River Revival Gala
Friends of the Big Sioux River is delighted to invite you to our first annual River Revival fundraising gala, a night for clean water, community, and conservation. Join us as we celebrate and reflect upon our continued efforts to protect and restore the Big Sioux River for today’s community and future generations. It’s high time for a river revival. We hope you’ll join us in our endeavors.
Click here to learn more and purchase tickets!
Riverfest Big Sioux River Clean-Up
Downtown Sioux Falls and Friends of the Big Sioux River are hosting a "Big Sioux River Clean-Up" as part of our 2025 Riverfest programming in honor of Craig Lloyd. Craig was an advocate for downtown growth and development and an even bigger advocate and champion for the conservation of the Big Sioux River. Let's do our part to keep the river clean in honor of Craig!
Join us Saturday, September 20, from 10:00 AM to noon as we clean up the banks of the Big Sioux River in Downtown Sioux Falls. The clean-up will take place on both sides of the River from Falls Park to Fawick Park.
Meet in the CNH parking lot at the Arc of Dreams. Please arrive early, as we'll be handing out trash bags, gloves, and reflective vests. Volunteers will also need to sign a release/waiver form.
Sign-up is not required. However, we appreciate you signing up beforehand so we have a rough estimate of the number of volunteers.
Click here to sign up!
2025 Downtown Sioux Falls Riverfest
Celebrate summer by the river at Riverfest 2025, a free outdoor festival set along the scenic Big Sioux River. This year’s event brings everything you love — live music, delicious food, local retail vendors, and interactive activities — all with a fresh focus on sustainability and river stewardship.
Riverfest is more than just a party — it’s a platform for the community to come together, learn about the importance of protecting the Big Sioux River, and explore simple, impactful ways to support a cleaner, healthier environment. Join local organizations and sustainability partners for conversations, demonstrations, and hands-on opportunities to get involved in ongoing river cleanup efforts.
Click here to learn more!
Big Sioux River Community Clean-Up
Join Sioux Empire Paddlers and Friends of the Big Sioux River for another community river clean-up event! We'll start at Riverdale Park and travel to Downtown Sioux Falls, picking up trash along the way.
Sioux Empire Paddlers will provide canoes to collect the trash. The majority of the time will be spent walking in the river picking up litter, so please wear clothing and shoes you do not mind getting wet and/or dirty.
Friends of the Big Sioux River will provide garbage bags, gloves, and a limited number of waders. Following the clean-up, we will provide a free picnic lunch for all participants. Please RSVP for this event so we can have an accurate count for lunch. We can't wait to see you there!
Click here to RSVP on Facebook!
Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club Meetup
Join us for the next monthly meetup of the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club! This month, we’ll be meeting at McHardy Park in Brandon on Thursday, July 24th from 6-7:30 PM.
Meetup Details
The Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club is for anyone who wants to learn about or share their passion for fly fishing.
No registration is required.
You are encouraged to bring your own gear but some will be provided.
A South Dakota fishing license is required.
Questions? Contact Jason Nelson at The Outdoor Campus at jason.nelson@state.sd.us or 605-940-8486.
Click here to learn more about the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club.
A partnership between Friends of the Big Sioux River and South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Outdoor Campus - Sioux Falls.
Sioux River Yoga Festival
Join the Joy Collective Yoga Studio for the second annual Sioux River Yoga Festival. On Saturday, July 19th, drop into the idyllic setting of The Good Earth Farm, an animal sanctuary surrounded by tall grass prairie. Immerse yourself in a full day of yoga classes and workshops led by experienced instructors from across the region. Throughout the day, visit with local creators and artists, enjoy locally grown food, and connect with fellow attendees. Extend your festival experience by staying overnight on the grounds, then join us for a special morning of yoga and community service. Day two features bonus morning classes and a unique opportunity to give back through the Joy Collective’s partnership with Friends of the Big Sioux River.
