Prairie Fest: a family celebration of Dakota Grasslands

A free festival celebrating South Dakota’s grasslands through music, food, outdoor activities and educational experiences will be held Aug. 22 at Good Earth State Park near Sioux Falls.
Prairie Fest 2026 will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will offer visitors of all ages an opportunity to explore the prairie, learn about its importance and enjoy a day of family-friendly live music, local food, hands-on activities and outdoor adventure.
The day will feature live music from the Minneapolis-based, Americana-acoustic group Maygen and the Birdwatcher, along with food trucks offering coffee, tacos, donuts, ice cream and other treats.

Visitors also will have opportunities to learn more about South Dakota’s grasslands and the wildlife that depend on them at various educational booths and through featured speakers and wildlife experts from South Dakota State University. There will be hands-on activities, giveaways and other fun throughout the event.

For those who want to start the day with a deeper outdoor experience, Prairie Fest will offer a limited number of early-bird adventures from 7-9 a.m., including guided bird watching, a mist-netting demonstration and a guided prairie hike. Registration is required for the early-bird activities, but no registration is required to attend the festival itself.