Andy Gott

Connecting with people who understand your experience can make all the difference when navigating grief, loss, or mental health struggles.

AFSP brings their annual Out of the Darkness Walk to Sioux Falls this September. Starting at the Levitt Band Shell, the event welcomes people walking to remember loved ones or support their own mental wellness journey.

There are plenty of signs that fall has officially arrived, but nothing seals the deal quite like a fresh apple cider donut. The only problem?

Head south of Sioux Falls to Country Apple Orchard in Harrisburg for warm apple cider donuts made by local Dough Depot. While you're there, grab a pumpkin, take a wagon ride, or let the kids loose in the corn pit.

South Dakota is famous for its historic landmarks (like the faces on Mount Rushmore or the spires of the Badlands) but the state's history is also littered with some incredible sights that have completely vanished from the map.

Sioux Falls once had a 300-foot industrial slide that dropped 100 feet straight down, letting horses and buggies trot underneath while riders plummeted overhead in what amounted to a pioneer-era thrill ride.

During the height of World War II, the most important "front line" for American pilots wasn't in the European or Pacific theatres - it was in a top-secret hangar in St. Paul, Minnesota.

During World War II, Northwest Airlines ran a secret ice lab at St. Paul's Holman Field where engineers winterized B-24 bombers for Arctic missions.

It might not feel like it at the moment, but before we know it, the leaves will begin to drop and the crisp fall air will settle into the Sioux Empire.

Your complete guide to fall festivals in the Sioux Empire! Discover pumpkin patches, corn mazes, local street fairs, and family fun happening this season.