Fall in Love with the Black Hills

By Sarah Grassel

After the summer heat the Black Hills has thrown at us this year, everyone is especially looking forward to the fall. What’s not to love? With the crisp smell of a gentle breeze, nights at football games, and s’mores around a warm bonfire, fall is definitely a crowd favorite for both locals and visitors alike. Let’s not forget about the changing of the leaves! The OnePoll survey reveals 51 percent say fall foliage is the season’s biggest draw.

This year, there are plenty of activities to help you fall in love with the Black Hills, but here are some of our favorites from the Northern Hills down to the Southern Hills.

Spearfish

Entering their 1oth season, Spearfish Valley Produce challenges everyone to a fun and new corn maze. The 2022 maze resembles a witchy house, featuring a full moon, bats, a graveyard and more. Only open during weekends, the farm is only about three miles out of town and opens in early September. Toward the end of the season, there are night mazes and options for a haunted maze for those brave enough to venture into the unknown.

In addition to the maze, you can also pick the perfect pumpkin to purchase and bring home for carving, enjoy a petting zoo with the kids, duck races, hay slides and more. SpearfishValleyProduce.com.

Deadwood

Looking for something a little less sugar and spice? Get your ghostbusting skills in gear and experience the paranormal in historic Deadwood. Fridays and Saturdays (7, 8, 14, 15, 21, and 22) in October, you can participate in real investigations with paranormal researchers. Due to the spooky nature of the experience, all participants must be at least 12 years old and those aged 12-16 must be accompanied by an adult.

If you aren’t quite sure you want to dive into the spiritual world full speed, you can also opt for psychic readings by Dani Jo Butler of Sacred Soul LLC. Get more information for each experience at DeadwoodHistory.com.

Rapid City

By popular demand, the Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival is back for the 14th year. Family-friendly, there is something for everyone. The event kicks off the fall season on Saturday, September 24, 2022. Domico Rodriguez, CEO and president for Main Street Square shares, “The two staples returning for this year’s event are ‘The Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off and the Punkin Chunkin.’” More information can be found online at mainstreetsquare.org/pumpkinfest. 

While the majority of the events take place downtown in the square, there are also festivities that coincide over at Memorial Park. “The event is so large, we use Memorial Park for some of the day’s events including the Hayrides and the Punkin Chunkin. Overall, it encompasses a lot of downtown, so we encourage everyone to come out and see what downtown Rapid City has to offer as we usher in fall in the Black Hills,” Domico adds.

Custer

Not your traditional fall vibe, the 29th Annual Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival is a must see. From September 29 to the first of October, join Custer State Park for a weekend of viewing the majestic, mighty animals. Park officials state, “Not only is the roundup a spectacular sight to see, it is also a critical management tool in maintaining a strong and healthy herd.” Come with an empty stomach and start the festivities off with a pancake feed, watch some of the buffalo corralling and browse up to 150 art vendors! Read more at

Other fall festivities in the Hills include:

• Viewing fall foliage while driving/hiking through Spearfish Canyon - com/things-to-do/spearfish-canyon
• 30-Oct. 1 – Oktoberfest – Deadwood, SD- deadwood.com/event/oktoberfest/
• 1 - Fall Festival – Custer, SD - facebook.com/events/600196357709144
• 28 – Deadweird – Deadwood, SD - visitrapidcity.com/events/deadweird
• 29 – Rapid City, SD - visitrapidcity.com/events/downtown-trick-or-treat