Whether you're an experienced practitioner or new to yoga, the Sioux River Yoga Festival offers a welcoming space to deepen your practice, connect with community, and celebrate the transformative power of yoga in our region. Click the button below to learn more and reserve your spot for this relaxing event!
Click here to learn more!
Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club Meetup
Join us for the next monthly meetup of the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club! This month, we’ll be meeting at the Rollings GPA near Hudson, SD on Thursday, June 26th from 6-7:30 PM.
Not sure how to get there? From Sioux Falls, take I-29 south to Exit 50 (Hudson). Drive east until you get to town. Once there, you can snake your way northeast until you see 2nd Street. Take that north, and you can't miss it!
Meetup Details
The Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club is for anyone who wants to learn about or share their passion for fly fishing.
No registration is required.
You are encouraged to bring your own gear but some will be provided.
A South Dakota fishing license is required.
Questions? Contact Jason Nelson at The Outdoor Campus at jason.nelson@state.sd.us or 605-940-8486.
Click here to learn more about the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club.
A partnership between Friends of the Big Sioux River and South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Outdoor Campus - Sioux Falls.
Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club Meetup
Join us for the next monthly meetup of the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club! This month, we’ll be meeting at Lake Vermillion on Thursday, May 29th from 6-7:30 PM. We will meet on the northwest side of the lake by the swimming beach.
Meetup Details
The Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club is for anyone who wants to learn about or share their passion for fly fishing.
No registration is required.
You are encouraged to bring your own gear but some will be provided.
A South Dakota fishing license is required.
Questions? Contact Jason Nelson at The Outdoor Campus at jason.nelson@state.sd.us or 605-940-8486.
Click here to learn more about the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club.
A partnership between Friends of the Big Sioux River and South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Outdoor Campus - Sioux Falls.
Summer Celebration at the Great Plains Zoo
Celebrate the Opening Day of Summer Attractions at the Summer Celebration event! Enjoy a fun-filled day packed with exciting activities, entertainment, and special encounters for all ages.
Conservation in Action Tour
See how the Big Sioux River and South Dakota farms intersect!
Mark your calendars for May 6-7, 2025, and join us as we travel through southeastern South Dakota to see how conservation and innovation are implemented on the land. It’s a unique planting season tour that will focus on soil health, biodiversity, crop production, and innovation.
Big Sioux Brew Launch Party
Join FBSR for the official launch of the 2025 Big Sioux Brew!
Earth Day River Clean-Up
Join us for our annual Earth Day Big Sioux River Clean-Up event all along the watershed in Eastern South Dakota. Together, we will work to clean up key sites along the river to work toward a cleaner river for us all.
Party for the Planet
Join us at Sertoma Park for an Earth Day celebration! Party for the Planet is a campaign focused on bringing guests and communities together to take action for healthier habitats. That's why we're partnering with the Sioux Falls Zoo & Aquarium and The Outdoor Campus to help clean-up the Big Sioux River!
Earth Day Festival
Sioux Falls Parks & Recreation is hosting their Earth Day Festival at Great Bear again this year.
Unite as a community to appreciate Earth! This free festival for all ages has music, lawn games, a family scavenger hunt, and tote bag decorating. Get a mini planting kit and celebration sticker. Local environmental organizations will have booths to visit as well! No registration required.
Big Sioux Stewardship Summit
The City of Sioux Falls is partnering with South Dakota State University to host the Big Sioux Stewardship Summit. This 2-day event is a reimagining and expansion of the annual Big Sioux River and Sustainability Summit the City hosted previously.
Agricultural and Urban Bus Tours
The City of Sioux Falls is partnering with South Dakota State University to host the Big Sioux Stewardship Summit. This 2-day event is a reimagining and expansion of the annual Big Sioux River and Sustainability Summit the City hosted previously.
Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club Meetup
Join us for the next monthly meetup of the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club! This month, we’ll be meeting at The Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, SD on Thursday, February 27th, from 6-7:30 PM. Join us for a night of fly tying and community building. All supplies will be provided, and everyone is welcome to attend!
