A Guide to Czech Days, Riverboat Days, and Summer Festivals Near Tyndall

Southeast South Dakota knows how to throw a party. From polka bands in Tabor to river parades in Yankton, summer festivals are a way of life out here. Here’s your guide to the best events in the area — and how locals keep the fun going year after year.

Summer Festivals Are a Big Deal in Southeast South Dakota

If you didn’t grow up in this part of South Dakota, you might not realize how central summer festivals are to life out here. These aren’t corporate-sponsored music festivals with $15 beers. They’re community celebrations that have been happening for decades — sometimes over a century. Neighbors run the food stands. High school kids volunteer. The whole town shows up.

For people in Tyndall, Springfield, Freeman, Yankton, and the surrounding area, these events mark the calendar just as much as hunting season or harvest. And for visitors discovering the area for the first time, they’re a genuine window into what makes these small towns worth caring about.

Here’s a rundown of the festivals you need to know about.

Czech Days — Tabor, SD

When: Usually the third weekend in June (Friday and Saturday) Where: Tabor, South Dakota — about 15 minutes east of Tyndall

Czech Days in Tabor, SD is the crown jewel of southeast South Dakota summer festivals. It’s been running since 1948, celebrating the Czech heritage that built Tabor and much of Bon Homme County.

What to Expect

Food. This is reason enough to go. We’re talking kolaches — the real ones, not the Texas gas station version. Prune, poppy seed, apricot, cherry, cream cheese. The ladies of Tabor bake thousands of them, and they sell out. Get there early.

Beyond kolaches, you’ll find: - Roast duck dinners (a Czech tradition) - Pork and dumplings with sauerkraut - Czech sausage and houska (braided sweet bread) - Homemade pies that have no business being that good

Music and dancing. Multiple polka bands play throughout the weekend. If you’ve never danced a polka, Czech Days is where you learn. Nobody judges — and the beer helps.

Parade. Saturday morning features a parade through town with floats, local organizations, vintage tractors, and the Czech royalty (yes, they crown a queen).

Craft and vendor booths. Local artisans, food vendors, and small businesses set up throughout the festival grounds. If you’re a vendor, you already know the setup and teardown is a whole production — more on that later.

Heritage events. Czech language demonstrations, traditional costume displays, and storytelling that connects the current generation to the settlers who built these towns.

Tips for Going

• Parking fills up fast. Tabor is a small town — population around 400. On Czech Days, thousands of people show up. Come early or be prepared to walk.
• Bring cash. Not every vendor takes cards.
• Kolaches sell out by mid-afternoon. If kolaches are your priority, hit the baked goods tables before noon.

Riverboat Days — Yankton, SD

When: Usually the third full weekend in August (Thursday through Sunday) Where: Yankton, South Dakota — Riverside Park and downtown

Riverboat Days is Yankton’s signature summer festival, and it’s a bigger production than most outsiders expect from a city of 15,000. It’s been running since 1955, and the event has grown into a multi-day celebration along the Missouri River.

What to Expect

Live music. Riverboat Days typically brings in regional and national acts for evening concerts. Country, rock, classic rock — the lineup changes every year, but the energy is consistent.

Carnival and midway. Rides, games, and midway food. This is where your kids will want to spend all your money.

River activities. The Missouri River is the backdrop for everything. Depending on the year, you might see boat races, kayak demonstrations, or river cruises. The connection to the river is what makes this festival feel different from a generic town fair.

Parade. Saturday morning, through downtown Yankton. It’s the kind of parade where you know half the people on the floats, and the other half are throwing candy to your kids.

Food vendors. Everything from ribeye sandwiches to funnel cakes. Local organizations run many of the food stands — it’s a major fundraiser for churches, youth groups, and civic organizations.

Flea market and craft fair. Vintage finds, handmade goods, and local crafts. Worth browsing even if you’re not a shopper.

Tips for Going

• Thursday and Friday are less crowded but still have great events. If you don’t love crowds, start early in the weekend.
• Book a hotel early if you’re coming from out of town. Yankton hotels fill up for Riverboat Days.
• Bring lawn chairs and blankets for the evening concerts.

More Summer Festivals Worth Your Time

Czech Days and Riverboat Days get the most attention, but southeast South Dakota has more going on:

Schmeckfest — Freeman, SD

When: Usually late March or early April (Friday and Saturday) What: Freeman’s celebration of German-Russian Mennonite and Hutterite heritage. The name means “festival of tasting” — and the food delivers. German sausage, kuchen, fleisch kuechle, borscht, and more. The cultural programs showcase the unique history of Freeman’s Mennonite and Hutterite communities. If you’ve never been, add it to the list.

Bon Homme County Fair — Tyndall, SD

When: Typically mid-July What: Classic county fair with livestock shows, 4-H exhibits, demolition derby, carnival rides, and grandstand entertainment. This is small-town South Dakota at its most authentic. If you want to see the community come together, the county fair is it.

Tyndall Oktoberfest

When: October What: Tyndall puts its own spin on the German tradition with beer, brats, live music, and fall festivities. A smaller event but growing every year.

Springfield Fun Days

When: Varies — typically summer What: Springfield’s community celebration with games, food, music, and local activities. A small-town gathering that brings neighbors together.

Yankton Ribfest

When: Summer (dates vary) What: Barbecue competition meets community event. Local and regional BBQ teams compete, and you get to eat the results. There’s live music, beer gardens, and all the smoked meat you can handle.

The Storage Connection: How Festivals Create Storage Needs

Here’s something most people don’t think about: summer festivals generate a surprising amount of storage demand in southeast South Dakota.

Festival Vendors and Booth Operators

If you run a food stand, craft booth, or vendor operation at these festivals, you know the drill. You’ve got: - Canopy tents, tables, and display fixtures - Cooking equipment (grills, fryers, warmers, coolers) - Inventory and merchandise - Signage and marketing materials - Generators and extension cords

Between events, all of this needs a home. Your garage fills up. Your barn gets crowded. A dedicated storage unit keeps your festival setup organized and ready to deploy — instead of scattered across three buildings and two vehicles.

A 10x10 or 10x15 unit at Lock N’ Leave It Storage is the perfect size for most vendor setups. Everything stays together, clean, and accessible for the next event.

Community Organizations

Churches, 4-H clubs, civic groups, and school organizations that run festival booths and floats often accumulate years of equipment, decorations, and supplies. A shared storage unit provides a central location that multiple organizers can access, instead of storing everything in someone’s basement.

Seasonal Decorations and Event Equipment

Towns that run annual festivals often have community members who store parade floats, decorations, stage equipment, and sound systems between events. If your community organization needs year-round storage for festival assets, self-storage is a practical, affordable solution.

Experience Southeast South Dakota’s Best

Summer festivals in southeast South Dakota are more than events — they’re the heartbeat of these communities. Whether you’re a lifelong local or discovering the area for the first time, these festivals showcase the heritage, food, and hospitality that make this corner of the state special.

If festival season has your garage overflowing with vendor equipment, parade supplies, or seasonal gear, Lock N’ Leave It Storage can help. We have locations in Tyndall, Springfield, and Freeman — right in the middle of festival country.

Check availability and get organized before the summer rush. And if you’re new to the area, welcome — you picked a great place to be.