America 250 Celebrations take Shape Across Sioux Falls
This summer, Sioux Falls will mark America’s 250th birthday the way communities often mark moments that matter most: by gathering.
There will be a parade down Phillips Avenue, music at Levitt at the Falls, fireworks at the fairgrounds, patriotic lights at Falls Park, history exhibits, a public reading of the Declaration of Independence, family events in city parks and celebrations that stretch well beyond the Fourth of July weekend.
Together, those events will mark America 250, the semiquincentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, with a season of events that will bring history, music, public spaces and community traditions together across Sioux Falls.
The centerpiece of the Fourth of July weekend will be the Sioux Falls Independence Day Parade, which returns to downtown Sioux Falls after an absence. The parade begins at 10 a.m. July 4 and will travel along Phillips Avenue from 13th Street to Sixth Street. There is no entry fee, and registration is due June 16, 2026.
Organizer Aaron Levisay said the idea began when community members started asking whether Sioux Falls would do something locally for America 250. Since January, the parade committee has met weekly to work through logistics for the event.
The parade is coordinated with help from community volunteers, sponsors and organizations including the Mary Chilton Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The chapter is serving as a major financial sponsor, providing volunteers and building a “Happy Birthday America” themed float. The DAR plans to hand out several thousand small American flags along the parade route.
Levisay said organizers are working to make the parade “a family-friendly event,” with food trucks planned near the Raven parking lot. The parade is expected to include the Sioux Falls Children’s Choir, with about 70 young singers participating in the celebration. Organizers said the parade can accommodate up to 100 floats.
The parade will include a hard-to-miss reminder of the document at the heart of the anniversary: a very large Declaration of Independence created by John Small with Sunny Radio. Organizers are calling it the world’s largest Declaration until someone proves otherwise. A gallery of the signers and a 12-foot U.S. Constitution display are expected to be part of America 250 events throughout the summer, including the Sioux Falls Fireworks event and the Sioux Falls Airshow.
Michael Fitzmaurice, one of South Dakota’s remaining Medal of Honor recipients from the Vietnam War, will serve as parade marshal. Fitzmaurice will be driven down Phillips Avenue, past the statue of him recently unveiled downtown.
“I can’t imagine a more unifying figure than him being our parade marshal,” Levisay said.
History to be Thread Throughout Summer
The Center for Western Studies on the campus of Augustana University will present “Still Becoming: America at 250” from June 29 through Oct. 16. The free gallery exhibition will explore the American story through themes of place, belonging, freedom, conflict, resilience and change, with a focus on the Northern Plains.
At the Old Courthouse Museum, Siouxland Heritage Museums will present “Parades, Picnics, & Pageants: South Dakota Celebrates,” a yearlong exhibit looking back at how communities in Sioux Falls and the region have marked past anniversary celebrations.
McCrossan Boys Ranch will connect the 2026 milestone to an earlier national celebration. The South Dakota Bicentennial Wagon, originally tied to the 1976 Bicentennial celebration, is on display at the Robert L. Nielsen Visitor Center. The wagon has been restored to working order with support from a Mary Chilton DAR Foundation grant and is expected to appear in regional parades and community celebrations throughout the summer.
On July 8, the Battleship South Dakota Memorial will host a public reading of the Declaration of Independence to commemorate the first public reading of the document 250 years ago in Philadelphia. The program begins at 4:30 p.m. at the memorial near 12th Street and Kiwanis Avenue. The Battleship South Dakota Sea Cadet Division will post the colors, the Revolutionary War cannon “Providence” will be fired, the Declaration of Independence will be read at 5 p.m. and the Sioux Falls Municipal Band will perform at 5:30 p.m.
Diane Diekman of the Battleship South Dakota Memorial said the event is designed as a community gathering. “We invite everybody to bring their chairs and sit out on the lawn and pretend it’s 250 years ago in Philadelphia,” she said.
Music offers another Gathering Point
Levitt at the Falls will host a Fourth of July weekend lineup showcasing classic American music. Navy Band Northwest opens the celebration July 2 with American
popular rock music. East of Westreville, featuring guest fiddler Kenny Putnam, performs July 3. Andrea Ross & Her Big Band will close the holiday weekend July 4.
“America 250 is a powerful moment for Sioux Falls to celebrate not only our nation’s history, but the vibrant community we’re building together today,” said Nancy Halverson, president and CEO of Levitt at the Falls. “At Levitt, we’re honored to mark this milestone through a full Fourth of July weekend of free concerts that bring people together through music, and through our annual All My Relatives Festival which was selected by the Smithsonian for its Festival of Festivals — showcasing Sioux Falls on a national stage. We hope this summer reminds people that community, culture, and connection are at the heart of what makes both America and Sioux Falls beautiful.”
