Fantastic Festivals
Film competitions, music series, community barbecues, holiday celebrations—there's so much to do in Vermillion.
America's 250th in Vermillion
In 2026, Vermillion proudly joins communities across the nation in celebrating America’s 250th anniversary – all year long! Local organizations, businesses, schools and community groups will host a wide variety of events honoring this historic milestone.
Pizza Battle
Throughout the month of February, participating Vermillion-area businesses feature a signature pizza, competing to be crowned Vermillion’s Best Pizza.
Fool's 48
March 27-30, 2026
In this community favorite event, local teams have 48 hours to write, shoot, and edit a short film. To add a challenge, each team draws a genre at random, and all teams must incorporate the same line of dialogue, prop, and location into their movie. Completed films premiere the following Monday at the Coyote Twin Theater.
Wacipi
April 11-12, 2026
The longest-running student and campus powwow in South Dakota, the Wacipi is a celebration of Native culture through dance, song, and ceremony. For Native attendees, it's a unique chance to showcase culture on campus. For non-Native participants, it offers an immersive experience into the beauty of Native traditions.
The Bluff's Classic
June 25-26, 2026Â
A new, two-person tournament at the Bluffs Golf Course. Stay tuned for more information!
SD Shakespeare Festival
June 18-21, 2026Â
The South Dakota Shakespeare Festival is a weeklong celebration of Shakespeare and the arts. The festivities include the feature production at Prentis Park, a Shakespeare film screening, trivia nights, workshops for youth, and a wide array of community outreach events. All showings are free of cost, though donations are welcome! This year's feature production is "Much Ado About Nothing."
Vermillion Burger Battle
July 1–31, 2026
Every July, our local restaurants duke it out to see who has the best burger in the Vermillion area. Stop into any participating restaurant, order their specialty burger, then go to the Burger Battle section in the LiveVermillion app to rate it and leave comments. The burger with the highest average score at the end of the month is declared the winner!
Community Fireworks
July 4, 2026
We like to celebrate Independence Day with a bang! Pack up your lawn chairs and picnic blanket for the most spectacular fireworks show in the county. Location TBD.Â
Thursdays On The Platz
Thursdays in July & August, 2026
Thursdays On The Platz is Vermillion’s own summer music series. Every Thursday in July and August features a band downtown at the Ratingen Platz. The exception to the rule is the second Thursday in August, where the series heads to the fairgrounds for the Clay County Fair! Enjoy food and drink, socialize with friends, and take in the beautiful summer weather while listening to some great local musicians.
Southeast Ag Tour
2026 TBD
Hosted in partnership with the Clay-Union County Farm Bureau, the annual Southeast Ag tour is a fun and educational glimpse into modern agriculture. The event features tours of local agriculture operations, presentations from ag producers, Q&A sessions, hands-on activities, and a free dinner. The 2025 Southeast Ag Tour will showcase Nutrien Ag Solutions and the SDSU Southeast Research Farm.
Clay County Fair
August 13-15, 2026
The Clay County Fair is three days of animal shows, live music, cornhole tournaments, barbecue competitions, street dances, and more. See everything from 4-H competitions to chainsaw carvings to herpetology exhibits. Enjoy live music all day, and don't forget to stop at the many tabling vendors throughout the fairgrounds. Standout events include ATV mud drags, bull riding, and the annual demolition derby.
Ribs, Rods & Rock n' Roll
September 11-12, 2026
Ribs, Rods & Rock n' Roll was born out of an old Vermillion tradition where townspeople celebrated the end of harvest season by barbecuing ribs over hand-dug pits along the Vermillion river. Now, the event is held downtown, and features a smattering of great things to do, including a people's choice wing-war between local restaurants, an amateur backyard barbecue competition, antique car and tractor shows, pickleball and cornhole tournaments, games, live music, and tons of tasty barbecue.
Oktoberfest
September 25, 2026
Celebrate Vermillion's proud German heritage with Oktoberfest! Compete in a stein holding competition, craft a flower crown, and assemble a team for the Bohemian Tractor Pull. Don't forget to dress in your best lederhosen or dirndl for the costume contest. Meanwhile, enjoy wiener schnitzel, polka music, and steins galore of excellent local beer.
Vortex Film Festival
September 25-27, 2026
Vortex Film Festival is a celebration of regional filmmakers and a showcase for movies and filmed in South Dakota and neighboring states. Gather for a weekend of feature-length movies, short-films, documentaries, and workshops, plus reruns of Fool's 48 films. Join us for Midwest-movie magic!
Downtown Trick-Or-Treating
October 30, 2026
Grab the kiddos and head downtown for the biggest halloween event of the year. Tons of businesses, nonprofits, and USD student organizations will be hanging out and giving away tricks and treats. Plus, stop by the trunk-or-treat at Vermillion Public Library!
Standstill Parade of Lights
December 3, 2026
The Standstill Parade of Lights hearkens in the holiday season in Vermillion. What makes it a "standstill" parade? The floats sit still and the people move! Check out the floats designed by Vermillion area businesses and organizations; enjoy music, carols, and performances from the Vermillion Area Dance Organization; and drink lots of hot chocolate. Then, see Santa Claus as he officially lights the Vermillion Christmas Tree at the Ratingen Platz. A fun time for the whole family!