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Riverboat Days and Summer Arts Festival
Each year over a hundred thousand people come to Yankton one weekend for Riverboat Days. This three-day event is packed with events and sights. You’ll be thoroughly entertained, with:
- A juried Arts Festival, activities, and fun
- A road race
- Grand parade on Saturday morning
- Tractor pull
- Antiques
- Flea market
- Musical performances almost continuously on the amphitheater stage
- Arts and much more!
The Friday night fireworks display fills the sky with awesome colors. And throughout the weekend food vendors serve up tempting foods, from traditional corn dogs to gyro sandwiches, Indian tacos, ice cream and anything else you’d ever want!
Nightlife at Riverboat Days is legendary: the beer garden is a lively place where friends gather and reunions among old classmates occur. Music fills the air as a live concert occurs on the nearby baseball field. Riverside Park isn’t the only place in the city that gets into the Riverboat Days spirit!
The Yankton Mall is filled to the brim with arts and crafts vendors who showcase a variety of home décor, clothing, jewelry and unique gifts items.
Riverboat Days is coordinated and staffed by volunteers from throughout the community and funded from donations and proceeds from the event. For more information, visit www.riverboatdays.com. It has been held the third weekend of August each year since 1984.
Summary of Some of Yankton's major events:
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4th of July Fireworks
Every 4th of July in Yankton, tens of thousands of people from the region come to Riverside Park as the sun goes down to watch an amazing spectacular presentation of fireworks.
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Concerts in the Park
Imagine the sounds of instruments wafting through the air on a warm summer night, in a park along the majestic Missouri River.
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Czech Days
In Tabor, SD just a few minutes west of Yankton, you’ll find the annual Czech Days celebrated each year in June. To locals and visitors alike, the two words “Czech Days” are synonymous with fun, music, entertainment, dancing, and traditional Czech foods.
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Farmers Market
Held every Saturday July through early October, the Farmers Market is a great place to buy fresh products.
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Outdoor National Archery Competition
For the past two years, the Lewis & Clark Recreation Area in the Gavins Point Unit just outside of Yankton’s city limits has been the setting for the Outdoor National Archery Championship the last full week in July.
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Pioneer Power Show
For 20 years, the small community of Menno, SD has put on a grand event called the Pioneer Power Show. Go 30 minutes northwest of Yankton to get there. Held the third weekend after Labor Day in September each year, this event draws thousands of people to Pioneer Acres, 30+ acres on which authentic buildings set.
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Schmeckfest
Translated from German, it literally means “A Festival of Tasting.” And tasting is what you’ll do when you attend this annual event held at Freeman Academy, Freeman, SD a short 30 minute drive north of Yankton.
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South Dakota Old Time Fiddle Contest and Jamboree
Imagine the foot stomping that happens during this annual event held the third weekend of September! This three-day event features a Jamboree on Friday, several contests on Saturday, a Gospel Sing and the National Invitational Finals on Sunday.
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Volin Turtle Races
After not hosting the annual Turtle Races for a few years, the residents of the tiny town of Volin (located just a short drive east of Yankton) decided to resurrect their hometown event. Last year over 200 people registered their not-so-speedy turtles in the race!
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Yankton PRCA Rodeo
Held in conjunction with Riverboat Days the third weekend in August, this rodeo is fun for all ages
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South Dakota Tourism Network |
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