Dec 04 Thursday
The 8th Annual Mead Museum Hall of Trees will feature 80 Christmas trees, uniquely decorated by area businesses and organizations.
The public is invited to enjoy 80 beautifully, uniquely decorated Christmas trees on all three floors of the Mead Museum in Yankton South Dakota. Community businesses and organizations join together for this special tradition. Visitors can vote for their favorite tree, enjoy free hot cocoa and coffee - and kids will enjoy a scavenger hunt. This year's foyer theme is 1950s Red Carpet Christmas by LilyCrest - Framing, Décor & Gifts Gallery of Downtown Yankton.
Santa visits on Sundays in December (7th, 14th and 21st). From 2-4pm.Experience Friday Night Lights - see the trees, enjoy live Christmas music and other special details until 8 PM.
Open daily Nov 28-Dec 31 (closed Dec 25th) Weekdays 10am-5pm and Fridays open until 8pm. Weekends 1-5pm.
Members and kids are free. $10 admission for adults and $8 for 65+.All the details at www.meadbuilding.org/HallOfTrees.
Rare Jefferson Peace Medal Exhibit at Mead Museum
An original 220-year old Jefferson Peace Medal on loan to the Mead Museum is on display as part of the Journeying Forward: Connecting Cultures exhibit. The 4-inch Jefferson Peace Medal is extremely rare and a historically significant artifact from the early 19th century. The peace medals were commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson as part of diplomatic efforts with Native American tribes, serving as symbols of goodwill and alliance between the U.S. government and Indigenous leaders. The Lewis & Clark Expedition handed out 89 of them to leaders of Native Nations on their journey between 1804-1806. This medal is one of less than 5 on display in the world!In addition to the peace medal, the Journeying Forward exhibit also had an upgrade in its history of the Ihanktonwan and Oceti Sakowin Nations, an important narrative to Yankton regional history.The Mead Museum is located at 82 Mickelson Dr in Yankton SD. The Museum is open weekdays 10AM to 5PM and on Saturdays/Sundays from 1PM to 5PM.
Armchair Travelers Book Club will meet on Thursday, December 4th, at noon in the Sturgis Library’s Lushbough Room. Please join us that day to share a favorite adult nonfiction work.
Since January 1st, 2026, falls on a Thursday, the group will delay its meeting until January 8th, 2026, to discuss a favorite young adult novel.
Armchair Travelers is co-sponsored by the Sturgis Area Arts Council and the Sturgis Public Library.
Join the South Dakota Art Museum for a festive evening at the Nordic Yule Market Sip & Shop on Thursday, December 4 from 5 - 8 pm.
Browse unique gifts from Nordic and local artisans, enjoy seasonal drinks from the cash bar, and sample favorite Nordic treats. The evening features live holiday music by Project: Constellation, plus complimentary gift wrapping to make your treasures market-ready. All while supporting Art Museum exhibitions and programming!
Bring your friends for a fun evening—you’ll leave with holiday cheer and wrapped treasures!
Schedule5:00 PM | Sip & Shop opens6:00 PM | Live music by Project: Constellation7:30 PM | Last Call8:00 PM | Event Ends
Join Chelle at the Sturgis Public Library on Thursday, December 4th at 5pm for a relaxing evening of crochet tips, techniques and creative fun perfect for teens and adults. All supplies are provided. It is free to attend, please RSVP with the library.
VERMILLION, S.D. — November 18, 2025 — The Vermillion Public Library is thrilled to announce its tenth annual Holiday Open House on Thursday, December 4th, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The festive event is strategically timed to immediately follow the Downtown Parade of Lights, offering a warm and entertaining conclusion to the evening's celebrations. The highlight of the night will be the grand arrival of Santa Claus, who will be escorted directly from the parade route to the library via a Vermillion Firetruck. Families are invited to gather to witness the special arrival, then join the festivities inside for free photos with Santa.
Attendees of all ages can enjoy a host of family-friendly activities, including:
Complimentary hot chocolate and holiday cookies.
A special performance by the Children's Choir.
A showing of a Christmas family movie.
Holiday craft stations for creative fun.
The event is free and open to the public. The library encourages all Vermillion residents and visitors attending the Parade of Lights to continue their evening at the library.
Dec 05 Friday
The University Libraries at the University of South Dakota is presenting its biennial international altered book exhibition “Bound and Unbound VIII,” juried by Bratislava, Slovakia-based altered book artist and illustrator, Isobelle Ouzman, now through Jan. 5, 2026.
“Bound and Unbound VIII” is located in the exhibition cases on the second floor of the I.D. Weeks Library. It is open to the public for viewing during library operating hours, which can be found online. The exhibition can also be viewed online in the Digital Library of South Dakota https://explore.digitalsd.org/digital/collection/exhibitions/search/searchterm/Bound%20and%20Unbound%208:%20Altered%20Book%20Exhibition/field/relatig/mode/exact/conn/and.
The University Libraries Art and Exhibits Committee, sponsor of the exhibition, seeks to showcase a diverse range of international altered book art, to present the work locally and to build an online research collection of altered books.
Step into the magic of the season at our Nordic Yule Market, open October 11 – January 10 at the South Dakota Art Museum Shop! Inspired by traditional Nordic and German holiday markets, this festive shopping experience features:• Handcrafted gifts from Nordic and local artists (50 new vendors!)• Special events including live music, sip & shop, and family-friendly activities• A cozy reading corner• Meet & greets with your favorite characters• Free gift wrapping on select days Every purchase supports museum exhibitions and programming—thank you for making a difference with your holiday shopping! Mark your calendars for extra-special dates:• Nov. 20–22: Gifting for Good Holiday Sale (with area cultural institution stores!)• Dec. 4: Sip & Shop with Nordic band Project Constellation & free gift wrapping• December 13, 10 – 12: Meet Anna and Elsa at Community Art Day!• Open until 7 on Thursday's in November and December Follow us on social media for updates, sneak peeks, and event details! Event Dates/Times:Open October 11th – January 10th• Saturday’s 10 – 4• Sunday’s 12 – 4
• Monday – Friday’s 10 – 5
• Open until 7 on Thursdays in November and December
• Open until 8 on Friday, October 24th• December 18th 5 – 7, Santa Meet and Greet Closure dates:• October 13th
• November 11th
• November 27th
• November 28th
• December 25th
• December 26th
• January 1st
• January 4th
Reach beyond books and join us at the library for this gentle and accessible yoga class that is perfect for those with limited mobility. No fee or equipment required!When: Every Monday Time: 1:30 – 2:15 PM Age: General/Adult Registration: No registration requiredWhen: Every Friday Time: 10:00 – 11:00 AM Age: General/Adult Registration: No registration required No Yoga 9/1, 10/13, 11/28, 12/26
