6 South Dakota Food Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss
People flock to South Dakota every year to see the renowned Mount Rushmore, but did you know that the state is also home to some of the most unique and interesting foodie events in the country? Here are a few of our favorite South Dakota food festivals to add to your bucket list.
Wine, Brew & BBQ
Hill City
There’s something for everyone at Wine, Brew & BBQ. This event gives you the chance to watch dozens of professional barbecue teams battle it out, sample a variety of local wines and craft beers from popular vineyards and breweries, and settle in for an afternoon of live music and laughter right in the heart of downtown Hill City. And if you happen to be running late and miss the barbecue competition, there are still plenty of food vendors on hand to help satisfy your appetite.
Sioux Empire on Tap
Sioux Falls
Get ready for good times and good beers at Sioux Empire on Tap. Featuring more than 100 craft beers and more samples than you can count, this is a must for all brew aficionados out there. Attendees are encouraged to don pretzel necklaces, take advantage of the multitude of food and beer vendors, and enjoy live music sets from local bands. This festival is one unforgettable party that you don’t want to miss.
See more: Top 10 Craft Beer Cities Around the U.S.
Czech Days
Tabor
Czech Days is one of the biggest and longest-standing Czech festivals in the country. Founders of this South Dakota town came over from Czechoslovakia as early as the 1860s, and everything about this festival celebrates their heritage to the fullest. This is a family-friendly event, featuring everything from a miniature Czech village and craft fair to music, dancing and traditional Czech food. While you can’t go wrong with any of the food you eat here, make sure to pick up at least one kolache (a pastry often filled with fruit) before you head home.
Schmeckfest
Freeman
Schmeckfest is German for “festival of tasting,” which is a wonderful way to describe this annual spring event in Freeman, South Dakota. It began as a celebration of good food but has since expanded to honor the heritage of the Freeman community. In addition to an abundance of satisfying food, you can enjoy craft and cooking demonstrations, historical presentations and musical productions. You can even stick around for the German-style meal or the renowned quilt raffle.
See more: What’s In Season? South Dakota Produce Calendar
The Great Dakota Wine Fest
Vermillion
Attendees of the Great Dakota Wine Fest have access to a multitude of wines from various South Dakota wineries. Whether you want to sample a few different drinks made from locally grown grapes, enjoy a cooking with wine demonstration or compete in the amateur wine-making competition, there’s something for everyone here. Make sure to spend some time exploring the various vendor booths and participating in the grape stomp while you’re here.
South Dakota BBQ Championships
Huron
The original South Dakota BBQ Championships started in 2007 and have since become a Kansas City BBQ Society-sanctioned event. And if you know anything about barbecue competitions, you know that’s something to brag about. This event continually attracts more than 40 teams, which means there is plenty of barbecue to go around. But even if you don’t want to throw your name into the hat for the grand prize, you can still attend and enjoy the fruits of the competitors’ labor. There’s even a chili tasting for those who want to savor something a little different.