🧤 Parks plot snow-day fun, pumpkin shakes ghost away, and Bessie’s stealing hearts

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We’re rolling into the last Friday of October and Sioux Falls is buzzing with fall energy. Between road crews hustling to finish up projects and shop windows slowly filling with holiday sparkle, you can feel the season shifting.

Halloweekend is a little extra in the best way. We have witchy pop-ups, axe throwing, comedy shows, and cozy community moments too. Whether you’re headed out in costume or kicking back with something sweet, there’s something inside this week’s Scoop for you.

Enjoy the mix, and we’ll see you in November!

🥧 Scoop It While You Can

If you’ve been meaning to swing by Stensland Family Farms Ice Cream, now’s the time: October’s flavors are about to ride off into the sunset.

The Pumpkin Cheesecake Shake is pure autumn comfort, thick with caramel swirls and real cheesecake bites, while the Salty Cow Tracks Sundae hits that perfect sweet-salty balance with fudge, caramel, and chunks of cookie dough.

They’ve even dropped a surprise Cosmic Swirl (a Blue Moon, Grape, and vanilla mashup that feels straight out of childhood.) You’ve got today and tomorrow to taste the magic before November rolls in. Learn more here.

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🪓 Throw, Sip, Repeat at this Season’s Spookiest Kickoff Spot

Downtown’s Rough Cut Social is the kind of place where laughter bounces off the walls and first-timers become pros by the end of the night.

This Halloween weekend, they’re hosting the city’s biggest bar crawl: two nights of costumes, eerie cocktails, and easygoing chaos. Check in here to kick things off, snag your event badge, and maybe throw a few axes before you hit the crawl.

It’s Sioux Falls fun at its rowdiest and friendliest. Learn more here.

🌤️ Sioux Falls Parks Plan aims to keep the fun rolling all year

The Gist: When winter moves in, Sioux Falls keeps moving too. City Parks and Recreation is refreshing its master plan with ideas for new rec centers, indoor programs, and spaces where neighbors can stay active long after the leaves fall. It’s a plan built from community voices because locals know best how to make the most of every season.

Why it matters: In a city that thrives on both snow days and sunny ones, Sioux Falls is finding new ways to play year-round. Read more here.

🚧 Wrapping Up Fall Road Work

The Gist: As October winds down, a few city projects are still in motion across Sioux Falls. North Bobhalla Avenue remains closed through November 1 for resurfacing, while drainage work keeps part of West 22nd Street off-limits until November 10. Crews also completed tree trimming along East Rice Street earlier this week, and repairs on Veterans Parkway are expected to finish soon.

Why It Matters: Expect brief slowdowns in these areas as the city ties up its fall construction before winter weather rolls in. Read more here.

Meet Bessie, a 5-year-old Terrier/Shepherd mix with a sparkle that never fades.

Outgoing, goofy, and full of love, she adores chasing tennis balls and snuggling up once the games are done. With her moderate energy and friendly nature, Bessie does best with kids 9+, no cats, and may be selective with other dogs.

She knows basic commands and has lovely neighborly manners. Adoption fee applies.

To learn more about this charming girl, click HERE.

🧙‍♀️ Grandma Lu’s Interactive Haunt | 913 W 36th St | Sioux Falls | 10/30–11/01 | More
A whimsical Witches Coven with glowing sets, live storytellers, and a giant cauldron!

🕸️ Historic Halloween Party | Old Courthouse Museum | Sioux Falls | 10/31 | More
Free Halloween party for families featuring trick-or-treating, scavenger hunts, and more.

🐮 Family Chick-or-Treat | Chick-fil-A Empire Place | Sioux Falls | 10/31 | More
Kids can dress up, meet the Chick-fil-A Cow, and celebrate Halloween with treats & dinner.

🎩 The Black Market | W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds | Sioux Falls | 11/01–11/02 | More
South Dakota’s longest-running indoor market with 100+ vendors: treasures galore!

🦋 How to Become a Citizen Scientist | Outdoor Campus in Sertoma Park | Sioux Falls | 11/01 | More
Observe and document wildlife with mobile apps in this hands-on workshop.

🎃 Official Halloween Bar Crawl | check in at Rough Cut Social | Sioux Falls | 10/31–11/01 | More
Ultimate two-day Halloween crawl with spooky cocktails, costume contests, and more!

🎤 Johnny Holm Band: Halloween Bash | The District | Sioux Falls | 11/01 | More
Dance the night away in costume to a legendary rock show: proceeds support local causes.

🎭 Jackbox LIVE: Comedy + Games | Luckys 224 | Sioux Falls | 11/01 | More
A hilarious mix of improv and gaming as local comedians battle it out in a live face-off.

🐱 Tats for Cats Flash Day | Vishnu Bunny Tattoo & Piercing | Sioux Falls | 11/02 | More
Walk-in flash tattoos, food trucks, and all proceeds help cats find their forever homes.

🏀 Field of 68 Season Tip-Off Marathon | Sanford Pentagon | Sioux Falls | 11/03 | More
Six teams, three games, and nonstop basketball action for another epic season opener.

If you want to read any of our previous issues, check them out HERE on our website.