AGP Executive Report

Music Spotlight (Sioux Falls): Mike Maimone brings his album-and-book tour, “Guess What? I Love You,” to Prism Community Center on Oct. 3 for a solo piano set plus readings. Film & Local Awards (Rapid City): The Black Hills Film Festival returns this weekend with a new REEL SD Film Award for South Dakota-made movies, plus panels and Native storytelling. Live Music (Rapid City): Tracy Lawrence hits the Fine Arts Theater at the Monument on Oct. 2 for the “No Alibis Tour,” mixing hits with new tracks. Family Fun (Sioux Falls): Zoo Boo returns Oct. 15–18 at the Great Plains Zoo with trick-or-treat stations, photo ops, and a Sensory Sunday option. Community Arts (Vermillion): International violinist Rachel Barton Pine performs Oct. 17 at Aalfs Auditorium, featuring historic Stainer and Stradivari instruments. Sports + Entertainment (USD): USD breaks ground on the Gassen Family Fieldhouse, a major new indoor track and field hub. Festivals (Deadwood): Deadwood’s Oktoberfest runs Oct. 2–3 with Bavarian food, beer, rides, and the crowd-favorite wiener dog races.

Black Hills Film Festival: Rapid City’s 17th annual festival runs Fri–Sun at The Journey Museum, with 19 independent films and a brand-new REEL SD Film Award for movies shot in South Dakota; Catching Pinecones (about Jan and Herb Conn) premieres locally and the weekend ends with the Audience Choice Award. Deadwood Oktoberfest: Oct. 2–3 brings Bavarian food, craft beer, historic rides, and live performances—plus the crowd-favorite wiener dog races. Sioux Falls Halloween: Zoo Boo returns Oct. 15–18 at the Great Plains Zoo with trick-or-treat stations, photo ops, and a Sensory Sunday (Oct. 18) for a calmer experience. Music & arts calendar: Rachel Barton Pine performs Oct. 17 in Vermillion with rare historic violins; the South Dakota Rock & Rollers Hall of Fame induction/concert hits Oct. 24 in Sioux Falls. Theater & community stories: Missouri Shores and Pierre Players stage “Walking Home” (Oct. 3) at the Grand Opera House, a reader’s theater built from survivor stories. Sports entertainment: Sheldon High’s Marching Orabs keep momentum at Starfest, finishing seventh overall after finals.

Historic Music Night: International violin star Rachel Barton Pine lands in Vermillion Oct. 17 for “An Evening with Rachel Barton Pine,” featuring the National Music Museum’s rare 1668 Jacob Stainer and 1693 “Harrison” Stradivari—plus the public debut of a modern Strad 2.0 recreation. Local Rock Spotlight: The South Dakota Rock & Rollers Hall of Fame induction and concert hits Sioux Falls Oct. 24 with performances from Judd Hoos, Randy McAllister, Quazy, Easy Street and 12 1/2 Charlies, with proceeds supporting school music programs. Country on Stage: Tracy Lawrence brings his “No Alibis Tour” to Rapid City’s Fine Arts Theater at the monument Oct. 2. Arts & Community: The South Dakota Art Museum’s “America in Art” opens as a 250th-anniversary reflection through Jan. 2, 2027, and Rapid City is set for a hands-on interactive art exhibit launching soon. Giving Back: Rapid City’s Rushmore Rotary Giving Circle returns Oct. 6, letting attendees vote on three local nonprofits. More to Watch: “Survivor 51” continues with Episode 2 tonight, as power shifts without relying on twists.

Black Hills Film Festival: Rapid City’s Journey Museum hosts the 17th annual Black Hills Film Festival Oct. 2-4, with 20 independent films (including SD projects) and filmmaker Q&As across six sessions, plus a 6 p.m. awards ceremony Sunday. Local Arts Spotlight: The South Dakota Arts Council is launching the Governor’s Student Art Competition for K-12 artists, with electronic submissions due Nov. 6 and selected work exhibited in the Capitol Jan.-Sept. 2027. Music on Stage: The Black Hills Symphony Orchestra announces its 94th season, including a Halloween opener (Oct. 17), holiday concert (Dec. 5), New Year’s Eve pops (Dec. 31), and more through April. Community Entertainment & Culture: Deadwood gaming climbed 10.11% in August, helped by Kool Deadwood Nites and other visitor draws. Big Western Tradition: Custer State Park’s Buffalo Roundup brought thousands to watch about 1,500 buffalo get sorted, branded and tested, with drought conditions shaping this year’s herd plans. Rapid City Arts Call: The Rapid City Arts Council is seeking artwork from current and retired K-12 art educators for a January 2027 exhibition at the Dahl Arts Center.

