South Dakota has 6 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Christmas at the Capitol Grand Lighting Ceremony in Pierre on November 24 to Christmas Storytime at Christmas at the Capitol in Pierre, which runs through December 22. 2 of them are free, and every listing links straight to the host. It is one stop on our guide to Christmas events for kids in every state.
The short version
- 6 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in South Dakota for 2026, in Sioux Falls and Pierre
- First: Christmas at the Capitol Grand Lighting Ceremony, Pierre, November 24. Runs latest: Christmas Storytime at Christmas at the Capitol, Pierre, through December 22
- Free: Country Christmas and Downtown Christmas Market
- Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it
Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by city, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (sign-ups, ages, what is included). Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our South Dakota Christmas train rides page.
South Dakota Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 6 confirmed for 2026
- Cities
- Sioux Falls and Pierre
- Season
- November 24 to December 22, 2026
- Free events
- 2
- Kinds of events
- Santa visit, tree lighting, holiday parade and holiday story time
- Last checked
Plan your December
When each South Dakota Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Christmas at the Capitol Grand Lighting Ceremony in Pierre on November 24; the last runs to December 22. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Christmas at the Capitol Grand Lighting CeremonyPierre · Nov 24
- 34th Annual First Bank & Trust Parade of LightsSioux Falls · Nov 27
- Christmas Storytime at Christmas at the CapitolPierre · Dec 1 to Dec 22
- Country ChristmasSioux Falls · Dec 3
- Downtown Christmas MarketSioux Falls · Dec 5
- Holiday Trees at Good Earth State ParkSioux Falls · Dec 5
Look inside the book
Story time with Santa in South Dakota? Bring Rally home.
Rally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. It makes a cozy bedtime story after a big day with Santa. Turn a few pages here.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $16.99 on Amazon.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $16.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Christmas events for kids in Sioux Falls
4 confirmed events for kids in Sioux Falls, soonest first.
Sioux Falls: 34th Annual First Bank & Trust Parade of Lights
Holiday paradeDowntown Sioux Falls · Sioux Falls
- Host
- Downtown Sioux Falls (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Phillips Avenue, Downtown Sioux Falls, Phillips Ave, 13th St to 5th St, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
- When
- Friday, November 27, 2026, 6 to 7:30 pm
- Cost
- No fee listed
- Ages
- All ages
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Parade of Lights is a long-running Downtown Sioux Falls tradition, and 2026 marks its 34th year. Local businesses, nonprofits and community groups build whimsical lighted floats, and the parade fills Phillips Avenue with twinkling displays, festive music and holiday scenes. Awards such as Best Use of Lights and Spirit of Sioux Falls are handed out to favorite entries.
The parade begins at 6 pm on Friday, November 27 and travels south along Phillips Avenue from 13th Street to 5th Street. It goes on snow or shine, so families should dress warmly and plan for cold temperatures. Free and paid parking is available in nearby downtown ramps and surface lots. The parade is a Downtown Sioux Falls signature event, and float registration is open for groups that want to take part.
Parent tip: The parade runs snow or shine, so bundle up and bring something warm to drink. Arrive early for a curbside spot along Phillips Avenue.
See dates and details from Downtown Sioux Falls (opens in a new tab)Sioux Falls: Country Christmas
Santa visitFreeStockyards Ag Experience · Sioux Falls
- Host
- Stockyards Ag Experience (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Stockyards Ag Experience, 301 East Falls Park Drive, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
- When
- Thursday, December 3, 2026, 5 to 8 pm
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Stockyards Ag Experience, next to Falls Park in Sioux Falls, hosts its third annual Country Christmas on Thursday, December 3 from 5 to 8 pm. The free, family-friendly evening includes horse-drawn wagon rides, photos with Santa, and cookies with hot cocoa.
The organizers say more details about the wagon rides will be shared closer to the event, so it is worth checking the listing again in late November. Because it is a weeknight event that wraps up by 8 pm, it fits well into a school night, and it pairs easily with a stop at the Falls Park holiday lights nearby. The event appears on the Downtown Sioux Falls calendar, and the Stockyards Ag Experience is at 301 East Falls Park Drive.
Parent tip: Check the listing again closer to December 3 for wagon ride details. Bring your own camera or phone for the Santa photos.
