Chasing the 4 of Clubs
2025-02-07 - 2025-08-09
Chase the 4 of Clubs for your chance to win big! Tickets are $5 or 5 for $20. Two weekly winners will be drawn at 7:45 every Wednesday at participating locations listed below. Venmo, cash, and checks are accepted at the Clay County Extension Office from 9 AM – 4:30 PM daily. Proceeds will help with construction and equipment costs for the Community Kitchen at the 4-H Center. The Grand Finale will be held on Saturday, August 9th at 4 PM at the Clay County Fair.
Participating Businesses include: Bunyans on Jan 29th, Feb 5th, Feb 12th, and Feb 19th, Varsity Pub on Feb 26th, Mar 5th, Mar 12th, and Mar 19th, Old Lumber Co on Mar 26th, Apr 2nd, Apr 9th, and Apr 16th, Toby’s Lounge on Apr 23rd, Apr 30th, May 7th, Whimp’s Place on May 14th, May 21st, and May 28th, Wakonda Pit on June 4th, June 11th, June 18th, and June 25th, and Char Bar on July 9th, July 16th, July 23rd, and July 30th.

MENARDS FOOD DRIVE
2025-06-01 15:00 - 2025-07-31 18:00 (America/Chicago)
At Menards, Yankton you can place non-perishable food items in the collection bin at the front of the store! All food collected will be forwarded to a local organization to help those in need.

Writing Workshops
2025-06-06 14:00 - 2025-07-30 10:30
Summer Writing Contest Summary (Ages 8–12)
Overview:The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) is hosting a writing contest for kids ages 8–12, sponsored by Summer Reading Champion Katherine Applegate. The contest runs from June 1 to July 31, 2025.
Writing Prompt:Write a 1,000–1,500 word story with: A catchy title, A protagonist who takes an action that improves someone else’s day, A clear beginning, middle, and end.
Workshops – Help kids become better writers, winner gets dairy queen gift card
Workshop Schedule:

June 6 @ 2 PM – Kickoff & Brainstorming

June 11 @ 10:30 AM – Research Skills for Fiction

June 20 @ 2 PM – Storyboarding & Structure

June 25 & July 9 @ 10:30 AM – Writing Sessions

July 16 & 23 @ 10:30 AM – Editing Help

July 30 @ 10:30 AM – Submission Support (Parent/Guardian with email required)

Prizes available

Note: Library staff cannot assist with story submissions unless a parent or guardian is present with a valid email.

July Teen Events
2025-07-02 - 2025-07-24
This Summer, the Yankton Community Library will be hosting a series of events in July for teens and tweens going into grades 4-12. The full list of events are listed below.
Wednesday, July 2nd @ 2 PM: Fil Fashion Contest
Thursday, July 3rd @ 3:30 PM: Poetry Buffet
Thursday, July 10th @ 3:30 PM: Mosaic Tiles
Friday, July 11th @ 10 AM – Noon: Junie B Jones Party
Wednesday, July 16th @ 2 PM: Messy Art Day
Thursday, July 17th @ 3:30 PM: Fairy Houses
Friday, July 18th @ 10 AM: Tie Die Friday
Thursday, July 24th @ 3:30 PM: Woven Bookmarks

Thursdays on the Platz
2025-07-10 - 2025-08-21
Your favorite summer music series returns. Thursdays On The Platz is back July 10th, and 2025 will be the best season yet with seven weeks of live music, local beer, food trucks, vendors, games, inflatables, and family fun! This continuing event is free and open to the public every Thursday until the final event on August 21st.

July Youth Programs
2025-07-11 - 2025-07-19
Join the Yankton Community Library this month for a variety of youth activities. The full list of events is listed below.
Friday, July 11th from 10 AM – Noon: Junie B Jones Party
Monday, July 14th at 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM: Virtual Cartooning Workshops
Tuesday, July 15th at 2 PM: Pinewood Derby Cars and Pennant Flags
Wednesday, July 16th at 10:30 AM: Writing Workshop – Editing
Wednesday, July 16th at 2 PM: Messy Art Day
Thursday, July 17th at 2 PM: Lego Club
Friday, July 18th at 10 AM: Tie Dye Friday
Saturday, July 19th at 3 PM: Family Storytime with Mrs. Bergeson

Lesterville Fire and Rescue Rib Cookoff
2025-07-19
The Lesterville Fire and Rescue Firehouse is hosting their 7th annual Rib Cook-Off on Saturday, July 19th at the Lesterville Fire Station, 212 Main Ave. All teams are welcome to compete, you don’t have to be a Fire Department to compete. Register for the Rib Cook-Off by contacting Andy at (605)660-0212. Cash prizes for the top three ribs. There will also be a pork loin meal with cold drinks starting at 11 AM, with a bounce house and water fights for kids. Ribs will be served to the public at 4:30 PM. Enjoy great food, raffles, and cornhole while raising money for firefighting protective equipment and bunker gear.