Black Hills Symphony Orchestra: The 94th season is set in Rapid City with five concerts from Oct. 17 through April 10, including a Halloween “Danse Macabre” show featuring film music and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” plus holiday and New Year’s Eve pops. Film & Local Culture: The Black Hills Film Festival lands a Rapid City premiere Oct. 2 for “Catching Pine Cones,” a documentary about climbing/caving legends Jan and Herb Conn. Native Art Spotlight: The Dream Catchers Artists Guild reception at the Dahl Arts Center (Oct. 11) features the traveling exhibit “Woihanblapi,” with Indigenous artists discussing themes of memory, colonization, survival, and sovereign imagination. Community & Music Events: Sioux Falls gets a major PBR stop in April 2027 (“Unleash The Beast”), and Rapid City’s Arts Council is collecting artwork from Black Hills art educators for a January–April exhibition. Outdoor Fun With a Cause: The Crazy Horse Volksmarch food drive gathered 16 bins for Rapid City families via Church Response. Sports Band Buzz: The Pipestone Area Marching Arrows earned second place at the Big Sioux Review in Brandon and head to Sioux Falls Oct. 3.

Pumpkin Patch Season: Fall decor is officially on—check out pumpkin patch picks across the region, including Baker’s Pumpkin Patch in Plankinton (free admission) and more Upper Midwest stops. Celebrity & Local Headlines: Former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has filed for divorce from Bryon Noem after a photo scandal, according to court documents. Art in South Dakota: USD’s University Art Galleries open “The Deconstructed Self” by internationally recognized photographer Natalie Christensen (Oct. 7–30) with a free reception Oct. 9. Downtown Fun in Brookings: “The Fall Classic” returns Oct. 3 with vendors, food, games, live music, and an SDSU football watch party. Native Art Spotlight: Rapid City’s Dahl Arts Center hosts a Dream Catchers Artists Guild reception (Oct. 11) featuring the Woihanblapi “group of dreams” traveling exhibition. Big-Time Sports Entertainment: PBR “Unleash The Beast” is coming to Sioux Falls in April 2027 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. Community Events: Great Bear Ski Valley’s Trail & Paint (Oct. 6) mixes a pumpkin hunt hike with a guided painting session. Books & Culture: Sioux Falls’ Festival of Books goes leaner this year—now a one-day event Oct. 3 with 25+ authors and keynote speaker Jeffrey Rosen. Music & Pop Culture: DSU brings tech and pop culture programming to SiouxperCon 2026, including animation and game design panels plus a video game competition.

South Dakota Arts & Culture: Rapid City’s Dahl Arts Center hosts the Dream Catchers Artists Guild reception for “Woihanblapi” (“group of dreams”) on Oct. 11, featuring Native American artists and themes of memory, colonization, survival and sovereign imagination. Live Entertainment: PBR “Unleash The Beast” is coming to Sioux Falls in early April 2027 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, with top bull riders competing for $250,000. Fall Festivals & Family Fun: Custer’s 6th annual Harvest Moon Festival brings live music, vendors and activities this Saturday, while Great Bear Ski Valley’s Trail & Paint (Oct. 6) mixes a pumpkin hunt hike with Halloween-themed painting. Community & Giving: “A Night for Midwest Honor Flight” returns for a third year on Nov. 14 in Sheldon, with steak dinner and dueling pianos to fund veteran trips. Local Arts Events: Sioux Falls’ leaner Festival of Books returns as a one-day event Oct. 3, and the Dream Catchers reception runs through Jan. 16, 2027.

Black Hills Film Festival: SDPB spotlights “Catching Pinecones,” a new documentary about Herb and Jan Conn’s decades of climbing and caving in the Black Hills, premiering at the festival. Pop Culture Buzz: Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero” video is all over the internet, with Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell starring and fans hunting Easter eggs tied to the cast. SiouxperCon Tech & Celebs: Dakota State University brings animation, game design, cybersecurity and a kids zone to SiouxperCon, plus voice actor Sean Chiplock. Local Books: The South Dakota Festival of Books in Sioux Falls goes “leaner” as it returns as a one-day event Oct. 3 at the Holiday Inn City Centre. Rapid City Music Scene: Gutter Fest returns as a punk fest at the Labor Temple with 20 bands and a community-first vibe. Family Fun: Riverview Pumpkin Festival in Canton adds new attractions like a zipline and pumpkin cannon for fall outings. Survivor 51: The new season kicks off with 21 players and two tribes, Toka and Savu, setting up a fresh “open era” twist.

