Happy Tuesday, Sioux Falls. In today’s edition: Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet, Christmas at the Castle, 605 Made Holiday Market, and more.

Let’s get to it — Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Inside a mission-driven boutique: Sioux Falls shop Alcove marked Museum Store Sunday, spotlighting artists and supporting the Washington Pavilion. It’s open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thu to Sat in the Steel District — get the hours and location.

Philanthropy reshapes regional care: Sanford Health has announced a $300 million gift from Denny Sanford to build Sanford Black Hills Medical Center in Rapid City, with construction set for 2027 and completion in 2030 — see services and timeline.

Community kicks off holiday season: Thousands turned out for the 33rd Annual Parade of Lights in downtown Sioux Falls despite snowfall, with 80 entries and six award winners, including Mary’s Mountain Cookies and Overhead Door — see highlights and winners.

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.

Scams are rampant: My step-dad recently got a call from someone pretending to be his grandson, all beat up and asking for bail money. They knew his grandson’s name, how old he is, and what city he lives in. How? Data brokers. They sell your info to anyone willing to pay for it (yup… anyone). Incogni removes your info from all of those sites so scammers can’t use it against you. Cyber Monday discounts are available all week — check ’em out here.

Highlights this week

• Discover 71 local artists at Art Collective
• Blue Violin ignites a candlelit Christmas
• Help pack 500,000 more meals
• Enjoy free holiday tours and rides
• Experience NCAA DII women’s volleyball championship
• Need new windows? Check out RBA’s latest deals

🫶 We got your back

Regional partners break ground: Work is underway on a $54 million diverging-diamond interchange at 85th Street and I-29, linking Sioux Falls to Tea. Expect I-29 to squeeze to one lane and 85th to be local-access only between Tallgrass and Sundowner. The project adds a pedestrian underpass and new lighting, with completion slated for late 2027. See traffic impacts and timeline.

Decades-strong tree lot thrives: Baumgartner Family Christmas Trees in Sioux Falls is celebrating 70 years this season. The family-run lot had already sold hundreds of trees by the start of December, a festive milestone for a local tradition that keeps holiday spirit, and fresh evergreens, thriving. Read the full story.

Your next burrito move: Craving a sure thing? Jacky’s Burrito Express has California burritos packed with fries, birria with consomé, smothered wet burritos, and a legit breakfast option. Add it to your weekly rotation, then let the salsa and serotonin quietly do their job.

An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.

Wellness on easy mode: Most probiotics don’t work because they dissolve too early. Seed’s double capsule design means all the right stuff gets delivered to all the right places… at the right time. After decades of gut issues, it’s one of the few things that’s actually helped. Their Daily Essentials Duo covers nutrient gaps and supports everyday health + it’s 40% off right now so it’s a great time to give it a try.

📆 Around town this week

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.

This week

🏰 Christmas at the Castle @ Sanford Children’s Hospital | Tuesday (12/2) at 6:00pm – Bundle up and head to the Castle at Sanford Children’s Hospital for the annual lighting that kicks off the season, with music, entertainment, and hot refreshments for our tiniest neighbors. Bring a donation if you can, or catch the sparkle on Facebook Live, pajamas acceptable.

🎭 NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet @ Washington Pavilion | Tuesday (12/2) at 7:00pm – If you want a holiday classic that keeps the kids mesmerized and the adults entertained, this Nutcracker delivers. Think Tchaikovsky, luminous ballet, whimsical puppets, jaw-dropping acrobatics, and an international all-star cast, aka the rare tradition you’ll actually look forward to repeating, with cocoa after.

☕ Victorian Tea Party @ Pettigrew Home & Museum | Wednesday (12/3) at 2:00pm – Channel your inner Victorian at the Pettigrew Home & Museum’s tea party, where you sip proper brews, nibble treats, and pick up tea lore in a historic parlor. It’s free, adult-friendly, and pinkies optional. Space is limited, so call ahead, donations welcome.