Hay Days
2025-07-19
Come together for a community event in Gayville on July 19th. It’s Hay Days! Starting at 3 PM and ending at midnight. Many activities will be available including: Bale Roll, Dunk Tank, Coin Dig, Inflatables, Street Dance – The Nolan Clark Band, and more! Come out for a night of fun at Hay Days in Gayville.

Charity Poker Run
2025-07-19
Support a good cause and your local community with the 13th Annual Charity Poker Run benefiting Yankton Sack Pack on Saturday, July 19th. Registration starts at 9:30 AM at The Boat House with kickstand’s up at 11 AM, all vehicles welcome. Entry is $25, must be 21 years or older to register. There will also be a silent auction going until 5:45 PM with a live auction starting at 6 PM as well as a golden ticket Golden Ticket Raffle for a chance to win 50% off ticket sales.

Touch A Truck
2025-07-19 10:00 - 14:00
Join your Hy-Vee Vermillion on Saturday, July 19th from 10 AM – 2 PM for Touch A Truck. Kids, as well as kids at heart, are invited to Touch A Truck, a hands on experience to learn about different vehicles and their functions. The city will have emergency, fire, and police vehicles and a Hy-Vee semi will be set up as well. This event will be in the Hy-Vee Vermillion parking lot.

Blood Donor Day
2025-07-21 11:30 - 18:00
Lights. Camera. Donate. Blood donors are the real stars! Step onto the red carpet and become a real-life hero at LiveServe Blood Center’s Blood Donor Day. This isn’t just the biggest blood drive of the year, it’s a VIP event where every donor is a star, and every donation can save a life. Join for a day of glam, gratitude, and giveaways on Monday, July 21st from 11:30 AM – 6 PM. All donors will receive an exclusive Blood Donor T-Shirt while supplies last, and be entered into drawings for additional gifts. To schedule your appointment, reach out to Yankton’s LiveServe Blood Center.

Cardboard Boat Regatta
2025-07-23 18:00
The Vermillion Public Library is hosting the 7th annual Cardboard Boat Regatta on Wednesday, July 23rd at 6 PM at Prentis Plunge. Participants can build boats from home or at the library during designated boat-building workshops the week before the event begins. Everyone is welcome to join, and the library will provide a limited supply of materials to help build your boats. Boat check-in will start at 5:30 PM on race day. After the race, join for both a picnic and an awards ceremony at the North Picnic Shelter across from the Trinity Lutheran Church once the races have finished!

ROCK "N" RUMBLE MOTORCYCLE RALLY-YANKTON
2025-07-26

Summer Reading Finale Party
2025-07-28 17:00 - 19:30
The Yankton Community Library and Yankton Parks and Recreation are joining forces for the Summer Reading Finale Party in the Park! Join in at Riverside Park on Monday, July 28th from 5 PM – 7:30 PM for a family-friendly evening of fun. There will be colorful and interactive art projects, face painting, inflatables, foam cannon, farm friends, and more. Enjoy tasty treats from local food trucks and music as well.

Lunch & Learn: Celebrating Edith B. Siegrist and the Vermillion Public Library
2025-07-31 12:00
Celebrate 100 years with Edith B. Siegrist and all her contributions to the Vermillion Public Library and local South Dakota education! This special Lunch & Learn presentation is hosted by author Evelyn Schlenker, former library director Jane Larson, along with Edith’s student Shari Kolbeck. This event is free and open to the public. Along with the presentation, enjoy a light lunch with refreshments. This event is on Thursday, July 31st at noon at the Vermillion Public Library’s Kozak Room.

Dog Days of Summer Movie Event
2025-08-02 - 2025-08-23
Cool off during the Dog Days of Summer at the Yankton Community Library with some great movies. On Saturday, August 2nd at 1 PM, enjoy The Art of Racing in the Rain, Saturday, August 9th at 1 PM showing Marley & Me, and Saturday, August 23rd wrapping up the movies with A Dog’s Purpose. After the movies, enjoy Pet Safety with Yankton Police Department on Tuesday, August 26th @ 6 PM. Meet K-9 Corona and Officer Adam Goodwillie and learn some tips about keeping your animals safe during extreme situations. These events are free and open to the public.

Third Age: The Age of Fulfillment
2025-08-04 10:30 - 2025-08-18 12:00
Join the Vermillion Public Library for a 3 part program about the Third Age: The Age of Fulfillment. People are enjoying longer lifespans! This increased longevity has led to a “third age”. Learn what lies at the heart of a fulfilling and successful Third Age. The programs will run on the first three Mondays in August from 10:30 AM – Noon, August 4th, August 11th, and August 18th. This event is a free program that requires registration.

Clay County Fair
2025-08-07 - 2025-08-09
The Clay County Fair in Vermillion, from August 7th-9th. Something for everyone to enjoy, you won’t want to miss it. Bring the family out for a free community barbecue, demolition derby, rodeo, tractor pull, street dance, barnyard olympics, ag day activities, and so much more. For more information and full schedule, check out their website.