SiouxperCon Spotlight: Dakota State University is bringing animation, game design, cybersecurity and a video game competition to Sioux Falls’ pop culture convention, plus voice actor Sean Chiplock. Local Arts: SDSU’s Emily Wood Toronto headlines a free “Hearts on Fire” faculty recital at Brookings’ Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center. Music & Community: Rapid City’s Gutter Fest returns with 20 punk bands at the Labor Temple, while the Black Hills Center for Equality hosts its Rainbow Run 5K/1K at Memorial Park. Fall Fun: Riverview Pumpkin Festival in Canton adds a zipline and giant pumpkin cannon, and Spearfish’s corn maze and pumpkin patch is back with live music after weather delays. Arts Funding: Gov. Larry Rhoden and the South Dakota Arts Council open the Governor’s Student Art Competition for K-12 submissions. Pop Culture Buzz: Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero” is driving fresh chatter over celebrity cameos and hidden clue-logic.

Pop Culture Spotlight: Taylor Swift’s deluxe The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore drops with new tracks, and at the MTV VMAs she premieres the star-studded “Patient Zero” video featuring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell. Music & Community Fundraising: Sioux Falls’ “Jam Against Cancer” returns at The Nickle Spot with live music, raffles, and bids to support local cancer patients and families. Local Fall Fun: Riverview Pumpkin Festival in Canton brings fresh kid attractions like a zipline and giant pumpkin cannon, while Spearfish’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch keeps rolling despite drought pressures. Arts in the Spotlight: Gov. Larry Rhoden and the South Dakota Arts Council open the Governor’s Student Art Competition for K-12 submissions. Rapid City Live Music: Gutter Fest brings 20 punk bands to the Rapid City Labor Temple, building a safer space for the scene. Siouxpercon Weekend: Billy Mills headlines Siouxpercon in Sioux Falls, sharing his children’s book “Wings of an Eagle.” Huron Arts & Legacy: Spirit of Dakota marks its 40th anniversary with a commemorative scarf and a celebration featuring sculptor Dale Lamphere. Upcoming Event: Feeding South Dakota launches its first volunteer-a-thon next Tuesday to pack meals statewide.

Arts in Pierre: The Governor’s Student Art Competition is now open for K-12 submissions, with student work due electronically and winners set to be displayed in the state Capitol in 2027. Pop culture in Sioux Falls: Siouxpercon is underway, featuring Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills and “Wings of an Eagle,” plus big guest energy for fans of TV, gaming, and cosplay. Music in Rapid City: Gutter Fest returns as a punk-first, all-ages DIY weekend with 20 bands and a community-built vibe at the Rapid City Labor Temple. Local art & legacy in Huron: Spirit of Dakota’s 40th anniversary keeps rolling with a limited-edition commemorative scarf and a big Oct. 3 celebration featuring returning sculptor Dale Lamphere. Community fun: Rapid City’s Cruiser Car Show brought classic cars, live music, and downtown street closures for a trophy-filled afternoon. Food & neighbors: Feeding South Dakota launches its first Volunteer-a-thon in Sioux Falls on Sept. 29 to sort and pack meals during Hunger Action Month.

Classic Cars & Community: Downtown Rapid City shut down for the Cruiser Car Show, with trophies across classes, food trucks, and live music from The Johnny Lonesome—plus a Rapid City Police Department classic ride. Pop Culture Spotlight: Siouxpercon is underway in Sioux Falls, and Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills is meeting fans and sharing his children’s book “Wings of an Eagle.” All-Ages Punk Energy: Gutter Fest returns to the Rapid City Labor Temple with 20 bands and a mission to keep punk welcoming and local. Native Pride & Leadership: The Black Hills Center for Equality hosted its Rainbow Run 5K/1K, while Chamberlain’s Dignity of Earth & Sky celebration named the first Dignity of Earth & Sky Leadership Award recipients. Big Weekend Entertainment: Siouxpercon also brings “The Walking Dead” star Chandler Riggs, and Rapid City is set for Theresa Caputo: The Long Island Medium on Sept. 27. Music on the Road: Sugarland announces a 26-city “Ride Or Die” tour with a Rapid City stop.

