The Black Hills of South Dakota host a full calendar of festivals, rodeos, concerts, cultural celebrations, and community events throughout the year. Whether you are visiting for outdoor adventures, hiking, or a guided fishing charter, planning your trip around these events can help you experience the region at its best. Below is a complete list of the biggest annual events in the Black Hills, organized by season and month.
January
Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo – Rapid City
One of the largest winter events in South Dakota. The show includes horse events, livestock shows, rodeo competitions, vendor expos, and concerts. It attracts more than two hundred thousand visitors each year.
Lead Winterfest – Lead
A celebration of winter with skiing, sledding, fat tire biking, tournaments, and family activities.
February
Sturgis Winterfest – Sturgis
Features winter games, local food, beer tastings, and live music.
Black Hills Film Festival – Multiple Locations
Independent film screenings, workshops, and filmmaker meet and greets.
March
Deadwood St. Patrick’s Day Weekend – Deadwood
Parades, pub crawls, traditional music, and themed activities throughout downtown.
Rapid City Boat and Fishing Expo – Rapid City
A popular spring show that features boats, fishing gear, seminars, and local outdoor vendors.
April
Crazy Horse Spring Volksmarch – Crazy Horse Memorial
A popular hike that allows visitors to walk up onto the Crazy Horse mountain carving site.
Black Hills Home and Garden Show – Rapid City
Home improvement booths, landscaping companies, outdoor recreation vendors, and interactive exhibits.
May
Custer Off Road Rally – Custer
A gathering of off road vehicles with scenic rides through the Black Hills.
Deadwood PBR Bull Riding Event – Deadwood
Professional bull riding in the heart of historic Deadwood.
June
Black Hills Bluegrass Festival – Sturgis
A long running festival with major bluegrass bands, camping, food, and family activities.
Wild Bill Days – Deadwood
Live music, reenactments, craft vendors, gold panning, and historic Deadwood displays.
Crazy Horse Spring Night Blast – Crazy Horse Memorial
A nighttime lighting and blast show honoring the birthday of Crazy Horse.
Black Hills Pride Festival – Rapid City
A community celebration with entertainment, food, vendors, and family friendly activities.
July
Custer Gold Discovery Days – Custer
Carnival rides, a parade, car show, arts and crafts, gold panning, and community events.
Rodeo Rapid City Summer Series – Rapid City
Summer rodeo events, concerts, and outdoor activities.
Independence Day Celebrations – Region Wide
Fireworks and holiday events in Rapid City, Custer, Hill City, Spearfish, and Keystone.
Black Hills Roundup – Belle Fourche
One of the oldest rodeos in the nation. Includes parades, concerts, ranch rodeo, fireworks, and a carnival.
August
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally – Sturgis
One of the largest motorcycle events in the world. Includes rides, concerts, vendors, races, and community events across the region.
Central States Fair and Rodeo – Rapid City
Carnival rides, rodeos, concerts, livestock shows, and food vendors.
Crazy Horse Summer Night Blast – Crazy Horse Memorial
A dramatic lighting and blast show celebrating Native American culture.
September
Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival – Custer
One of the most iconic events in the Black Hills. Cowboys drive the bison herd into corrals, followed by a multi day arts festival with more than one hundred and fifty vendors.
Hill City Quilt Show and Sale – Hill City
Colorful quilt displays, sales, classes, and demonstrations.
Spearfish Harvest Fest – Spearfish
Local produce, crafts, baked goods, live music, and food trucks.
October
Black Hills Powwow He Sapa Wacipi Na Oskate – Rapid City
A major cultural event featuring Native American dance competitions, drum groups, arts, hand games, and educational displays.
Deadwood Oktoberfest – Deadwood
Beer tastings, polka music, wiener dog races, contests, and themed food.
Spearfish Oktoberfest – Spearfish
Craft beer, food, live entertainment, and autumn activities.
November
Hill City Olde Tyme Christmas – Hill City
Tree lighting ceremonies, wagon rides, shopping events, and holiday music.
Deadwood Holiday Open House – Deadwood
Holiday shopping, treats, and seasonal festivities.
December
Festival of Lights Parade – Rapid City
A major holiday parade with illuminated floats and downtown celebrations.
Christmas at the 1880 Train – Hill City
A themed holiday train ride with caroling, cookies, and classic Christmas scenery.
Deadwood Holiday Events – Deadwood
Lighting displays, visits with Santa, concerts, and themed games.
Make Your Black Hills Trip Complete With a Fishing Charter
If you are planning a visit during any of these popular events, consider adding a guided fishing trip to your vacation.
EZE Outfitting provides fully guided and fully geared fishing charters on the region’s best lakes including Sheridan Lake, Pactola Lake, Angostura Reservoir, and Stockade Lake.
You get
• All fishing gear
• All bait
• A professional fishing charter captain
• A clean and safe boat
• Lessons for beginners
• Fishing for Rainbow Trout, Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Perch, or Trophy Northern Pike
• Fish cleaning after your trip
Book early during major festivals because lodging and activities fill up fast in the Black Hills.