“There’s always something happening throughout the holiday season,” said Visit Rapid City’s director of community engagement Callie Meyer. “It’s easy to turn a trip to Rapid City into a full winter getaway.”
Downtown itself is covered in majestic, twinkling lights with locals and visitors alike gallivanting down the sidewalks with shopping bags and warm drinks in hand.
“Downtown Rapid City has that small-town Christmas feel, especially at Main Street Square,” said Meyer. “Kids and families are out ice skating, people are grabbing hot cocoa, and everyone ends up gathered around the enormous holiday tree. This time of year always reminds me how much I love this community.”
Winter Market at Main Street Square is an event highlight happening November 28 from 1-5 p.m. Patrons can shop local vendors, watch the skaters (or participate), see the community tree light up, and stay downtown for the Festival of Lights Parade with more than 30,000 spectators at 6 p.m.
At this year’s Winter Market there will be ice sculpture carvings created by local artists throughout downtown with a sculpture photoop setup at Main Street.
The rest of the city has other holiday happenings, like Storybook Island’s Christmas Nights of Light from 5:30-8:30 p.m., which Meyer dubs a “can’t miss.”
“The whole park is covered in over 20 miles of lights, and there’s music, train rides, the carousel, and visits from Santa Claus on select nights,” said Meyer.
The event is also one of Storybook Island’s largest fundraising events for the season to ensure the attraction remains free during summer months.
“THERE’S A FEELING YOU GET WHEN THE SNOW IS FALLING, DOWNTOWN IS GLOWING WITH TWINKLING LIGHTS, AND THE HILLS ARE COVERED IN WHITE WHERE YOU KNOW YOU’RE GOING TO FEEL NOSTALGIC FOR THE MOMENT YOU’RE IN.”
callie meyer
Christmas at the Chapel is also a beautiful tradition at the replica of the Borgund Stavkirke of Lardal, Norway at 3788 Chapel Lane. Open on select dates in December, watch as the unique architecture comes alive with lights in the woods.
The city also offers a wide variety of food, drinks, and entertainment to enjoy during the holiday season. Catch a showing of It’s a Wonderful Life at the Elks Theatre downtown on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
“Popcorn from the Elks Theatre is a bucket list item all on its own,” said Meyer.
Coffee shops like Essence of Coffee, Speed Goat Express Coffee, or Alternative Fuel are there for a caffeine kick or a light snack. For more substance, grab a smash burger from Dakota Meat Company, a Mashed Potato Pizza from Independent Ale House, or warm up with some noodles from Bokujō Ramen.
If a locally-brewed beer sounds like it would hit the spot, Firehouse Brewing Company, Hay Camp Brewing Company, and
Woodland Republic Brewing & Blending are a few great options where you can raise a glass on a winter’s day.
Cocktails more your speed? Juniper at Vertex Sky Bar atop Hotel Alex Johnson has both talented mixologists and one of the best views of the city 10 stories up with a heated outdoor patio. Nearby, Windsor Block Bar also has a vast menu with carefully-curated cocktails and mocktails.
For a full sit-down experience, a city favorite is Tally’s Silver Spoon. The menu is inspired by local flavors and is made with seasonal ingredients. Guests can order off the regular menu or select the Indecision Menu.
“[For the Indecision Menu], your table chooses if you want between two to five courses, and the chefs will create a tasting menu for you,” said Meyer. “I’ve never had the same tasting menu twice, and I’ve never been disappointed with the experience Actually, I’m only disappointed if I don’t save room for the ice cream sampler from their dessert menu.”
A RAPID HOLIDAY WEEKEND
Itinerary Curated by Visit Rapid City
FRIDAY
Check into a downtown hotel, bundle up, and walk to dinner. Afterward, make your way over to Main Street Square and lace up your ice skates for a spin around the outdoor rink. If you’re in town before the New Year, the tree will be lit up, holiday music will be playing through the speakers, and you’ll be amongst skaters of all skill-levels, so there’s no judgement if you’re not a pro on the ice. It really does feel like a scene out of a Hallmark movie. After you turn in your skates, make sure you look at the decorated storefront windows on the walk back to your hotel.
SATURDAY
Grab breakfast and spend the morning downtown. Stop into Prairie Edge & Sioux Trading Post, walk through the galleries at Dahl Arts Center, and pop into local shops along the way. You can’t leave downtown without grabbing a treat from Chubby Chipmunk. Their hand-dipped chocolates are hard to beat as a gift, so get a box for someone on your list (and probably one for yourself).