All-Ages Punk Spotlight: Rapid City’s Gutter Fest is underway at the Labor Temple, with 20 bands (mostly local) running Sept. 24–26 and building a safer, community-first punk scene. Homecoming & Honors: Northwestern College in Orange City will kick off its Raider Nation Celebration Oct. 2–3, including alumni awards for four graduates and a concert plus new stadium plaza moments. Local Arts & Community Pride: Huron’s Spirit of Dakota Society marks its 40th anniversary with sculptor Dale Lamphere on Oct. 3, plus a limited-edition commemorative scarf fundraiser. Music on the Road: Sugarland announces its 20th-anniversary “Ride Or Die” tour with a Rapid City stop. Pop Culture Weekend: Siouxpercon hits Sioux Falls with “The Walking Dead” star Chandler Riggs as a guest. Family Fun Fall Events: Huron Connect’s Harvest Fest returns Oct. 3, and Vermillion’s Oktoberfest runs Sept. 26 with polka, food, beer, and contests. Giving Back: Feeding South Dakota launches its first Volunteer-a-Thon Sept. 29 in Sioux Falls.

Country Music Buzz: Club Wagon Creek is back in the Manitoba Country Music Association spotlight, racking up nominations again—including “Deadwood” for Single of the Year—after fans helped push last year’s momentum. Museum & Arts: “Nordic Echoes: Tradition in Contemporary Art” opens at Vesterheim, bringing contemporary Nordic folk art to the Upper Midwest through Dec. 31. Racing & Big Prizes: South Dakota is set for high-speed action as the Need for Speed Karting Championship returns Nov. 14–15 with millions in prize money. Pop Culture Celebrity: Audrina Patridge confirmed her breakup with Michael Ray after nearly two years, saying she’s not rushing into dating. Convention Spotlight: Siouxpercon hits Sioux Falls this weekend with “The Walking Dead” star Chandler Riggs as a guest. Local Giving: Feeding South Dakota launches its first Volunteer-a-thon Sept. 29 in Sioux Falls, with a “Delivering Through the Decades” theme. Music Tour: Sugarland announces its 20th-anniversary “Ride Or Die” tour with a Rapid City stop in October. Black Hills Weekend: The Governor’s Buffalo Roundup returns Friday at Custer State Park, with arts festival events running alongside.

Local Music & Arts: Rapid City’s Gutterfest kicks off a multi-day showcase of DIY punk/metal/rock and local art, with organizers aiming for an all-ages permanent venue. Community Events: Sioux Falls is hosting its first Feeding South Dakota Volunteer-a-Thon on Sept. 29—pack, sort, and prep food with a music-through-the-decades theme. Black Hills Spotlight: The Governor’s Buffalo Roundup returns to Custer State Park this Friday, with herd corraling, plus the Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival running alongside. Performing Arts: Theresa Caputo Live brings “The Long Island Medium” to Rapid City’s Fine Arts Theater on Sept. 27. Film/Family Fun: Rapid City’s Historic Theater stages Frozen Sept. 25-26 and Oct. 2-4. Awards & Culture: Five Indigenous women are named inaugural recipients of the Dignity of Earth & Sky Leadership Award during the monument’s 10th anniversary. Pop Culture Buzz: Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero” video premieres at the VMAs Sept. 27 with Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell.

Country Music: Sugarland is kicking off its 26-city “Ride Or Die Tour” this fall to celebrate the 20th anniversary of “Enjoy the Ride,” with a stop in Rapid City on the run. Oktoberfest (Vermillion): Vermillion’s Oktoberfest returns Sept. 26 downtown with polka music, German food and beer, costume and stein-hoisting contests, and a Bohemian Tractor Pull. Family Theater (Rapid City): “Frozen” lands at the Performing Arts Center’s Historic Theater Sept. 25-26 and Oct. 2-3 (plus Sept. 27 and Oct. 4 matinees) with local cast and full stage magic. Music Pop Culture: Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero” video teaser is out ahead of its VMAs premiere Sept. 27, featuring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell. Black Hills Outdoor + Arts: The 61st Governor’s Buffalo Roundup hits Custer State Park with thousands expected, plus the 33rd Annual Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival running alongside it. Community Giving (Rapid City): Feeding South Dakota held its first-ever Volunteer-a-Thon to pack meals for families facing hunger.