News Archive – Page 23 – F**k Yeah! It's Sioux Falls!

Update From the Sioux Empire Fair

Not gonna lie, things are a little quiet this year at our fairgrounds. We’re always wondering what things were like there back in the day, before light-industrial took over the near west side and the highways came through. Wide open spaces graced by glorious sunsets? Ah… those were days!

But our local fair still does a bang-up job most years, keeping the 4-H kids excited while dishing out a blend of country classics, nu-metal, and oldies for the meandering crowds.

So this year, as the say in the biz, the fair must go on! And they did their best, even without a top-tier schedule on the main stage to keep you around past bedtime.

So what did we find? The cheese curds were delicious. The rides were still fun. And the animals were still worth a gander. If crowds aren’t your thing, this could be the perfect year to pack the kids in the minivan and set them loose with a stack of tickets. There’s still time to head over this weekend and enjoy yourself. Go for it!

Ko-vid Ka-bash’es Riverfest!

Add this to your little list of summer bummers: The plug’s been pulled on Riverfest 2020.

For the last few years, DTSF has put our new greenway/riverwalk zone to good use each August, lining up vendors and entertainment to enjoy one of the best parts of downtown. It’s been a great way to celebrate the progress we’ve made in re-imaging the Big Sioux.

Let’s face it. Our river ain’t epic. But it’s a nice thing, and the perfect duck-spotting backdrop for a summer stroll. When our team first came to Sioux Falls, it was still covered by a parking deck. Hard to believe that one of our finest natural features was relegated to “big sewer” status.

So it’s sad to see one more thing nixed. But it’s understandable, even from a purely logistical point of view. Vendors and entertainers everywhere have had to pull back and trim staff. Pulling off another big event this summer would be hard, even if everyone’s safety could be guaranteed.

Here’s to next year! You know we’ll be there.

Huset’s Comes Roaring Back!

File this one under “good news / bad news.” It’s been the unofficial editorial policy here at F*** Yeah! It’s Sioux Falls! to tread lightly on the whole Corona thing.

We’re split. On the one had, it’s our mission to celebrate all the good stuff that’s happening out there, to get the word out and get you off the couch. On the hand, we’d like you to do so responsibly, m’kay?

So the fact that 9,000 racing fans showed up for Sunday’s grand re-opening with the All-Star Circuit of Champions sprint car series can go both ways. But let’s set that aside and focus on the positive.

Huset’s is good fun. Whether you’re a die-hard racing fan that loves getting up-close with the screaming machines, or just a tourist that wants to take in a night of mid-american schtick, you’re sure to go home with a smile on your face. (And a little dirt-track grit stuck in your hair.) We’d recommend it to anyone.

The track had fallen on tough times over the last few years. Money was tight, and the angel-investing from Chuck Brennan left a bad taste with many a racing fan. Few wanted our local track rebranded as another ego-driven extension of his Badlands Empire.

Sunday’s race proves that the place still has a lot of pennant-winning potential. And that’s fantastic.

Be sure to read more coverage of the race over at the Argus Leader. (And while you’re there, consider subscribing!)

Flyboy Flashback! B-17 Flying Fortress Descends on Sioux Falls

Sure, it’s pretty awesome to watch our Air National Guard F-16s run touch-n-goes up at Joe Foss Field. Every regular bike-looper’s been nearly knocked off the saddle by one of these modern miracles of military engineering.

But for some real old-style aviation kicks, head up to the airport to get up-close-and-personal with a WWII B-17. These are the planes that bombed fascism back to Berlin, the kind that grandpa talked about, that made heroes of ordinary men.

America cranked out over 12,000 of these thunderous contraptions during the war, but only a few are still air-worthy today. The Sentimental Journey is one of them, and you can book a flight. True, a ride-along is a little spendy, but for $10 you can take a tour and linger as long as you want, letting your imagination do the flying for you.

Even if you don’t make it up to the airport, keep your ears open and your eyes to the skies. This guy (and a P-51 fighter) will be circling the city all weekend long.

Baby Baby, Oh! Bieber Spotted in SD!

Recognize the sexy man in the red shorts? If you’re a lady of certain age, you most certainly do. And that’s cool. We aren’t ones to judge your taste in exported Canadian blue-eyed soul (or tattoos, or anything else for that matter.)

For the rest of you who might need a little help, that’s Justin Bieber, aka The Beebs, showing off his all-natural goodness along the Missouri River yesterday.

Odds are good that he’s headed to Kanye’s ranch in Wyoming (which is a bizarre story unto itself…) But might he make a surprise visit to Sioux Falls?

Hey, you never know! Keep your eyes open. A most lovely celebrity sighting just might be your reward!