Feb 07 Saturday
The Sturgis Public Library and the Sturgis & Meade County Historical Society will be hosting their monthly genealogy work group on Saturday, February 7th at 1pm at the Sturgis Public Library. This month we will be looking at the information that can be learned from census records. Public is welcome!
Get Ready for an Afternoon of Trivia, Fun, and Good Vibes!Guess what? Stephen Minister is back to host the ultimate trivia showdown! Gather your squad—family, friends, or even that coworker who knows way too much about random facts—and form a team of up to 6 brainiacs! Got fewer than 6? No problem! We’ll help you team up with other trivia enthusiasts.
Food and Drinks? We’ve Got You Covered!But that’s not all—your afternoon of fun supports an incredible cause. All proceeds go toward the social justice work of Spirit of Peace UCC.
Tickets: Suggested donation $20 per personGo to www.spiritofpeacesf.org to register your team!Registration helps us know how many to plan for, but you are more than welcome to simply show up the day of the event, with or without a team! All are welcome!
Come and support the Old Fort Meade Museum and Historic Research Association with a pancake supper on Sunday, February 8th from 4:30-7pm at the Meade County Senior Center, 919 Harley-Davidson Way, Sturgis.
A book club for adults, 18+ years. Meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month at K.O. Lee Aberdeen Public Library at 6:30PM. Visit the library website aberdeen.sd.us/library to view current title for discussion.
Prairie Winds Jazz ensemble will bring back the sounds and steps of the big band era with a concert and swing dance event on Saturday, February 7. The 16-piece band featuring musicians from across northwest Iowa will play a mix of big band classics from the 1930s, 40s and 50s. Free dance lessons will be provided before the concert for anyone interested in learning. Come, have a seat in the historic Akron Opera House and listen to the music, or dance the night away.
Dance lessons from Midwest Swing Dance Company will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the concert at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be $10 for adults and $5 for students through college age. All tickets will be sold at the door; no reservations needed. Dance lessons are included in the ticket price.
Seating will be available at tables on the floor, chairs in the risers and in the balcony, and the main floor will be open for dancing.
Composer Robert Carl joins the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra for his world premiere, Wind Hymn, Bookended by the greats, Beethoven and Brahms.
Feb 08 Sunday
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.
Traveling Exhibit Opening at Mead MuseumFeb 2 through April 25
Drowning in Dirt:Joseph Hutton and the DustbowlA soil scientist’s quest to save the farmer by preserving the land
Joseph Hutton, one of the first soil scientists of South Dakota, brought a new concept to the state: not all soil was the same. And different soils required different farming practices in order to be sustainable.
When Hutton arrived at South Dakota State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (now South Dakota State University) in 1911, he studied the negative effects of farming practices of the day which depleted the soil nutrients and caused erosion.
Hutton’s views on soils were a contradiction to common knowledge at the time, and he predicted the dust Bowl 20 years before it happened!
This exhibit utilizes Hutton’s photography, poetry, speeches, and research notes to illustrate the devastation the drought had on farmers of the 1920s and 1930s in South Dakota through the eyes of a soil scientist.
The exhibit will feature Yankton County Artifacts from the 1930s.
“Drowning in Dirt” traveling exhibit was created in 2022 by the South Dakota Agricultural Museum of Brookings in partnership with the SD Humanities Council.
The Mead Museum is open Monday-Saturday noon to 4pm. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for 65+ and $5 for youth. Mead Museum members are free.
Mead Museum82 Mickelson DrYankton, SD 57078https://www.meadbuilding.org/exhibits
Get your calendar out and save the afternoon of Sunday, February 8th, for the Big Band Concert along with our annual Chocolate Tasting event. The Band, under the direction of David Martinson, is presenting another wonderful big band concert that afternoon. In addition, during intermission you can enjoy the yummy taste of homemade chocolate delights made by local chefs. Make sure to mark it down now so you don’t forget!
The concert will be held at 2:00pm in the Sturgis Community Center Theater. Admission price for this afternoon of music and chocolate is $20. Bring someone you love - or give YOURSELF a little love - and join us for this afternoon of music and sweets.
Did you know? ..... A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music during the early ‘30s until the late ‘40s. Big Bands evolved with the times and continue to this day. A big band typically consists of approximately 12 to 25 musicians and contains saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section.
Beginning in the mid ‘20s, big bands came to dominate popular music. At that time they usually played a form of jazz that involved very little improvisation. Orchestras tended to stick to the melody as it was written and vocals would be sung in tune with the melody. Swing music began appearing in the early ‘30s and flourished around 1936, when big bands rose to prominence playing Swing music and held a major role in defining swing as a distinctive style.
There was a considerable range of styles among the bands. Many reflected the individuality of the bandleader, the lead arranger, and the personnel. The popularity of many of the major bands was amplified by star vocalists. Big Bands played a major role in lifting morale during World War II. Many band members served in the military and toured with USO troupes at the front.
*********************And - after the Big Band Concert - Pancakes!!The Ft. Meade Museum will be holding their annual fund-raising Pancake Supper this same evening (Sunday, February 8th) after the Big Band Concert. You can make a whole day of it! Come have your dessert first - and then head over to the Sturgis Senior Citizens Center for some warm fluffy pancakes on a cold February evening.
The Senior Center is located at 919 Harley-Davidson Way - just a couple of blocks east and across the street from the Community Center. They’ll start serving pancakes at 4:30pm. There will be pancakes and all the fixings. Donations for the meal are happily accepted and monies raised will go to support the Ft. Meade Museum.