The All My Relatives Festival returns Aug. 29 at Levitt at the Falls in partnership with South Dakota State University’s Wokini Initiative. The festival has been recognized through the Smithsonian’s Of the People: Festival of Festivals, a national America 250 initiative commemorating American folklife.
City parks and public spaces will help carry the celebration into neighborhoods. Sioux Falls Parks & Recreation events include the Stars & Stripes Family Stroll at Arrowhead Park, an Independence Day Party at Westside Recreation Center, the Red, White & Blue Backyard Bash at Lloyd Landing and patriotic Lighting of the Falls at Falls Park from July 3-5.
At the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds, Sioux Falls Fireworks will host a free family event July 4 with food trucks, free grandstand seating, free parking and courtesy shuttles. Gates open at 6 p.m. with food trucks, music and activities, along with the “World’s Largest” Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution displays.
The evening includes a 6 p.m. performance by the Sioux Falls Municipal Band, kids activities, live music, a POET Ethanol Powered Vanguard Flyover, a Presentation of
Colors and Flag Retirement Ceremony with American Legion Post 15, and a 10 p.m. fireworks show set to a patriotic soundtrack.
The Sioux Falls Airshow — Power on the Prairie 2026 — will extend the celebration July 18-19 at Joe Foss Field. Presented as a celebration of both America’s 250th anniversary and the 80th anniversary of the South Dakota Air National Guard, the free event is expected to draw more than 150,000 spectators and will feature the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, military and civilian performers, static aircraft displays, aviation exhibits and family activities.
The Sioux Empire Fair will carry the red, white and blue theme into late summer. The fair, scheduled for July 31 through Aug. 8, will include patriotic exhibits, educational displays, agriculture, entertainment, carnival attractions, grandstand concerts, 4-H and FFA competitions, and fireworks on Sneak Peek Friday. Featured exhibits will include On the Farm Front: Agriculture During WWII and Drowning in Dirt: Joseph Hutton and the Dust Bowl from the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum, along with a special Declaration of Independence display.
Across South Dakota, the Sioux Falls events are part of a broader statewide commemoration. Dr. Ben Jones of the South Dakota State Historical Society said the state effort has grown to more than 130 partners, with organizations sharing ideas and planning events across the state.
Jones said the state commission has worked to build partnerships and encourage local organizations to organize events in their communities, resulting in “a really great outgrowth of innovation and ideas happening at the local level.” He described America 250 as “a very powerful way of bringing people together … to mark the milestone and celebrate our shared hope for our nation’s future.”
Experience Sioux Falls is helping connect the local effort by maintaining a public calendar of America 250 events for residents and visitors. “Sioux Falls community members have been so passionate and committed to creating events that celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary,” said Teri Schmidt, CEO of Experience Sioux Falls. “It’s been exciting to work with people who come together and create such energy.”
For local organizers, the number and variety of events are part of the point. America 250 is both a national anniversary and a local invitation — to gather, remember, celebrate and look ahead. As City Councilor Rich Merkouris said during the press conference, community celebrations happen because people choose to step forward.
“We’ve got an amazing shared hope together, but we can only celebrate by looking back,” Merkouris said. “When we look back, we realize where we’ve come from and what we’ve received. It should build our energy for our future together.”
Airshow Celebrates Aviation, Service and America 250
The Sioux Falls Airshow — Power on the Prairie 2026 — returns July 18-19 at Joe Foss Field as part of the region’s America 250 celebration. The free two-day event will feature the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, military and civilian aerial performers, historic aircraft, static displays, family activities, aviation exhibits and opportunities to meet pilots, military personnel and aviation professionals. It also will include the South Dakota Air National Guard Open House experience.
The 2026 show carries two anniversary themes: the 250th anniversary of the United States and the 80th anniversary of the South Dakota Air National Guard. Organizers expect more than 150,000 spectators over the two-day event.
“The Sioux Falls Airshow is more than an aviation event — it’s an opportunity to open our doors, celebrate our military heritage, inspire future generations, and create a lasting community experience,” said Lisa Hirsch, Sioux Falls
Airshow chair.
The Airshow dates are preceded by Discover Aviation Day, sponsored by Aerostar, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 16 at Maverick Air Center. The hands-on event introduces students, families, educators and aviation enthusiasts to aircraft, drones, flight simulators, aviation organizations and career paths in aviation, aerospace, weather sciences, military service and related fields.
“Discover Aviation Day connects people of all ages with experiences they may never have otherwise,” said Rick Tupper, Sioux Falls Airshow board member. “For young people especially, a single interaction with a pilot, mechanic, weather specialist, engineer, or military member can spark a lifelong career path.”
The Sioux Falls Airshow began in 1983 and typically returns on a three-year cycle. Admission remains free thanks to community sponsors and partners.
Looking for more America 250 events? Visit Experience Sioux Falls‘ website for a guide to celebrations happening across the community.