See dates and details from Stockyards Ag Experience (opens in a new tab)Sioux Falls: Downtown Christmas Market
Santa visitFreeDowntown Sioux Falls · Sioux Falls
- Host
- Downtown Sioux Falls (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Cherapa Place Plaza, 300 N Cherapa Place, Sioux Falls, SD 57103
- When
- Saturday, December 5, 2026, 3 to 9 pm
- Cost
- Free to attend
- Ages
- All ages
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Downtown Sioux Falls is launching a new outdoor Christmas market modeled after traditional European markets, held at Cherapa Place Plaza on Saturday, December 5 from 3 to 9 pm. The event is open to all and is listed as free to attend. Visitors can enjoy Christmas carolers and festive entertainment, seasonal food and drinks, Santa appearances with photo opportunities, and family-friendly winter holiday activities, along with downtown retailers showing their holiday goods.
The market follows the 605 Made Holiday Market, held earlier that day from 10 am to 4 pm in the underground parking garage of the Cherapa Apex, so families can make a full day of it downtown. Organizers say more details are coming, so check the page closer to the date for the Santa schedule.
Parent tip: The organizers plan to post more details closer to the date, so check the page for Santa's appearance times before you go.
See dates and details from Downtown Sioux Falls (opens in a new tab)Sioux Falls: Holiday Trees at Good Earth State Park
Holiday lightsSouth Dakota Game, Fish and Parks · Sioux Falls
- Host
- South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Good Earth State Park at Blood Run, Visitor Center, 26924 480th Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57108
- When
- Saturday, December 5, 2026, 5 to 7 pm
- Cost
- Free with a South Dakota state park entrance license
- Ages
- All ages
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Good Earth State Park at Blood Run, just southeast of Sioux Falls, decorates its visitor center with holiday trees each December. On Saturday, December 5 from 5 to 7 pm the park hosts a festive evening with the trees on display, live music, light refreshments and Santa.
The event itself is free, but a South Dakota state park entrance license is required to enter the park. It is a small, relaxed alternative to the bigger downtown events and a chance for kids to see Santa in a cozy indoor setting. Questions can go to the park at 605-213-1036. The park is at 26924 480th Avenue, southeast of the city, and the Experience Sioux Falls listing links to Game, Fish and Parks for park details.
Parent tip: Make sure your vehicle has a state park entrance license, or plan to buy one, before driving out.
See dates and details from South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Pierre
2 confirmed events for kids in Pierre, soonest first.
Pierre: Christmas at the Capitol Grand Lighting Ceremony
Tree lightingChristmas at the Capitol, State of South Dakota · Pierre
- Host
- Christmas at the Capitol, State of South Dakota (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- South Dakota State Capitol, 500 E Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501
- When
- Tuesday, November 24, 2026, 7 pm
- Cost
- No fee listed
- Ages
- All ages
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Christmas at the Capitol begins with the Grand Lighting Ceremony on Tuesday, November 24, 2026 at 7 pm inside the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre. Governor and First Lady Rhoden and honored guests host the evening and officially light the season's displays of decorated Christmas trees.
After the lighting, the display stays open daily from 8 am to 10 pm through December 26. Kids are invited to write a letter to Santa, draw him a picture or share a wish list, seal it in an envelope and drop it in the mailbox on the first floor. This year's display follows a Christmas Across America theme, and a scavenger hunt checklist and clues are posted on the event website for children to use as they explore the trees.
Parent tip: Kids can bring a sealed letter for Santa to mail at the Capitol. The scavenger hunt checklist and clues are on the event website.
See dates and details from Christmas at the Capitol, State of South Dakota (opens in a new tab)Pierre: Christmas Storytime at Christmas at the Capitol
Holiday story timeChristmas at the Capitol, State of South Dakota · Pierre
- Host
- Christmas at the Capitol, State of South Dakota (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- South Dakota State Capitol, 500 E Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501
- When
- Tue December 1, Tue December 8, Mon December 14 and Tue December 22, 2026, 6 to 6:30 pm
- Cost
- No fee listed
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Every holiday season the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre fills with decorated Christmas trees for Christmas at the Capitol, open daily from November 25 to December 26, 2026, from 8 am to 10 pm, including Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The 2026 performance schedule includes four half-hour Christmas Storytime sessions in the evening, between the school choirs, bands and music students who perform throughout the season.