It’s worth your time to take a drive up to Dinosaur Park as the sun starts to set. From the top, you can see the whole city with the Black Hills behind it. From there, you’ll want to head to Storybook Island for Christmas Nights of Light. After you make your way through the park, you’ll be ready to warm up and have dinner. Make your way back downtown for some pub fare at Thirsty’s Burgers & Beer or channel the energy of a warmer climate at Ma Caulli–a family-run Mexican restaurant.
SUNDAY
Sleep in, grab a caramel roll from Colonial House, and then set the GPS to the 1880 Train Holiday Express in Hill City. The fresh snow on the pines casts a quiet, calming spell across the landscape, making your one-hour round trip train ride through the southern Hills feel almost ethereal.
Then there’s the shopping. With options to cover any holiday wish list, patrons can check out places like Urban Glow Candle Co. Whether it’s in-studio or online, shoppers can choose a vessel, pick their scent, and personalize the label using an interactive tool.
Urban Glow Candle Co. is open seven days a week, and in-studio sessions require a reservation. Candles take roughly an hourand-a-half to two hours to set, which gives a good excuse to go explore downtown while you wait.
“During the holidays, I love that our shop can be both something to do together and something you get to take home,” said owner Sarah McCormick. “We see friends, families, couples, and coworkers come in, and I think there’s something special about giving someone an experience or spending that time creating something together instead of just buying another gift.”
“I GREW UP IN RAPID CITY, SO THERE’S SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL ABOUT EXPERIENCING DOWNTOWN DURING THE HOLIDAYS NOW AS A BUSINESS OWNER.”
sarah mccormick
Who’s Hobby House is a local gem, says Meyer, and is hard to miss downtown with its historic neon sign. With around 40,000 items in the store, there’s always something new to find. The shop has everything from high-end RC cars and planes to building kits, educational gifts, and hobbies many haven’t thought about in years.
“Adults get the nostalgia factor, and kids will give you a wish-list a mile long,” said Meyer.
Clancy Kingsbury is a third generation owner, and Who’s Hobby House is celebrating 76 years in business.
“One of the business slogans my grandparents used was, ‘A hobby family is a happy family,’” said Kingsbury. “We are once again seeing entire families involved with a particular hobby, such as model railroading or individual members of the family enjoying their own unique hobby.”
Owner of Whim and Wise Sasha Campbell opened a mercantile filled with women’s clothing, home décor, and gifts. Products range from perfume, tea-towels, charcuterie boards, glassware, shower scrubs, and “about a hundred other things in between.”
“You’ll find everything from complete outfits to witty cards, books, little luxuries, and gifts with personality—things that feel special, spark conversation, or simply make someone smile,” said Campbell.
“IF YOU’RE SHOPPING FOR SOMEONE WHO ALREADY HAS EVERY THING, MY FAVORITE ADVICE IF DON’T BUY THEM SOMETHING THEY NEED. BUY THEM SOMETHING THEY WOULDN’T HAVE PICKED OUT FOR THEMSELVES, BUT WILL ABSOLUTELY LOVE.”
sasha campbell
For something sparkly, Neugebauer’s Jewelry Design & Services has been serving the area since 1945. Its building downtown used to be the Pennington County Bank, and the architecture is almost just as stunning as the jewelry inside the store, says Meyer.
“They carry designers like Simon G. Jewelry, Fana, A.JAFFE, and Allison-Kaufman Company, but what I love most is the personal side of what they do,” she continued.
The team at Neugebauer’s makes the process of custom designing a piece that’s completely one of a kind a welcoming experience. They
can also work with clients on repairing a family heirloom so it can be given another life “and loved all over again.”
Shopping Guide
neugebauers.com
urbanglowcandleco.com
whimandwise.com
whoshobby.com
“If you want to make this Christmas truly memorable, give them a gift that lasts,” said owner and sales manager Madeline Maufort. “Jewelry conveys a meaningful message, much like a keepsake card they can carry with them every day. Whether it’s a new piece of jewelry or a family heirloom in need of repair, Neugebauer’s is here to help you continue your story.”
Whether it’s for shopping, holiday events, festive food and drinks, or to simply get into the seasonal spirit, Rapid City has it all.
“There’s no one big event or experience that encapsulates the magical experience of winter in Rapid City,” said Meyer. “It’s the summation of all the little moments.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT VISITRAPIDCITY.COM+
