In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the cascading waters of the Big Sioux River, public art, thriving local businesses, and free live music come together in a city shaped by community pride. As host of the 2026 Friends of Levitt Group Site Visit, Levitt Shell Sioux Falls welcomed staff and board members from Levitt venues across the country—and did so with the Midwest spirit of “radical hospitality” that makes their Levitt lawn an inclusive, welcoming destination for all. 

Staff and board members from Levitt Pavilion Arlington, Levitt Pavilion Dayton, Levitt Pavilion Denver, and Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks—as well as developing venues in Houston, New Orleans, and San Jose—joined the Levitt Shell Sioux Falls team and members of the Levitt Family Foundation board and staff to exchange ideas, foster connections, and celebrate the power of free, live music. 

Throughout last month’s weekend of activities, attendees explored the city and experienced the Levitt Sioux Falls team’s approach to building community through music firsthand through presentations, tours, and concerts, gathering new ideas and inspiration to bring back to their own series along the way. Keep reading to learn more! 

 

  • The Levitt network gathers at Falls Park for a day of learning, adventure, and connection. Photo by Levitt Family Foundation. 

 

The weekend kicked off with a tour of beautiful Falls Park, which sits adjacent to the Levitt Shell along the Big Sioux River. The 128-acre park welcomes over 1.5 million visitors each year, with a mix of locals and out-of-town visitors excited to take in the Falls, walk or bike along the River Greenway, and explore downtown. 

The tour was led by Brett Kollars, Assistant Director of Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation, and Michael Patten, Parks Development Manager, who shared how Levitt Shell Sioux Falls was the first project in the area to demonstrate the economic impact of bringing people downtown, helping to build momentum for continued investment. That investment is visible throughout Falls Park, where new amenities like Jacobson Plaza have transformed previously underused space into places for people to gather, connect, and play.

Following the tour of Falls Park, the group headed downtown to check out SculptureWalk, an outdoor exhibition that transforms the streets of Sioux Falls into a rotating gallery of public art. With sculptures nestled between restaurants, breweries, theaters, and boutiques , the walk encourages residents and visitors to explore the city on foot and check out local businesses while learning about the intricate techniques and stories of each sculpture.

SculptureWalk’s installations stretch beyond the street and into the park, including Arc of Dreams, a monumental stainless-steel sculpture spanning the Big Sioux River and located just behind the Levitt Shell. At the center of the Arc of Dreams is a 15-foot gap, 80 feet above the river, representing the leap of faith one takes to make their dreams come true. As a signature piece of public art, the piece helps illustrate the dreamers and doers, past and present, who have made Sioux Falls the thriving community that it is today.

 

 

On Friday evening, the group enjoyed a pre-concert dinner and then headed to the Levitt Sioux Falls lawn to experience the 5-piece, Chicago-based jazz fusion band, Hot Like Mars, who rocked the audience with their blend of soul, funk, and infectious dance beats. Mid-way through the concert, Levitt network members from across the country joined the Levitt Sioux Falls team and volunteers in their “bucket dance” tradition—groovin’ with their donation buckets by the stage and encouraging the audience to support the Levitt mission.

 

  • During the Friends of Levitt session, Levitt Shell Sioux Falls President & CEO Nancy Halverson highlighted the vision of Levitt Sioux Falls—to gather with radical hospitality, connect with education and outreach, and grow sustainable relationships. Photo by Olivia Bertino. 

 

Saturday morning began with a presentation led by Halverson and Hoffland, sharing the local collaborations, initiatives, and strategies that have made Levitt Sioux Falls a success. Between programming children’s concerts and arts education, livestreaming each show on YouTube and Facebook, and hosting cultural festivals, Levitt works to reach all corners of the Sioux Falls community to grow their audience, cultivate donors, and build their volunteer base. It is this direct community connection that inspires dedicated sponsors and partners, generous individuals through the Friends of Levitt member program, or cash donations during shows. The stories, lessons, and best practices from this presentation led to insightful questions and reflections from staff and board members from other Levitt venues including how to facilitate meaningful volunteer engagement, safely navigating weather events during the concert season, and incorporating programming like book clubs, World Cup watch parties, and family nights on the lawn.

The deep-rooted care and intention that drives Levitt Sioux Falls’ work was also on full display throughout the afternoon’s venue tour. Led by members of the Sioux Falls team, the tour included a special sneak peek of the soon-to-open 7,000-square-foot addition of the Sweetman Atrium which will host year-round indoor programming and event rentals to elevate and expand the Levitt’s impact in Sioux Falls through the arts. At every stop, the team’s commitment to creating a welcoming, community-centered space was reflected in both the big-picture vision for the space and the thoughtful details woven throughout. From vibrant, hand painted murals and enhanced accessibility features to new performance spaces, backstage offices for the Sioux Falls team, and more, the expansion represents much more than additional square footage. It reflects a venue evolving with—and for—its community. 

After lunch, attendees headed back downtown to tour the Pettigrew Home & Museum, a historic homefeaturing a collection of eclectic artifacts  from Sioux Falls and beyond.

 

  • Wild Earp and his band, The Free for Alls, light up the stage at Levitt Shell Sioux Falls with their toe-tapping country western tunes and down-home style! Photo by Olivia Bertino. 

 

Saturday night brought the group back to Levitt Shell Sioux Falls for a lively set by Wild Earp, whose mix of country fried bangers, cowboy crooners, and honky-tonk hits had two-steppers filling the lawn’s dance floor.  

The audience took in every last minute of music before safely clearing the lawn as thunderstorms rolled in. (In South Dakota, summer weather can shift quickly!) Though the concert ended early, the evening offered its own memorable example of the trust, teamwork, and preparation that goes into creating a safe and welcoming Levitt experience.  

As fortune would have it, the night offered the Levitt group one more opportunity to gather for live music. Back at the hotel, as much of the group continued catching up, Wild Earp set up for an intimate, impromptu performance—a wonderfully unexpected ending to an evening that had already delivered its fair share of surprises! 

Sunday morning, the group bid farewell to Sioux Falls  with full hearts and fresh ideas. Gathering in person gave Levitt venue peers the chance to learn from one another, share experiences, and see firsthand how Levitt Shell Sioux Falls is building community through music in ways that are both deeply local and connected to our larger shared mission. 

Gratitude to the Levitt Shell Sioux Falls team for so generously welcoming the Levitt venue network to their community, and to everyone who attended for bringing insight, curiosity, and a spirit of collaboration to the weekend. Until next year!