Storytime is scheduled from 6 to 6:30 pm on Tuesday, December 1, Tuesday, December 8, Monday, December 14 and Tuesday, December 22. While visiting, kids can also follow the Christmas Across America scavenger hunt through the displays and drop a letter or drawing for Santa in the mailbox on the first floor.
Parent tip: Bring a sealed letter or drawing for Santa to drop in the first floor mailbox, and print the scavenger hunt checklist from the event site.
See dates and details from Christmas at the Capitol, State of South Dakota (opens in a new tab)Near a state line? Our guides to Christmas events for kids in North Dakota, Christmas events for kids in Nebraska and Christmas events for kids in Minnesota list more confirmed events, and the national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on AmazonSouth Dakota Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What Christmas events for kids are in South Dakota in 2026?
We confirmed 6 Christmas events for kids in South Dakota for 2026 on each host’s own page: Christmas at the Capitol Grand Lighting Ceremony in Pierre (November 24), 34th Annual First Bank & Trust Parade of Lights in Sioux Falls (November 27), Christmas Storytime at Christmas at the Capitol in Pierre (December 1), Country Christmas in Sioux Falls (December 3), Downtown Christmas Market in Sioux Falls (December 5) and Holiday Trees at Good Earth State Park in Sioux Falls (December 5). Every one is listed below with times, cost and a link to the host.
What Christmas events for kids are in Sioux Falls, South Dakota?
For families in and around Sioux Falls, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: 34th Annual First Bank & Trust Parade of Lights (Fri, Nov 27, 6 to 7:30 pm, no fee listed); Country Christmas (Thu, Dec 3, 5 to 8 pm, free); Downtown Christmas Market (Sat, Dec 5, 3 to 9 pm, free to attend); Holiday Trees at Good Earth State Park (Sat, Dec 5, 5 to 7 pm, free with a south dakota state park entrance license). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Sioux Falls section of this page.
What Christmas events for kids are in Pierre, South Dakota?
For families in and around Pierre, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Christmas at the Capitol Grand Lighting Ceremony (Tue, Nov 24, 7 pm, no fee listed); Christmas Storytime at Christmas at the Capitol (Dec 1, 8, 14 and 22, 6 to 6:30 pm, no fee listed). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Pierre section of this page.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in South Dakota?
Yes. 2 of the 6 events here are free: Country Christmas in Sioux Falls and Downtown Christmas Market in Sioux Falls. Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.
Where can kids see Santa in South Dakota this December?
Santa appears at Country Christmas in Sioux Falls (December 3), Downtown Christmas Market in Sioux Falls (December 5) and Holiday Trees at Good Earth State Park in Sioux Falls (December 5). Times and booking rules are in each event’s listing above.
Where are there Christmas story times for kids in South Dakota?
Holiday story times on this page: Christmas Storytime at Christmas at the Capitol in Pierre. Library story times are usually free; story times with a meal or show are ticketed.
How much is Christmas at the Capitol Grand Lighting Ceremony in Pierre?
No fee listed. Christmas at the Capitol Grand Lighting Ceremony is on Tuesday, November 24, 2026, 7 pm at South Dakota State Capitol. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is 34th Annual First Bank & Trust Parade of Lights in Sioux Falls?
No fee listed. 34th Annual First Bank & Trust Parade of Lights is on Friday, November 27, 2026, 6 to 7:30 pm at Phillips Avenue, Downtown Sioux Falls. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Christmas Storytime at Christmas at the Capitol in Pierre?
No fee listed. Christmas Storytime at Christmas at the Capitol is on Tue December 1, Tue December 8, Mon December 14 and Tue December 22, 2026, 6 to 6:30 pm at South Dakota State Capitol. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Country Christmas in Sioux Falls?
Free. Country Christmas is on Thursday, December 3, 2026, 5 to 8 pm at Stockyards Ag Experience. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Downtown Christmas Market in Sioux Falls?
Free to attend. Downtown Christmas Market is on Saturday, December 5, 2026, 3 to 9 pm at Cherapa Place Plaza. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Holiday Trees at Good Earth State Park in Sioux Falls?
Free with a South Dakota state park entrance license. Holiday Trees at Good Earth State Park is on Saturday, December 5, 2026, 5 to 7 pm at Good Earth State Park at Blood Run, Visitor Center. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids in South Dakota?
Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our South Dakota Christmas train rides guide, so this page sticks to story times, Santa visits and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 2, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.
