Happy Friday, Sioux Falls. In today’s edition: After-school enrollment surges, storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Christmas at the farm, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Weekly Sioux Falls highlights: After-school enrollment at three Sioux Falls middle schools rose from about 130 to over 550 after Community Learning Centers launched. Great Bear opened to the public Thursday — read the full roundup.

Steady hand steps in: Former councilor Vernon Brown will fill Sarah Cole’s at-large seat starting in January, serving the final six months of her term, and says he won’t run in the June election — learn more about his appointment.

Community survey signals change: Sioux Falls residents feel less positive than in 2023, the National Community Survey shows, with declines in safety, inclusivity, and transportation, but parks and downtown vitality remain strengths — read the full survey results.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.

Highlights this week

• Register guests at Hillcrest Church food distribution
• Help pack meals for families, seniors, kids
• Hegg Brothers reimagine holiday classics
• Beloved market moves indoors for winter
• Enjoy unlimited pancakes supporting veterans
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%
• A tiny hearing aid is taking the US by storm

🫶 We got your back

MarketBeat-backed Lallycooler update: After debuting at Great Bear in 2025, Lallycooler will move to Sioux Falls Stadium for 2026, set for July 10-11. The Birdcage offers parking and built-in amenities as organizers aim to match last year’s 10,000-plus crowd. Tickets start at $100 and are on sale now. Lineup drops early 2026. Get ticket and venue details.

From mall roots to more: Nick’s Gyros, the family-run Sioux Falls staple of 40+ years, is expanding to a second spot on the east side at the former Caribou Coffee, 3501 E. 10th St. Remodeling starts in January, with an anticipated May opening. The original location remains on W. 41st Street. See where and when it opens.

Fresh cut, zero fuss: If your ends are fraying faster than your patience, Vanessens Hair Design is a longtime Sioux Falls Aveda salon with two locations and a team skilled in cuts, color, extensions, and facials. Walk out feeling polished, not precious, with hair that behaves.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy for regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify who you are and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.

📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Today

🍕 Grand Opening Party @ BloomInk Studios 605 | Friday (12/12) at 2:00pm – BloomInk is throwing a big ol’ celebration to show off their freshly renovated space and thank the friends and clients who helped them get here. Swing by, bring a buddy, and stick around for free pizza once they take a headcount. Got allergies or food quirks? Just give them a heads-up so everyone can enjoy a slice.

🎤 Tasha Layton @ University of Sioux Falls | Friday (12/12) at 7:00pm – Need a reset that does not involve a juice cleanse? Brandon Heath and Tasha Layton deliver live, faith-forward pop polish, honest stories, and sing-along choruses that trade noise for heart, so expect goosebumps, happy tears, and the kind of hope you can hum home.

This weekend

🛍️ Holiday VendorShow @ The Social | Saturday (12/13) at 10:00am – Skip the big-box madness and swing by The Social for a Holiday Vendor Show packed with local makers, one-of-a-kind gifts, and handmade décor. Free admission, easy to love. You’ll leave with thoughtful finds, happier friends, and a glow of supporting Sioux Falls small businesses.

🎄 Holiday at BHA @ Butterfly House & Aquarium | Saturday (12/13) at 10:00am – Butterfly House & Aquarium is leaning into the holidays with Santa and Mrs. Claus, a hot chocolate and cider bar, and kids writing letters and making ornaments. Warm up among butterflies and tropical fish, enjoy controlled chaos, and it is included with admission or membership.

🚜 Christmas at the Farm @ Farmer Braun’s | Saturday (12/13) at 2:00pm – Whether your holiday spirit runs on cocoa or corralling kids, Christmas at the Farm delivers the good stuff. Think twinkly barns, gentle barnyard snuggles, and photo ops that beat the mall backdrop, no line required. Real cheer, real animals, real memories.

✂️ Grand Opening @ DLux Suites | Sunday (12/14) at 12:00pm – Swing by the ribbon cutting at DLux Suites, courtesy of W S Construction Management, and snoop the new digs. There’s permanent jewelry, tiny tattoos, drinks, snacks, and giveaways, so you can commit to a bracelet, not a mortgage, then toast to fresh sheets.

📖 Storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus @ Old Courthouse Museum | Sunday (12/14) at 1:00pm – Gather the grandkids and head to the Old Courthouse Museum for storytime with the big guy and the real boss, Mrs. Claus. She handles the reading, he handles the photos, you handle the satisfied sighs. It is free, cozy, and gloriously low-fuss.

🚲 Community Bike Ride @ The Hello Hi | Sunday (12/14) at 4:30pm – Pedaling out every second Sunday, this casual group ride rolls from The Hello Hi’s back patio, cruises the Sioux Falls bike trail to Spoke N Sport, then loops home. No speed tests, just good company, a cold one after, and a 50/50 raffle for FAST.

Next week

🥫 Volunteer to Pack Food for Families, Seniors, and Kids @ Feeding South Dakota | Tuesday (12/16) at 1:00pm – Help Feeding South Dakota hit an extra 500,000 meals by volunteering to pack food for families, kids, and seniors. Two-hour shifts mean you’ll pack backpacks, fill boxes, and sort donations, low fuss, high impact. Sign up online, bring an 11-plus helper, or wrangle your group.

🎨 Rosemaling Demonstration @ Old Courthouse Museum | Tuesday (12/16) at 1:00pm – Whether your grandma had a rosemaled trunk or you just appreciate pretty swirls, swing by the Old Courthouse Museum to watch Eileen Halverson work her Norwegian magic. Stop in, ask questions, and soak up some bold color, elaborate designs, and honest-to-goodness Midwest heritage.

🍷 Temptations & Tempranillo @ Harvester Kitchen by Bryan | Tuesday (12/16) at 6:00pm – Nothing beats a Tuesday that lets you call wine a wellness plan. Temptations & Tempranillo is your excuse to sip bold reds, nibble something indulgent, and pretend you’re “supporting local terroir.” Treat yourself, catch up with friends, and skip Wednesday’s early-morning heroics.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/12 Humbug @ Corson Playhouse – 7:30 pm
• 12/13 Murder Mystery Dinner Show @ Sheraton Sioux Falls – 9 pm
• 12/17 Annual Holiday Dinner @ Prairie View Event Hall – 5:30 pm
• 12/18 Matthew Mayer @ Orpheum Theater – 7 pm
• 12/19 The Hegg Brothers @ Washington Pavilion – 7 pm
• 12/20 Christmas Carols on Strings @ The Social – 8:45 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Sioux Falls edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Spencer M Mannes (CORE Real Estate)

One-owner ranch walkout on the quiet, tree-lined south side of Ralph Rogers Road with no homes facing the frontage. Out back, sightlines stretch over the championship tee at Prairie Green’s 13th hole, an everyday gallery seat.

Three bedrooms on one level with a south-facing primary suite framing the park-like yard. The lower level adds a generous family room and two more bedrooms. Storage steals the show, from a flex bay for a golf or game simulator to a massive room under the garage, thanks to a pre-stressed concrete floor. Warm, timeless finishes and a coveted south-central Sioux Falls address.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →