This article first appeared in our May/June 2025 print issue of The ‘hood Magazine. To see this article in print, or to read the rest of the issue, check out our digital issue!
By Kayla Huizing
Last summer, we loaded up our crew of little ones and spent the day cruising around Sioux Falls for Familyfest. It was our first year participating in the cruise, and even though getting kids in and out of car seats all day doesn’t sound like most people’s idea of fun, we had the best time.
One of our favorite stops was Silverstar Car Wash. Not only did Albert and I get a free car wash (always a win), but our toddler got to pick out a toy car, get it dirty, and then wash it. He thought that was the absolute coolest thing ever. Another huge hit was the Touch-a-Truck stop! The free swag bag at The Outdoor Campus was also a bonus!
Cruise the Way Your Family Wants
What made the day work for us was keeping it relaxed. We had a list of places we wanted to check out, but we didn’t stress about hitting them all. If the kids were enjoying a stop, we just let them play and didn’t worry about the clock. With little ones, that kind of flexibility is key.
One unexpected highlight was stopping at Sensory Studio. It wasn’t a place we had been before, and they had so many fun activities outside for the kids to explore. That’s something I really appreciated about the cruise—it introduced us to businesses we might not have thought to visit otherwise.
Summer Highlight
Familyfest was one of the highlights of our summer. We loved cruising around Sioux Falls together, exploring local businesses, and participating in all of their fun activities. It was a great reason to get out of the house for some free family fun!
We’ll definitely be doing the cruise again this year, and I’d absolutely recommend it to other families—yes, even the ones with babies and toddlers. Pack some snacks, adjust your expectations, and go with the flow. The flexibility to choose your own stops allows you to make the cruise relaxed and fun for your whole family.
We love the Familyfest Fun Cruise because we love Sioux Falls and everything it offers families. We can’t wait to see what new stops we discover this time around!
To learn more about Familyfest 2025 (May 31st), check out our Familyfest Fun Cruise Page! Find our FAQ page, stop descriptions, map of the cruise, and our giveaway page!
