Your Ultimate Guide to Winter Attractions and Activities in South Dakota

Winter in South Dakota means long, leisurely days curled up by a roaring fire and getting outdoors for epic adrenaline rushes as we zip down hills on sleds, snow tubes, and skis, depending on our mood that day. Part of the magic of winter, the holidays promise so many ways to celebrate, from marveling at the Christmas light displays in South Dakota to attending some of the season's best activities and events. Pack your schedule with some of the best things to do in the winter in South Dakota. Here's some inspiration to get you started.

Holiday Events In South Dakota

Christmastime in South Dakota gives us the chance to relive some of that childhood magic as we look forward to the merriest day of the year. A drive through the neighborhood to see all of the Christmas lights - and decide which house has the best - also allows us to harken back to that simpler time. But that's just the beginning of the seasonal fun. From Christmas light displays to Christmas festivals, South Dakota transforms into a wonderland during the holiday season.

1. Watertown Winter Wonderland

• Location: Stokes-Thomas Lake City Park, Watertown
• Popularity: Can get busy
• Price: Free but donations are welcome

Embrace the Christmas spirit by piling the whole family into the car for a drive through the Watertown Winter Wonderland, a magical drive-thru Christmas lights display in South Dakota. Hosted by the Watertown Optimist Club, the beloved annual event generally runs on weekends from the end of November to just before Christmas. Turn on the Christmas carols, sing along, and slowly meander through this holiday lights display, one of the best free things to do in the winter in South Dakota.

2. McCrory Gardens

• Location: Brookings
• Popularity: Popular, so tickets must be purchased in advance
• Price: General admission: $10 (plus fees); kids five and younger are free

Bundle up for a wintertime stroll through McCrory Gardens' annual Garden Glow. One of the best family things to do in the winter in South Dakota, Garden Glow boasts thousands of twinkling lights. Meander past shimmering Christmas trees and through a light tunnel on your adventure. Garden Glow runs from early December to the beginning of January. Stop by between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. nightly. The Christmas event in South Dakota is closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Tickets must be purchased in advance, and the last admission of the evening is at 8:30 p.m.

3. Winter Wonderland

• Location: Sioux Falls
• Popularity: Extremely popular
• Price: Free

What's winter like in South Dakota? Well, it's simply magnificent, especially around the holidays. Embark on one of the most enchanting Christmastime experiences with a visit to Winter Wonderland at Falls Park. One of the best family things to do in the winter in South Dakota, Winter Wonderland promises countless magical moments. The awe-inspiring light display boasts more than 335,000 LED lights, 260 decorated trees, and more than a mile of garland. Don't forget your camera for your visit to this magnificent light display in South Dakota, which runs from mid-November through early January.

4. Holiday Celebration and Winter Market

• Location: Rapid City
• Popularity: Busy
• Price: Free

Kickstart the Christmas season with a visit to the Holiday Celebration & Winter Market at Main Street Square in Rapid City. Set for Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., the celebration's main event is the lighting of the Christmas tree. While you're there, get a bit of Christmas shopping done at the winter market and save some time to go ice skating. Ice skating is one of my favorite wintertime activities, especially when I can just look up and see a huge Christmas tree shimmering in lights. Winter in South Dakota is simply magical.

5. Frontier Christmas

• Location: Lake City
• Popularity: Can get busy
• Price: You must have a park license

Travel back through the pages of time and celebrate a Frontier Christmas at Fort Sisseton Historic State Park. Slated for Dec. 14, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., this family-friendly Christmas event in South Dakota will feature a full menu of activities, including crafts, candle lighting, and caroling. Climb aboard a sleigh ride, and indulge in such scrumptious treats as homemade bread and roasted chestnuts.

6. Holidazzle Light Parade

• Location: Spearfish
• Popularity: Extremely popular
• Price: Free

Make your way to Main Street in Spearfish for the beloved annual Holidazzle Light Parade, set for Dec. 7, 2024, at 6 p.m. Find a spot along the parade route that runs from the parking lot at Spearfish High School to Main Street and Grant Street. Don't forget your camera. The Christmas parade, after all, is one of the best free things to do in the winter in South Dakota.

Christmas Towns In South Dakota

With all there is to do during the Christmas season, we can sometimes forget to slow down and enjoy the magic of the season. See if you can carve out some time in your holiday schedule for a day trip, or even a weekend getaway, to one of these delightful Christmas towns in South Dakota.

7. Pierre

• Location: Pierre
• Popularity: Can get busy
• Price: Free

Embrace the magic of the season with a visit to the enchanting town of Pierre for the beloved Christmas at the Capitol, which runs from Nov. 27 through Dec. 26, 2024. The celebration, which features elaborate decorations, kicks off with the lighting of the Christmas tree on Nov. 26, 2024, at 7 p.m. One of the best winter attractions in South Dakota welcomes guests daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

8. Mitchell

• Location: Mitchell
• Popularity: Very popular
• Price: Parade of Lights is free

Bring the whole family to the darling town of Mitchell, an idyllic way to get into the Christmas spirit. The small South Dakota town hosts the Parade of Lights and Christmas at the Palace, which will be held on Dec. 3, 2024, from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Have the kids whisper their Christmas wishes to Santa, who will be at the Corn Palace from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Corn Palace will also feature activities for the kids and cookies. The parade begins at 7 p.m. Even if you can't make it to the parade, spend a day in this quaint small town, where you can go Christmas shopping and dig into a delicious meal.

