7 Christmas Towns In South Dakota That Will Fill Your Heart With Holiday Cheer
By Tori Jane|Published November 02, 2023
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Christmas in South Dakota is, without a doubt, one of the most magical times of the year. South Dakota certainly gets some snow (to say the least), and a white Christmas is usually guaranteed. There just so happens to be a handful of towns and cities in this beautiful state that love to go all-out around this time of year; from unique traditions, lights, and more to some genuinely epic snowfall totals, winter in South Dakota is always a good – if not cold – time. Come bundle up and stay warm – these chilly Christmas towns in South Dakota will make for the best adventure ever!
It's entirely possible that the ultimate Christmas town in South Dakota is the town of Deadwood. Located in the beautiful black hills, this little towns transforms into something amazing every year. Main Street is always amazingly lit up, and you'll find there's always something going on around here this time of year. Warning: Once you visit Deadwood in the winter, you may never want to leave.
Watertown is a town of just over 23,000 people, and like the other spots on this list, it, too, loves to get a little crazy with it at Christmas time. Year after year, the Stokes Thomas Lake City Park turns into a literal Winter Wonderland that you definitely need to check out, and on top of that, the Holiday Lighted Parade is a thing of magic. A Christmas spent in Watertown is a Christmas well-spent, indeed.
Pierre may not be THE Christmas capital of South Dakota, but it probably could be. Founded in 1880, this town has always held a special place in its heart for the holiday season, and it really shows! Pierre is home to one of the most popular Christmas traditions in South Dakota: the annual Christmas at the Capitol, which features more than 100 amazing trees all decked out in their holiday best. It's a must do!
Mitchell might be famous for the well-known (and honestly pretty fun) Corn Palace, but did you know it's also got one of the best holiday main streets in South Dakota, too? It's true - and it's definitely worth a trip up here just to check it out. The annual Parade of Lights is a wonderful time for families, and so is Christmas Shopping for Kids. Come check it out sometime soon - maybe this year!
With an average annual snowfall total of more than 200 inches (the national average is 28 inches, by the way), there's no way I was going to leave Lead out of this list. With a population of just under 3,000, it's definitely a small town - but it's big on winter! The Terry Peak Ski Area is one of South Dakota's best, and it's a must-do for locals and visitors alike.
Everyone knows that Sturgis is famous for its enormously popular motorcycle rally, but it should also get some credit for its winter awesomeness, too. Also nestled in the Black Hills, the town's Main Street gets all brilliant and sparkly every year and it's worthy of a weekend trip. Personally, I like Sturgis better when it's less crowded... and winter's the perfect time for that.
Okay, okay - I know Sioux Falls isn't a "small" town (unless you compare it to other small towns in the US), but it's still worthy of a spot on this list. With tons of attractions like Christmas lights displays, ice skating, shopping and eateries, and so much more, you'll never get bored - no matter how chilly it is outside!
So there you have it – seven beautiful Christmas towns in South Dakota worthy of a Christmas vacation! Winter in South Dakota is an amazing time, especially if you know how to enjoy it. Need something warm for the outdoors? No worries – our friends at The North Face have you covered.
Where are your favorite places to go in South Dakota during the winter? Let me know!
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