizations exercise their creative muscles to create scarecrows that are displayed in Campbell Park. Everyone is invited to view the final masterpieces and vote for their favorite.

Enjoy a day of music with the family while you try your hand at some old-fashioned harvest games. Explore techniques from the past with our living history guides, as you experience activities like rope-making or wood-spliting. Bring the kids to decorate a pumpkin, and take some photos at the photo-op spots. Join us on the courthouse lawn for yard games and giant bubbles too!

Experience the sights, sounds, and traditions of pioneer life at the annual Homesteader Day Celebration at Beaver Creek Nature Area near Brandon. This family-friendly event brings local history to life with demonstrations, hands-on activities, and living history exhibits that showcase what life was like on the prairie more than a century ago.

Explore historic buildings, watch traditional crafts and agricultural demonstrations, enjoy live music, and discover skills and customs passed down through generations. With engaging activities for all ages, Homesteader Day offers a fun and educational way to connect with South Dakota’s rich heritage.

Check the official event website for current dates, times, and event details before planning your visit:

• Homesteader Day Celebration: https://gfp.sd.gov/events/

Raise a stein and celebrate Oktoberfest at Jefferson Beer Supply with authentic German-style beer, festive food, and live music. This annual event brings the Bavarian spirit to South Dakota with stein-holding contests, traditional brews, and plenty of fun for all. Gather your friends, don your lederhosen, and join the community for a fall celebration you won’t forget.

Fall hiking at La Framboise Island in Pierre, South Dakota, offers a peaceful and scenic escape along the Missouri River. The island's trails wind through golden cottonwoods and riverbank views, making it a stunning spot for leaf-peeping and wildlife watching. It's a quiet, uncrowded retreat perfect for a crisp autumn walk, with opportunities to spot deer, birds, and other native wildlife. Whether you're out for a short stroll or a longer hike, La Framboise Island is a hidden gem for fall adventurers.

Nestled along the Missouri River, the Lewis and Clark Recreation Area offers miles of shoreline, hiking trails, and endless water adventures. From boating and fishing to camping under the stars, this destination invites travelers to embrace the great outdoors. Follow in the footsteps of early explorers and create your own adventure along this historic waterway. 

Take a scenic wagon ride to the pumpkin patch, then explore over 30 attractions designed for family fun. Snap photos at our iconic pumpkin houses, giant swings, and colorful flower field. Get lost in the 5-acre corn maze, visit friendly farm animals, and grab a sweet treat or drink. At Mazing Acres, every corner is perfect for making memories and instagram worthy pictures! 

Celebrate the season at Mitchell Oktoberfest, a lively community event that brings together local flavors, festive traditions, and small-town charm. Stroll through downtown as you enjoy local brews, seasonal food, live entertainment, and classic Oktoberfest-inspired activities.

Families can join in the fun with kid-friendly attractions and hands-on activities, while adults can savor the festive atmosphere and friendly competition of traditional Oktoberfest games. Whether you're visiting for the food, music, community spirit, or autumn ambiance, Mitchell Oktoberfest offers a memorable way to experience fall in South Dakota.

Check the official event website for current dates, times, and event details before planning your visit:

• Mitchell Oktoberfest: https://mitchelloktoberfest.com

Yankton’s biggest Oktoberfest is back on Saturday, September 20th at Ben’s Brew Station, and it’s the perfect fall outing for visitors looking to celebrate in true Bavarian style. Enjoy Oktoberfest on tap, hearty German-themed food, and a full lineup of games—including the crowd-favorite stein holding competition. The festive atmosphere is topped off with live polka music from Leroy Holman's Polka Band from 4–8 PM. Whether you're here for the beer, the brats, or the unbeatable vibe, Oktoberfest at Ben’s Brew Station offers an unforgettable way to kick off the season.

Winding through the Black Hills, the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway is a 68-mile masterpiece of tunnels, switchbacks, and jaw-dropping views. From the granite spires of Needles Highway to the wildlife-filled landscapes of Iron Mountain Road, every turn reveals something spectacular. This is a drive that turns into a journey—one you’ll want to take again and again

Head to Prairie Village west of Madison for Hobo Marlin's Pumpkin Train. Ride the train to the Pumpkin Patch where children (ages 12 and under) can pick a pumpkin from the patch. The event runs 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. and also includes donuts, cider and games. Admission is $5 per child (ages 12 and under) and $2 per adult/teen. Proceeds benefit the Prairie Village Herman & Milwaukee Railroad. (Prairie Village season passes not accepted.) Also included is the SoDak Vendor Showcase featuring a variety of South Dakota vendors on site.

At Spearfish Valley Produce, visitors can wind their way through a seasonal corn maze that offers a fun challenge in the heart of autumn. The pumpkin patch invites you to pick from a wide variety of pumpkins and gourds, perfect for decorating or carving. Along the way, you’ll find classic fall activities, tasty treats, and a welcoming atmosphere that makes for a memorable seasonal outing.

Vanocker Canyon Road is autumn magic at its finest—a breathtaking route best enjoyed at a leisurely pace, with plenty of pauses to savor the scenery and charming towns along the way. Stretching roughly 17 miles from Sturgis to Nemo, this scenic drive is a two-hour journey through gently twisting roads framed by towering pine trees ablaze with fall colors. Whether it's a quick day trip or part of your bigger Black Hills adventure, Vanocker Canyon promises postcard-worthy views around every turn.

October 17 - 18, 2025

Every year, the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls thrills kids and adults alike with ZooBoo, a two-night Halloween extravaganza. Kids wind their way through the decorated exhibits and walkways stopping at a variety of treat tents. Visitors pass by the Spooky Carrousel; and hundreds of painted, hand-carved and lit Jack-o-lanterns.