A Reason To Road Trip: Downtown At Sundown In Brookings

If you've been searching for the perfect excuse to hit the road for a quick summer getaway, here's one that's only about an hour north of Sioux Falls.

There's something special about summer evenings in small-town South Dakota, and Downtown Brookings is ready to showcase exactly why it has one of the area's favorite annual celebrations for all ages.

Downtown at Sundown is back for its 11th season, bringing Main Avenue to life with music, food, shopping, and plenty of community fun on Thursday nights throughout August. Think of it as an old-fashioned block party with a modern twist, minus the crotchety old neighbor that calls the cops complaining that your music is too loud around 8:30 at night.

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According to Dakota News Now, Downtown at Sundown transforms the main street area of Brookings into a lively gathering place where locals and visitors alike can enjoy an evening outdoors before summer starts to cool down. Best of all, admission is completely free.

Whether you're coming from Sioux Falls, Madison, Volga, Brandon, or somewhere else in the Sioux Empire, it's an easy drive for an evening filled with live entertainment, local food vendors, unique shopping opportunities, and activities the whole family can enjoy. It's a great excuse to explore one of eastern South Dakota's most vibrant downtown districts while supporting their local businesses.

If you missed the season opener on July 30, not to worry, you've still got several chances to check it out. The remaining Downtown at Sundown events take place tonight (August 6), followed by Thursday, August 13, August 20, and August 27.

Festivities begin each Thursday at 5:30 PM, with live music taking the stage around 6:00 PM. Every week features a different lineup of entertainment and themed activities, so no two Thursdays are exactly alike.

The goal of Downtown at Sundown is simple: create a welcoming place where families, friends, neighbors, and visitors can gather, relax, and enjoy a little old-fashioned community fun.

If you're looking for something different to do after work, skip the couch for a night and head to Brookings. You might discover a new favorite restaurant, find something unique from a local vendor, or simply enjoy one of those late-summer evenings that remind us why the summer months in South Dakota never fail to cruise by at warp speed.

For a complete schedule of performers, weekly themes, and additional event information, check out the official Downtown at Sundown event page here.

Road Trip-Worthy Restaurants Within 90 Minutes of Sioux Falls

Veer off the beaten path. Take a road trip and try some favorite small-town eateries. Just by driving a few miles, you could find some delicious hidden gems.

From steaks to seafood, chislic to chicken, these are out-of-the-way unexpected finds that will make your taste buds tingle.

Here's a list of 16 Road Trip-Worthy Restaurants within 90 minutes of Sioux Falls.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown