Festival in the Park

Image: The Black Hills Studios

Festival in the Park: July 14-16, 2023

Spearfish City Park on Canyon Street

The Festival in the Park is one of the largest outdoor summer arts and music festivals in the upper Midwest. The Matthews Opera House & Arts Center of Spearfish, SD, organizes this popular festival. It serves as the largest fundraiser for our non-profit organization each year. The proceeds benefit arts outreach and help produce the festival each year.

Over 25,000 people attend the festival, held every third weekend in July. The festival features over 200 fine art and craft vendors with an emphasis on handmade and original products.  

Art & Craft Vendors, Live Music, Food

Options from 18 food vendors offer eclectic varieties of cuisines that please any appetite. Free live onstage entertainment from local and regional artists is available daily. For those who want to sit with a cool beverage and listen to music, the “Watering Hole” never fails to please.

What is $5 Wristband Night?

Friday’s $5 Wristband Night is our largest fundraiser of the year! When you purchase a $5 Friday night wristband, you:

  • You get to preview & buy from your favorite vendors a day ahead!
  • The Watering Hole is open and will have 2 great musical groups performing from 4 pm to 8 pm. Only folks with wristbands get to enjoy these bands.
  • Enjoy the festival in the cooler evening hours!
  • For a very low price, you are supporting the arts in Spearfish.

You can pre-purchase your $5 wristbands at the entrances to Spearfish City Park or prior to the event.

Leave Fido at Home 🐶

Friendly reminder:  No PETS are allowed on park grounds throughout the event.  It is a city ordinance for these 3 days only.Please make plans ahead of time for your pets.

Park & Ride for Free!

Prairie Hills Transit will be providing shuttle service to and from the festival. The shuttle is wheelchair capable. The Spearfish High School parking lot will be used as the park and ride area. The shuttle service is free and will rotate every 15 minutes.

Looking for your Favorite Vendor?

Stop by the Information Booth during the Festival to grab a list of the vendors as well as a map of the grounds. Or, click here for a list of your favorite vendors!

Photo Gallery:

All images by The Black Hill Studios. All rights reserved.

Event Schedule

  • $5 WRISTBAND NIGHT – FRIDAY, JULY 14

    • 4 – 8 pm - Vendors Open
    • 4 - 5 pm - Acro Fun – Children's Circus in the Volleyball Court
    • 4 – 5:30 pm - Adda Boyd – Live Music at the Watering Hole
    • 5 - 6 pm - Aerial Performance – Children's Circus in the Volleyball Court
    • 6 – 6:30 pm - Circus Play – Children's Circus in the Volleyball Court
    • 6 – 8 pm - Deere John Doe – Live Music at the Watering Hole
    • 6:30 - 7 pm - Dance Party – Children's Circus in the Volleyball Court
    • 7 - 8 pm - Aerial Performance - – Children's Circus in the Volleyball Court
  • SATURDAY, JULY 15

    • 9am – 6 pm - Vendors Open
    • 9 - 10 am - Storytime Yoga – Children's Circus in the Volleyball Court
    • 10 - 11 am - Aerial Performance – Children's Circus in the Volleyball Court
    • 11 am - noon - Aerial Demos – Children's Circus in the Volleyball Court
    • 1 - 2 pm - Quinlan Valdez – Live Music at the Watering Hole
    • 2 - 3 pm - Circus Playtime – Children's Circus in the Volleyball Court
    • 2:30 – 3:30 pm - Lucas Olson Trio – Live Music at the Watering Hole
    • 3 - 4:30 pm - Aerial Performance – Children's Circus in the Volleyball Court
    • 4 – 5 pm - Sophia Beatty – Live Music at the Watering Hole
    • 4:30 - 5 pm - Aerial Demos – Children's Circus in the Volleyball Court
    • 5 - 5:30 pm - Dance Party – Children's Circus in the Volleyball Court
    • 5:30 – 7 pm - Brandon Sprague Blues Band – Live Music at the Watering Hole
  • SUNDAY, JULY 16

    • 10 am - 4 pm - Vendors open
    • 10 - 11 am - Aerial Performance – Children's Circus in the Volleyball Court
    • 1 - 1:30 pm - Circus Playtime – Children's Circus in the Volleyball Court
    • 1:30 - 2 pm - Aerial Demos – Children's Circus in the Volleyball Court
    • 2 - 2:30 pm - Acro Fun – Children's Circus in the Volleyball Court
    • 2:30 - 3 pm - Dance Party – Children's Circus in the Volleyball Court
    • 3 - 4 pm - Aerial Performance – Children's Circus in the Volleyball Court

Our Sponsors

KEVN Black Hills Fox
Holiday Inn
Black Hills Pioneer
  • DeSmet and Biggs, LLP
  • Prairie Hills Transit
  • Lucky's 13 Pub
  • Great Western Bank
  • TDG
  • Real Estate Center of Spearfish
  • Spearfish
  • South Dakota Arts Council
  • Spearfish Motors
  • Mitchell's Barber Shop
  • Killian's Food & Drink
  • Wolff's Plumbing & Heating