🔥 Winter Concert Series @ Old Courthouse Museum | Friday (12/5) at 12:00pm – Whether you quote Dickens or just want an excuse to skip lunch emails, the Old Courthouse Museum’s winter series delivers. Flower & Flame blend readers’ theater and live strings, giving Scrooge a ghost-guided ride. Bring a sandwich, enjoy a free show in the historic courtroom.

🎨 Art Collective @ Washington Pavilion | Friday (12/5) at 1:00pm – An evening at the Everist Gallery means bumping into half the town, and pretending you came for the art, not the people watching. Seventy-one local artists show paintings, photography, sculpture, jewelry, and more, so bring curiosity, sensible shoes, and a card to support homegrown talent.

This weekend

🛍️ December Flea Market & Holiday Show @ W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds | Saturday (12/6) at 9:00am – Need gifts that don’t scream I ordered this at midnight? Swing by the Fairgrounds’ Expo Building for 90-plus vendors of antiques, vinyl, sports cards, toys, and crafts, your rummaging fix. Admission is three bucks, and kids 12 and under are free.

🎁 605 Made Holiday Market @ Cherapa Place | Saturday (12/6) at 10:00am – 605 Made turns a Sioux Falls parking garage into a legit holiday market, and yes, it somehow works. One day only, free entry, and wall-to-wall locally made gifts that actually feel thoughtful, not panic-bought. Bring a tote, some patience, and your nicest Midwestern small talk.

🎄 Holiday Tree Event @ Good Earth State Park | Saturday (12/6) at 5:00pm – Stroll the visitor center and admire holiday trees dressed up by local businesses and groups, like a neighborhood beauty pageant with actual pine. Santa is doing friendly cameos, live music is on, and the vibes are pure cocoa, nostalgia, and small-town sparkle.

🎺 Tonic Sol-Fa with Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience @ Washington Pavilion | Saturday (12/6) at 7:00pm – Emmy-winning Tonic Sol-Fa teams with the Shaun Johnson Big Band for one last Christmastime bow, a Wrap it Up farewell of tight harmonies and swing. It’s all the nostalgia, sparkle, and relief of skipping the mall, without the parking lot meltdown.

🎮 Pokemon League @ Game Chest | Sunday (12/7) at 12:30pm – Take a break from adulting and shuffle up for a come-and-go Pokémon League with matches where the stakes are bragging rights, achievements, and prize packs. Bring your deck, your binder, and that one card you swear is lucky. All ages, free, trades encouraged.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/2 Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet @ Washington Pavilion – 7 pm
• 12/3 Band, Orchestra, & Choir Sectionals @ Fryxell Humanities Center – 4 pm
• 12/4 Holiday for Fiddlers @ Washington Pavilion – 7 pm
• 12/4 Madball @ Icon Event Hall – 7 pm
• 12/4 Ethan Abramson @ The Bar – 8 pm
• 12/5 Augustana Christmas Vespers @ Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
• 12/6 Prince of Peace: The Christmas Story @ Orpheum Theater – 7 pm
• 12/6 Ayron Jones @ The District – 7:30 pm

🏠️ This house is wild

Listed by: Amanda K Buell (Hegg, REALTORS)

On a private 0.8-acre lot with no rear neighbors, this 6,109-square-foot South Sioux Falls home marries 2008 bones with a 2022 glow-up. Solid wood floors, painted hickory millwork, and plantation shutters set tone. Two-story foyer, dining, an eat-in kitchen with Wolf, Sub-Zero, twin dishwashers, and a seven-seat island, plus a double-sided fireplace, library, and bright 3-season porch to the composite deck.

Main-floor suite adds a fireplace, deck, two closets, and spa bath. Upstairs two en suites and a second laundry. Walkout level brings radiant heat, family room, and full wet bar. Heated 5-plus-stall garage with epoxy floors.

Take a peek inside →