A vibrant city and popular tourist destination, Rapid City, South Dakota comes alive as the temperatures rise each summer by offering countless events and fun things to do. Not only do locals spend their summers experiencing the unlimited outdoor recreational activity options, they also enjoy the annual events put on by local businesses year after year. The opportunities for fun are endless! Enjoy trying various local cuisines? Check out Family Food Truck Night or Food Truck Fridays. Interested in learning more about Native American Culture? Native POP will provide you with an abundance of new knowledge. Whether you are a local experiencing another Rapid City sensational summer or a tourist experiencing it for the first time, there are events for everyone.
While this list does not contain every exciting thing to do in Rapid City this summer, the following are a few of the many local events you should experience:
Family Food Truck Night
Family Food Truck Night is filled with local businesses supporting family time and memory making. This FREE to attend event happens throughout the summer on Tuesdays between 5pm and 8pm. Located at Canyon Lake Park, Family Food Truck Night offers local entertainment and features an array of local food vendors including burgers, Mexican, sushi, pasta, funnel cakes, and more. Meal pricing varies by food truck vendor.
Date(s): Every Tuesday through September 26th
Food Truck Fridays
Occurring on Fridays every summer, Rapid City’s best food trucks gather at Main Street Square. Picnic tables and benches are available on a first-come basis and guests are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket to enjoy their meals with family and friends on the lawn. Food Truck Fridays are FREE to attend and open to the public. Meal pricing varies by food truck vendor.
Date(s): Every Friday through July 28th
Summer Nights
Summer Nights is a FREE weekly concert series running every Thursday evening from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It was established by the 2007 Leadership Rapid City class and has entertained Downtown Rapid City since 2008. Summer Nights is funded by the many fantastic sponsors and through beverage sales. All proceeds of the event are donated back to the event volunteer organizations or used to support the equipment and financial needs to prepare for future years.
Date(s): Every Thursday through August 23rd
Wild West Wednesdays Rodeo
Happening Wednesday nights between June through August, the annual Wild West Wednesdays Rodeo series occurs on the grounds of Hart Ranch Camping Resort just south of Rapid City. The event offers action-packed, world-class rodeos, including watching cowboys take on events like Saddle Bronc, Bareback, and Bull Riding and cowgirls showing off their speed on the Barrels. Additionally, there are pre-rodeo treats, such as BBQ, food trucks, beer garden, and live entertainment.
Date(s): Every Wednesday, June 28th - August 16th
Native POP: People of The Plains - A Gathering of Arts and Culture
The mission of Native POP: People of the Plains - A Gathering of Arts and Culture is to encourage intercultural dialogue by sharing cultures from the tribal nations of the Great Plains through a juried Native American fine art show and cultural event. Native POP is a FREE and family-friendly annual event occurring in July at Main Street Square in the heart of Downtown Rapid City.
Date(s): Friday - Sunday, July 7th - 9th
Hills Alive Festival
Hills Alive is a FREE summer music festival held the third weekend in July in Memorial Park, Rapid City featuring many of today’s best Christian artists over two days. The event includes a kid’s area with a bouncy village and children’s activity tent, along with several delicious food vendors, merchandise vendors, and non-profit booths.
Date(s): Saturday and Sunday, July 15th & 16th
Bierbörse
A beer stock exchange and tasting alley is set up at Main Street Square annually in July for Bierbörse, a German beer, and cultural celebration. Throughout the event, there are opportunities to try a selection of brews down Tasting Alley and participate in a beer stock exchange at the Coors Light Beverage Garden. Additionally, food vendors are present, live music is playing, and strength and wit are tested in the Beer Olympics. Festival is a 21+ event and passes are required to enter the fenced-in tasting area.
Date(s): Saturday, July 22nd
Tell us if we missed your event so we can add it next time!