Don Schwarz Memorial Shoot
2025-08-09 13:00 - 16:00
Enjoy great company and shoot accurate rifles for free! In memory of Don Schwarz, head to Yankton County Sharpshooters, 30652 435th Ave Yankton, SD on Saturday, August 9th from 1 PM – 4 PM. There will be no cost, targets are provided, you can shoot for fun or compete with your friends, and coaches will be available if needed. Rifles and ammo are from Don’s collection and available to anyone wanting to shoot them.

18th Annual Sesdac and Hy-Vee Golf Scramble
2025-08-11
Together, throughout the first seventeen years of this tournament, over $286,000 has been raised. These funds are given to the SESDAC Foundation and have been used to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the community they live in. Sesdac is a viable organization today because of the support of people like you. The 18th Annual Sesdac & Hy-Vee Golf Scramble will be held on August 11, 2025 at the beautiful Vermillion Bluff’s Golf Course. If you’d like to donate, put together a team, or more info on this event, contact Sesdac.

Paint and Sip
2025-08-12 18:00
Join the Vermillion Public Library on August, 12th at 6 PM for a free Paint and Sip: The Social Numbers Edition at the W Social House, 14 South St, Vermillion. Everything for this free paint by numbers event will be provided. One free drink will be provided courtesy of the Friends of the Vermillion Public Library. Registration is required to participate.

Riverboat Days
2025-08-15 - 2025-08-17
Yankton’s Riverboat Days, from August 15th – 17th. Drawing over 100,000 people every year, Yankton Riverboat Days & Summer Arts Festival features everything from the well attended juried Arts Festival, the popular Grand parade on Saturday morning, a road race, Kayak river race, a wealth of continuous musical performances on the amphitheater stage and other entertainment and fun activities for all the family. The Summer Arts Festival is held in conjunction with Riverboat Days. This 3-day juried art show features over 120 fine artists and craftsman. This family friendly event offers something for the entire family!

LESTERVILLE BENEFIT PICKUP/TRACTOR PULL on Saturday 8-16-25
2025-08-16 12:30 - 2025-08-18 17:00 | Lesterville, South Dakota, Lesterville, SD, United States
PROCEEDS GO TO…LESTERVILLE BALL PARK

Just Cuz & Dixie
2025-08-17 14:00
On Sunday, August 17th at 2 PM, Just Cuz & Dixie are back at the AME Allen Chapel. They’ll get you in the mood to help close out Riverboat Days featuring songs of the water! Enjoy the great tunes as you enjoy coffee, cookies, and bars. All proceeds will be going to Friends of the Missouri National Recreational River.

Harvest Dinner
2025-08-23 16:30 - 19:30
Join the Yankton Elks for their Harvest Dinner on Saturday, August 23rd from 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM. Enjoy broasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn on the cob, garden tomatoes and cucumbers, and rolls. Each plate is $16 with a portion of the proceeds will support United Way and Services of Greater Yankton.

Benefit Bingo for Ted Bartz
2025-08-23 17:00 - 19:30
Ted Bartz experienced a sudden and severe medical emergency. Ted, a proud U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and his family are now facing a long, uncertain journey filled with medical appointments, travel, and critical decisions. Your support will help ease the financial burden during this incredibly difficult time. Due to this, there will be a Benefit Bingo for Ted Bartz at Kozy’s Bar on August 23rd. Food will be served at 5 PM for a free will donation, with bingo at 6 PM. 1/2 of the bingo pot will go directly to Ted.

August Bragging Rights
2025-08-28 17:00
Missouri River Associates will be hosting the final Bragging Rights of the summer on Thursday, August 28th at 5 PM. Bragging Rights is a way of supporting your community and non profits with your love of cars! Come out with your classic car, motorcycle, anything you have! Each month there will be a different non-profit serving the meal for a free will donation. Bring your lawn chairs, come out for food, friends, music and supporting the community.

Boys & Girls Club Raffle Drawing
2025-08-29 17:00
A chance to win big while supporting the Boys & Girls Club of Yankton. Buy tickets now for a chance to win a 2025 Polaris Ranger, $7500 cash, a weekend escape in the Black Hills, or a year of local abundance package. The raffle will conclude with the grand prize drawing during the Back-to-School Kickoff celebration on August 29th at 5 PM.

Heritage Park Raffle
2025-09-02
The Mead Museum is holding a Heritage Park Fundraising Raffle. You could win a brand new CFMOTO UFORCE 1000 side by side. Tickets are $20 or 6 for $100, with the proceeds going towards restoring and developing Heritage Park. You can buy tickets on the Mead Museum’s website.

Paws @ The Patch
2025-09-06 16:00 - 19:00
Heartland Humane Society is inviting the community to celebrate pets, pumpkins, and live music at Paws at the Patch on Saturday, September 6th from 4 PM – 7 PM at Mazing Acres Pumpkin Patch. Tickets are $25, with children two and under free. 100% of the ticket sales go directly to support the Heartland Humane Society. This event will include music by Blue Days, carnival style games with chances to win prizes, access to the Mazing Acres’ fall attractions, and plenty of photo opportunities. This event is pet friendly but dogs must remain on leash.
