The Visitor Beat
Welcome to The Visitor Beat, the monthly newsletter of Experience Sioux Falls. Stay up-to-date on what's going on locally in the travel industry, as well as what's trending nationally.
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South Dakota Governor's Conference on Tourism
The annual South Dakota Governor’s Conference on Tourism is just over a month away, taking place January 20-22 in Pierre. Through general session speakers, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities, attendees will receive actionable insights and takeaways that can be scaled up or down.
The conference will conclude with the Awards Night Gala for a celebration where members of the visitor industry will be honored for their achievements and contributions that have helped make our state a great travel destination.
Nike Cross Regional Drew Thousands to Sioux Falls
What started with 625 athletes back in 2007 has now grown to over 6,000 athletes. Last month’s event was the 17th year for the Nike Cross Regional Heartland at Yankton Trail Park, where it welcomed over 6,000 high school cross country athletes, making it the best-attended regional in the country. Nike Cross Regional is one of eight regional qualifiers across the country, with the Nike Cross Nationals held annually in Portland, OR.
Nike Cross Regional Heartland draws athletes and families from South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Kansas. Total attendance numbers for last month’s event are still being reviewed, but the 2024 event saw more than 50,000 people come through the park during the event.
Today, the Heartland Regional stands as the largest stand-alone one-day high school cross country meet in the nation.
Youth Baseball Tournament Booked for 2026
Experience Sioux Falls worked in conjunction with Sioux Empire Baseball Association to bring the Babe Ruth League's 2026 Midwest Plains Regional to Sioux Falls July 23-26, 2026, after initial conversations first began in 2024. The tournament is expected to bring over 60 youth baseball teams to Harmodon Park and Pasley Park. This will be just the second year the tournament will be held, after being played in Wichita, KS earlier this year.
America’s 250th Celebration
To gear up for our country’s 250th year of independence next year, Experience Sioux Falls has created a landing page, America250SiouxFalls.com, to list events happening in 2026 that will be celebrating the milestone anniversary.
Vote for Sioux Falls to win a 250th celebration!
If you are an event organizer planning an event to celebrate next year, or perhaps you know of an event, please let us know by filling out the form on the landing page.
Alternatively, you can stay up to date on news and updates surrounding events in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and find resources available to you.
Travel South Dakota also has a page on its website that lists events across the state for both local and visitors to celebrate at year-round.
Holiday Shopping
While you’re out doing some holiday shopping this month, be sure to stop at the Falls Park Visitor Information Center to pick up Sioux Falls branded apparel, postcards, mugs, stickers, kids’ toys, and more. New products include crewneck sweatshirts, socks, and infant apparel to name a few. You won’t find a larger selection of Sioux Falls memorabilia anywhere else.
Current hours of the Falls Park Visitor Information Center are:
- Monday-Friday: 5pm-9pm
- Saturday & Sunday: 1pm-9pm
Midwest Supercross Racing
Peterson Racing Promotions wrapped up its annual Midwest Supercross Racing event this past weekend at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds Expo Building. The two-day event has been held in Sioux Falls since 2018 after Experience Sioux Falls worked with the organizers to bring the event to the city.
Midwest Supercross Racing featured 25 classes of dirt bike races including men’s and women’s of all ages, as well as separate races for kids. This year’s event saw over 700 people in attendance over the course of the two-day event.
An additional Midwest Supercross Racing event has been added to the Sioux Falls schedule for the first time, taking place January 23-24, 2026.