Sioux Falls Municipal Band Revving Up For Their Summer Season

The Sioux Falls Municipal Band has been around a long time, making beautiful music for thousands of people in the Sioux Empire. Founded shortly after the end of World War I, they've been going strong ever since.

The band stands as one of the Midwest's oldest and most esteemed community bands. Its inaugural performance took place on July 11, 1920, at McKennan Park, drawing thousands of attendees.

Since then, the band has been a cornerstone of Sioux Falls' cultural landscape, delivering free concerts that celebrate both tradition and innovation.

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Managed by Washington Pavilion Management, Inc. since 2021, and musically directed by the Augustana University School of Music, the band comprises professional musicians who perform for over 17,000 concertgoers annually.

Their summer schedule features themed performances across various venues, including Terrace Park, McKennan Park, and the Washington Pavilion. Highlights from the 2025 season include "Back to the Bandshell," "No Cap, Just Bangers," "And the Oscar Goes To..." and "Fanfares and Fireworks!"

A testament to its resilience, the band overcame a significant challenge in 2020 when it faced potential defunding. Community support led to the restoration of city funding, ensuring the band's continuation.

Today, the Sioux Falls Municipal Band continues to unite audiences through the power of live music, fostering community spirit and cultural enrichment.

The kickoff of the summer season will be on Saturday, May 17, at the South Dakota Military Alliance for Armed Forces Day. The concert will begin at 10 AM.

This is the full performance schedule for the summer:

• May 17- 10 a.m.
  
  • South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance for Armed Forces Day
• June 1- 8 p.m. 
  
  • Terrace Park- Back to the Bandshell
• June 3- 7:30 p.m. 
  
  • Sunnycrest Retirement Village- Old School, Still Cool
• June 8- 8 p.m. 
  
  • Terrace Park- No Cap, Just Bangers
• June 10- 7:30 p.m. 
  
  • The Inn on Westport- Four on the Floor
• June 15- 8 p.m. 
  
  • Terrace Park- Dancing Through the Decades
• June 17- 7:30 p.m. 
  
  • Legends on Lake Lorraine- Grace Notes
• June 22- 8 p.m.
  
  • Terrace Park- Heaven & Earth
• June 24- 7:30 p.m. 
  
  • Dow Rumme- Village Blast From the Brass
• June 29 - 8 p.m. 
  
  • Terrace Park- And the Oscar Goes To…
• July 4- TBD
  
  • Red, White and Blues
• July 6- 8 p.m. 
  
  • Terrace Park- Fanfares and Fireworks!
• July 8- 7:30 p.m. 
  
  • Good Samaritan Society – Sioux Falls Village- Duke It Out
• July 13- 8 p.m. 
  
  • Terrace Park- Rags to Riches
• July 15- 7:30 p.m. 
  
  • Trail Ridge Senior Living Community- Where There’s Smoke
• July 17- 6:30 p.m. 
  
  • Terrace Park- Voices of the Revolution
• July 20- 8 p.m. 
  
  • Terrace Park- Live in Technicolor!
• July 24- 7:30 p.m. 
  
  • McKennan Park- Throwback Thursday
• July 27- 8 p.m. 
  
  • Washington Pavilion, Mary W. Sommervold Hall- The Grand Finale

Sources: Dakota News Now and Washington Pavilion.