9. Deadwood

• Location: Deadwood
• Popularity: Can get busy
• Price: Free

Feel as though you've stepped into a winter wonderland when you visit the adorable South Dakota town of Deadwood. Join the town in a holiday celebration at Community Christmas, set for Dec. 6, 2024, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. The day's events include free ice skating and free s'mores. Santa will also be on hand to listen to Christmas wishes, and he might even bring along some gifts. Spend some time exploring Deadwood, too, where you can go Christmas shopping, and indulge in a delicious meal or two.

Outdoor Activities

South Dakota is an outdoor lover's paradise all year round, but it's magical during the winter. Whether you prefer a laidback adventure as you glide around an ice skating rink or an adrenaline rush by zipping down a hill on a snow tube, you'll find an unforgettable winter adventure in South Dakota. Not sure what to do next this winter? Check out these South Dakota winter activities, but before you head out, make sure you bundle up. If you're not sure what will keep you toasty all winter long, take a peek at the OIYS ultimate winter packing list.

10. Main Street Square Ice Rink

• Location: Rapid City
• Popularity: Very popular
• Price: $10 for a day pass; $5 skate rental. Season passes are available, and you can bring your skates.

Spend a winter day gliding around the ice at the Main Street Square Ice Rink in Rapid City. One price gives you access to the rink all day, where you can hone your skating skills and enjoy the fresh winter air. The ice skating rink is open seasonally from the end of November to late February. If you're new to ice skating, you can rent a walker. (My kiddo did this when she was young, and it helped her learn how to skate.) Helmets are also available to rent.

11. Great Bear Ski Valley

• Location: Sioux Falls
• Popularity: Gets busy
• Price: $9.50-$25 depending on day and time

Spend the day zipping down the hill on a snow tube at Great Bear Ski Valley. Billed as the largest snow tubing park in South Dakota, Great Bear Ski Valley's Kirby Family Tubing Park boasts 12 lanes and a conveyor belt to take you back to the top. Try to visit for nighttime tubing at least once, too. The resort, which also offers skiing and snowboarding, generally opens in mid to late December.

12. Mitchell Activity Center

• Location: Mitchell
• Popularity: Very popular; reservations suggested
• Price: $4-$6

For one of the best winter attractions in South Dakota, look no further than Mitchell Ice Arena for a round of bumper cars on ice. If you thought traditional bumper cars were fun, wait until you try 'em on ice. Waivers are required for all participants. If you prefer ice skating to bumper cars on ice, lace up your skates for an ice skating session. Season passes are available for ice skating.

Winter Getaways

Most people naturally think of summer when it comes to planning a getaway. However, there's something oh-so-magical about a winter getaway, especially after it's snowed. The world is a little bit quieter; the landscape transforms into a wonderland, and we have the chance to appreciate nature in a whole new way. Before the doldrums set in, plan a winter getaway in South Dakota.

13. Custer State Park Resort

• Location: Custer
• Popularity: Reservations necessary
• Price: Rates depend on the type of room

Escape for a winter getaway to Custer State Park Resort, where you'll find a variety of accommodations, including rustic cabins. The resort boasts a full menu of amenities, including some of the best food in South Dakota. When you're not cozied up in your room or cabin, grab your camera, go on a scenic hike, and snap photos of the winter landscape. You never know what wildlife you'll see, too. If you're looking for one of the best romantic things to do in South Dakota in winter, you've just found it.

14. Hisega Lodge Bed and Breakfast

• Location: Rapid City
• Popularity: Can get busy
• Price: Starts around $159 a night

Both a bed and breakfast and a self-described "adventure lodge," Hisega Lodge Bed and Breakfast provides an idyllic backdrop for a winter getaway in South Dakota. Snuggled in the Black Hills, this quaint B&B makes it easy to relax. Spend the day snowshoeing or exploring the snow-capped landscape before taking it easy in front of a roaring fireplace after a day of fun.

15. Secluded Cabin – Coyote Ridge Lodge

• Location: Spearfish
• Popularity: Book in advance
• Price: Around $175 a night

Get away from it all when you check into this secluded cabin at Coyote Ridge Lodge in Spearfish. Tucked on 10 acres, the cozy cabin comfortably sleeps up to six guests in its two bedrooms. Curl up by the wood-burning fireplace or wrap yourself in a blanket to watch the snow fall outside of the picture window. The quaint South Dakota cabin is perfect for a romantic getaway for two or a family vacation.

What are your favorite things to do in the winter in South Dakota? How about your favorite winter attractions in South Dakota? Let us know by filling out a nomination form. On the hunt for more free things to do in the winter in South Dakota? How about going on a refreshing winter hike in South Dakota? For even more of the best hikes in South Dakota, head over to AllTrails.