Happy Friday, Sioux Falls. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Sioux Falls Brief serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.

📰 In the news

Local happenings: Mental health therapists joining five schools, leadership handover at veterans tiny homes village, and a call for paid stagehands to staff Pavilion Broadway shows — catch up here.

State-level stories: High schools are locking phones to boost engagement, Circle K rolls out Guy Fieri inspired snacks, and a new bridge honors a WWI hero — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: Mortgage rates are trending down, investors catapult gold above 3500 an ounce, and a tropical wave eyes the Antilles — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Discuss politics over coffee with Augie Dems
• Collaborate and grow your food business
• Join the Travel Advisory Council meeting
• Celebrate creative journeys of detained youth
• Show team spirit at zoo Tailgate Party
• Anxiety about debt? Get a free consultation

🫶 We got your back

Thrifting: Consignment used to mean dusty racks and questionable finds. Sioux Falls boutiques have polished spaces and curated racks. These consignment shops live up to the hype.

Startup: Wish launching a company meant less paperwork? South Dakota’s zero-tax vibe and lightning-fast registration feel like a cheat code. Our 2025 guide breaks down every simple step.

Taqueria: From perfectly charred tortillas to fillings that demand a double order, Hacienda Jalisco brings the kind of flavor that requires extra napkins and zero regrets.

Bargain shopping: The best finds aren’t always on store shelves. Amazon’s Deals Page is like a never-ending treasure hunt where the good stuff costs less, with new discounts dropping daily.

Save: The average driver pays $175 a month for car insurance, but most of us are paying way more than we should. If it’s been a while since you shopped around, you’re likely part of that “most of us.” This comparison tool may save you hundreds.

👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?

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📆 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.

Have an event to share? Submit it here for free →

Today

🎶 Fridays on the Plaza @ 12th Street Plaza | Friday (9/5) at 11:30am – Dakota News Now is turning your lunch hour into a mini-festival with live tunes and tasty food trucks. Grab your coworkers, snag something delicious, and soak in the downtown vibes. The perfect Friday pick-me-up to coast you into the weekend.

🏃 Men’s Cross Country Twilight: Dakota State vs Augustana | Friday (9/5) at 9:00pm – Think you can spot a slow jogger at dusk? DSU’s men’s cross country team goes head to head with Augustana under twilight skies, so grab your thermos, claim your favorite campus hill, and cheer like you actually know what split times mean.

This weekend

🍂 15th Annual Fall Junk Fest @ Robyn’s Nest | Saturday (9/6) at 8:30am – This annual junk fest on the far east side turns a sleepy acreage into vintage heaven, with top-tier artisans selling antiques, quirky home decor, original art, and eclectic finds. Bring an appetite for casual eats, and don’t let a little drizzle dull your treasure hunt.

🎨 62nd Annual Sidewalk Arts Festival @ Washington Pavilion | Saturday (9/6) at 9:00am – Imagine the sidewalk staging a pop-up gallery, complete with glittering fine art, finger-knit hats, and that nonprofit hawking raffle tickets you always swear you won’t buy but do. It’s free, it’s outdoors, and it’s the excuse you needed for tacos and a little culture flex.

🍁 Fall Into Fun – Parent’s Night Out! @ Wings Gymnastics Academy | Saturday (9/6) at 5:30pm – Drop off your little pumpkins at Wings and reclaim your living room. They’ll tackle gym obstacle courses and make leaf collages in our autumn wonderland, all fueled by pizza, while you indulge in three blissful hours of me-time. Spots disappear faster than October leaves.

🦸 Superpower of Play @ Sertoma Park Shelter | Sunday (9/7) at 1:00pm – Whether you’ve been corralled by tiny dictators or need an excuse to wear a cape, head to Sertoma Park for the Toy Lending Library’s 10th anniversary blowout. Kid-tested reptile meet-and-greets, a Phil Baker singalong, and fairytale guests will hijack your screen time, no superpowers required.

🌽 Heartland Country Corn Maze @ Heartland Country Corn Maze | Sunday (9/7) at 12:00pm – Think you can conquer 11 acres of corn without resorting to Google Maps? Gather your crew, whether that’s family, friends, or office escapees, for the Heartland Country Corn Maze. Expect laugh-out-loud wrong turns, triumphant exits, and old-school fun that trumps any phone GPS.

👵 Grandparents’ Day Festival @ Dow Rummel Village | Sunday (9/7) at 1:30pm – Grandparents’ Day calls for roping Grandpa into a bouncy castle. Enjoy jaw-dropping card tricks, toe-tapping tunes from John Mogen and Scott Jendersee, crafts, lawn games, and a meet-and-greet with critters from Zoomobile. Fresh air, laughter, and bragging rights if Grandma nails ring toss.

Next week

✨ Magic Mondays! @ Game Chest | Monday (9/8) at 6:00pm – If you’ve ever wanted to feel like a spy while shuffling Magic cards, slip through Game Chest’s back door for secret-hour Magic Mondays, where community champions clash over commanders. Bring your favorite deck, trade tales, and uncover pre-release surprises.

🎲 Board Game Demo Days @ Turbulent Games | Tuesday (9/9) at 6:00pm – Board Game Demo Days is rolling into East with free demos of your next tabletop obsession. Dust off your inner competitor, risk nothing but bragging rights, and grab a sweet discount if you fall hard. Different games every month, so boredom is impossible.

🌻 Garden Tour with Minnehaha Master Gardeners @ Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum and East Sioux Falls Historic Site | Tuesday (9/9) at 7:00pm – Minnehaha Master Gardeners are swinging open the gates at Mary Jo Arboretum to wander through eight teaching beds, field your burning garden questions, and make that Hosta seem less like alien tech.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 9/5 Fridays @ 12th Street Plaza – 11:30 am
• 9/5 Grave Solace @ Icon Lounge – 6:30 pm
• 9/5 Greater Vision @ LifeChange Church – 7 pm
• 9/5 Glowstix Neon & Blood @ Full Circle Book – 7 pm
• 9/5 David Cross @ The District – 8 pm
• 9/5 Theville Deville Tour @ Phoenix Lounge – 9 pm
• 9/6 2nd Annual Freedom Festival @ South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance – 4 pm
• 9/6 TreeHouse! and more @ Bigs Bar – 7 pm
• 9/7 Divinity Trio @ Faith Temple Church – 6:30 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: John P Anderson (Hegg, REALTORS)

One-owner ranch with a walkout lower level on the street everyone wishes they lived on in Heather Ridge. The kitchen’s granite island is basically its own zip code, and the living spaces are flooded with light, custom built-ins, and millwork that actually feels custom. Downstairs, the open family room is ready for movie marathons, epic craft projects, or a full-on home gym, complete with a fireplace and wet bar for maximum multitasking.

Oversized closets mean no one’s fighting for space, and the backyard is all privacy with a composite deck and covered patio for year-round hangs. The heated garage has built-ins and an epoxy floor that’s almost too nice for cars. All this, plus a location that puts schools, parks, and tacos within easy reach.

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