Meetup Details
The Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club is for anyone who wants to learn about or share their passion for fly fishing.
No registration is required.
Click here to learn more about the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club.
A partnership between Friends of the Big Sioux River and South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Outdoor Campus - Sioux Falls.
Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club Meetup
Join us for the next monthly meetup of the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club! This month, we’ll meet at The Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, SD, on Thursday, January 30th, from 6-8 PM. We’ll begin the evening with a presentation on benthic macroinvertebrates, an integral part of the aquatic food chain. Dennis Skadsen, an expert in macroinvertebrates, will speak on this topic. The second half of the evening will feature fly tying demos. All supplies will be provided, and everyone is welcome to attend!
Meetup Details
The Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club is for anyone who wants to learn about or share their passion for fly fishing.
No registration is required.
Click here to learn more about the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club.
A partnership between Friends of the Big Sioux River and South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Outdoor Campus - Sioux Falls.
The State of Our River
Confronting Contamination: Understanding PFAS in South Dakota’s Waterways
A Free Community Education Event
Saturday, December 7, 2024, 9:00-11:00 AM
Hamre Recital Hall (HUM 177), Humanities Center, Augustana University
2120 S Grange Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57197
Join Friends of the Big Sioux River on Saturday, December 7th, at Augustana University for a captivating morning of discussion about PFAS, commonly called Forever Chemicals, in South Dakota’s waterways. A short reception at 9:00 AM will feature booths from local water and conservation organizations, along with light refreshments.
The program will officially begin at 9:30 AM with a presentation of FBSR’s 2024 Big Sioux River water quality testing data. Following this update, Tim Stefanich will give his keynote presentation titled, Forever Chemicals 101: What Are PFAS? This thought-provoking presentation will provide an overview of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), their history, and the operational challenges involved in detecting and removing them.
A closer examination of PFAS in our region will be explored during Sammi Blood’s keynote presentation titled, PFAS in the Sioux Falls Region. Special focus will be placed on municipal and private well contamination at Joe Foss Field, where firefighting foam containing PFAS was used from the 1970s to 2018 by the Air National Guard. New EPA regulations surrounding PFAS in drinking water and the State’s plans for PFAS testing and removal will also be discussed.
A short audience Q&A session will follow the presentations. All community members are invited to attend this free event.
Thank you to the Office of Sustainability and the Environmental Studies Program at Augustana University for sponsoring this event.
Program Agenda
9:00 AM - Reception with light refreshments and booths featuring local water & conservation organizations
9:30 AM - Welcome
9:40 AM - The State of Our River: An Overview of the 2024 FBSR Water Quality Testing Data
10:05 AM - Keynote Presentation Forever Chemicals 101: What Are PFAS?, presented by Tim Stefanich
10:25 AM - Keynote Presentation: PFAS in the Sioux Falls Region, presented by Sammi Blood
10:50 AM - Audience Q&A and Program Wrap-Up
Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club Meetup
Join us for the next monthly meetup of the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club! This month, we’ll be meeting at The Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, SD on Thursday, November 21st from 6-7:30 PM. Join us for a night of fly tying and community building. All supplies will be provided, and everyone is welcome to attend!
Meetup Details
The Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club is for anyone who wants to learn about or share their passion for fly fishing.
No registration is required.
Click here to learn more about the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club.
A partnership between Friends of the Big Sioux River and South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Outdoor Campus - Sioux Falls.
Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club Meetup
Join us for the next monthly meetup of the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club! This month, we’ll be meeting at The Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, SD on Thursday, October 24th from 6-7:30 PM. The first half of the meetup we’ll be in the classroom learning about Friends of the Big Sioux River. The second half of the event we’ll be fly fishing at The Outdoor Campus pond.
Meetup Details
The Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club is for anyone who wants to learn about or share their passion for fly fishing.
No registration is required.
You are encouraged to bring your own gear but some will be provided.
A South Dakota fishing license is required.
Click here to learn more about the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club.
A partnership between Friends of the Big Sioux River and South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Outdoor Campus - Sioux Falls.