One of South Dakota’s Best Music Traditions Returns This Weekend

Celebrating Folk, Bluegrass, and Americana Music

The 46th Annual Sioux River Folk Festival is coming up this weekend, July 31 through  August 2, 2026, at beautiful Newton Hills State Park, just south of Canton. It is hosted each year by the South Dakota Friends of Traditional Music.

This South Dakota tradition is celebrating nearly half a century of rich folk, bluegrass, Americana, and roots music. 

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Weekend Music Schedule: Your Guide to Performances

Music runs Friday evening from 6 to 11 PM, Saturday from 12 PM to 11 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM.

Music workshops will be held on Saturday from 10 AM to noon and on Sunday from 10 to 11 AM.

This is the 2026 lineup of artists and schedule:

Friday, July 31, 2026
6:00 - 6:45 pm Stone Bowman
7:00 - 8:00 pm Rylee & Pickle
8:20 - 9:30 pm JAS Quintet featuring Jami Lynn
9:50- 11:00 pm High Horse featuring Kat Wallace

Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026
10  - 11 am (yoga/informal music workshops)
12:00 - 12:40 pm Johnny Friedow
1:00 - 1:45 pm Charli Z.
2:00 - 2:45 pm Rosie Daze Band
3:00 - 3:45 pm Trevin Nelson Band
4:00 - 5:00 pm Stoddard & Mal
5:00 - 6:00 PM DINNER BREAK & CAMPGROUND CONTEST
6:00 - 6:30 pm Sergeant Creek Stringband
6:40 - 6:50 pm Campground Contest Winner
7:10 - 8:00 pm Squid City Slingers
8:15 - 9:15 pm Tomahawk County
9:15 - 9:30 pm Raffle winners & announcements
9:45 - 11:00 pm Michael Daves & Jacob Jolliff

Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026
11:00 - 11:50 am The Driftless 4
12:00 - 12:20 pm Jami Lynn
1:00 - 2 pm Trevin Nelson Band

Campground Contest: Showcase Your Talent

One festival highlight is the Campground Contest: an open-stage, 15‑minute acoustic performance opportunity Saturday afternoon, with audience‑judged winners earning a cash prize and a set on the main stage after dinner

Along with all the extraordinary music you'll hear, there will be relaxing yoga classes, food vendors, and the Merchandise Tent, too.

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Enjoy Food and Vendors at the Festival

Food vendor lineup:

• Enplace Catering (Red Coca-Cola Trailer)

• Hangover Hut

• Rolling Hills Pizza - New! Pizza is back!

• Windy City Bites

• Rainy Day Coffee Company

• Canton After Prom - ice cream benefiting local Canton students

• Good NAtured - New! Mocktails and artisan sodas

The South Dakota Friends of Old Time Music (SDFOTM) Merch Tent will have CDs, Vinyl, T-shirts, Stickers, Glow Sticks, Raffle & Silent Auction items.

Plan Ahead: What to Bring for a Fun Weekend

What to Bring:

• Coolers are welcome, as beer & wine are not available for purchase

• Lawn Chairs

• Blankets

• Sunscreen

• Hat

• Bug Repellent

• Picnic Basket

• Cash, checkbook, or credit card (for all the good merch!)

• Lots of FRIENDS!!!

Ticket Options for Everyone

Tickets are available online (weekend passes only) or at the gate.

Weekend passes cost $50. For Friday only, it is $25; Saturday all day costs $35, Sunday is only $15, and kids under 14 attend free. A park entrance license is required.

For more information on this 46th Anniversary musical celebration, see the South Dakota Friends of Traditional Music  (FOTM) online and on Facebook.