The 12th Annual Riverfest is set to take place on September 20, 2025, from 2–8 p.m. This year, Riverfest is more than just a music festival with food vendors, retail booths, cold beverages, and more. It’s taking a bold new step in advocating for the conservation and sustainability of the Big Sioux River. The event’s mission is to spark a love for the river through playful activities, engaging programming, and storytelling.
Riverfest 2025 will be held along the Big Sioux River Greenway and Cherapa Place. Food vendors will be set up in the Cherapa parking lot next to the Arc of Dreams. Expect 18 different food vendors, including SDSU Ice Cream, Breaking Burrito, King of Gyros, and Backyard BBQ, just to name a few. Retail vendors will be located on N. Reid Place, in the heart of Cherapa Place, featuring 16 businesses such as Aerial Arts, the Sioux Falls Food Co+op, and Redmond Prime Cuts. Four local breweries: Fernson, Remedy, WoodGrain, and Severance will also be on site serving up cold beers. Picnic tables and restrooms will be available throughout the area.
For the music portion of this year’s event, three bands will take the stage: The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, The Jamie Lynn Trio, The Teels, and the Brassholes. While Riverfest runs from 2–8 p.m., music will kick off at 3 p.m. and close out the night. In addition to live performances, attendees can try their hand at rock climbing up the side of the Cherapa building. This exciting feature will be led by Jeff Johnson, a single pitch instructor with Sylvan Rock Climbing School, and his trained team.
Since 2020, The Friends of the Big Sioux River have collaborated with local breweries to create the Big Sioux Brew, a beer brewed with water sourced directly from the river. After collecting water from the Big Sioux, it’s purified using reverse osmosis (RO), producing a clean and neutral base for brewing. This year, Remedy, and Severance are each crafting their own version of Sioux Brew, continuing the tradition of raising awareness through innovation and taste.
CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS
In partnership with CNH Industrial, The Friends of the Big Sioux are also introducing floating islands, an exciting and impactful water quality initiative. These 6×7-foot islands are made from PVC frames and filled with a coconut-husk-based fiber wrapped in burlap, serving as a growing bed for native plants. As the plants grow, their roots dangle below the surface, absorbing nutrients and helping purify the water. Each panel can support up to 800 pounds.
Currently in use at Covell Lake, the goal is to place these islands directly into the Big Sioux River in the near future. The benefits are multifaceted: the islands improve water quality and provide habitat for pollinators, birds, and fish. Once the plants bloom, bees, butterflies, and other insects can use them as pollination plots, and birds and fish can benefit from the added vegetation and shade. It’s a beautiful example of how we can help restore the health of our local ecosystem. Friends of the Big Sioux will also be hosting a river clean-up on the day of Riverfest (September 20th) from 10am to noon. The clean-up will take place on both sides of the River from Falls Park to Fawick Park.
The river was here long before us, and we want to make sure it’s here long after. That’s why we host Riverfest, to celebrate this natural resource and imagine a cleaner, more vibrant future. This year’s event will continue to be a lively music festival, but with a renewed focus on family-friendly programming and activities that all ages can enjoy.
To get in the spirit ahead of the festival, don’t miss the Downtown Story Walk. This self-guided activity features banners placed along Phillips Avenue that make up an eight-stop journey telling the story of the Big Sioux River. It’s a fun and educational experience for the whole family, and a reminder that the river is a vital, ever-flowing part of our community.
Whether you’re coming for the music, the food, the climbing wall, or the chance to learn more about our river, Riverfest 2025 offers something for everyone. Join us on September 20 to celebrate the Big Sioux River and be part of a growing movement to protect and preserve one of our city’s greatest natural treasures.