COVER STORY
Summer in the city:
Sioux Falls hosts numerous events in July

In a 10-day time period this month, three major events will bring tens of thousands of people to Sioux Falls for music, food, beverages and the sounds of Harleys and Corvettes.

Each year, Sioux Falls residents and visitors are able to attend Hot Harley Nights, Hot Summer Nites and JazzFest. The best part? All are free thanks to sponsorships from the business community and the support of hundreds of volunteers who work the events.

This year the Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau received a grant from the South Dakota Department of Tourism and Economic Development to promote the events throughout the region. Billboards across the city and a special website (www.siouxfallscvb.com/summerinthecity) direct visitors to learn more about Hot Harley Nights, Hot Summer Nites and JazzFest. Event organizers believe the regional promotional efforts have been wise marketing plan in light of high gas prices.

Hot Harley Nights and JazzFest are multiple-day events that also serve as fundraisers. Hot Harley Nights benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Dakota. Some of the activities include live music, a casino run, motorcycle parade, motorcycle show, live and silent auctions, raffles, food, refreshments and thousands of motorcycles.

Melanie Mitzel, Marketing Director for Hot Harley Nights organizer J&L Harley Davidson, said although many people may be cutting back on vacations, events like Hot Harley Nights are still affordable ways to have fun and support a charitable organization.

"For 2008, we're on track for just as many as last year, if not more," Mitzel said. "Motorcycles get far better gas mileage than cars and in the region, people know all the proceeds go to Make-A-Wish and that it's a big deal for the charity."

JazzFest, one of the largest jazz and blues festivals in the Midwest, serves as a fundraiser for the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society (SFJB). Funds raised during the two-day event support the mission of the SFJB to increase the awareness of jazz and blues music in the Sioux Falls community and region through musical events and education.

"We have been focusing promotional efforts this year more on the Midwest region, hoping that people will come to Sioux Falls and take the short drive and hang out for the weekend - hence, the Summer in the City partnership," said Katrina Lehr-McKinney, SFJB Executive Coordinator.

Music will still be the focus JazzFest in 2008, but a "green" message will also be shared. The Sioux Falls Green Project will be one of several booths and Millennium Recycling and Novak Sanitary Services are assisting with recycling efforts at the festival and making a donation to the SFJB education fund based on the number of pounds recycled. In addition to poetry tent and children's activities that were added in recent years, kids will also be able to create art projects from recycled materials.

More than 1,000 Corvettes and 500 Harleys will line the streets of Phillips Avenue from 5-10 p.m. as part of Hot Summer Nites July 16. This free, annual event brings together Corvette and Harley-Davidson enthusiasts from across the country to downtown Sioux Falls.

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Hot Harley Nights | Hot Summer Nights | JazzFest

Hot Harley Nights supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Dakota and has raisedmore than $1.2 million so that children with life threatening diseases can experience a "wish come true."

Hot Harley Nights is a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Dakota. Harley-Davidson motorcycles will parade throughout Sioux Falls July 10-13.

What began as a vision from J&L Harley-Davidson in 1996 has since grown into one of the biggest events of the year for Sioux Falls. This fundraising event was designed to give motorcycle enthusiasts a reason to ride for charity while showcasing the city at the same time and Hot Harley Nights was born. The first year, 250 people participated in the casino run. The "party" was held in a small downtown parking lot and $3,200 was raised for the cause.

Since then, Hot Harley Nights has grown into a three-day event that draws people from all over the U.S. and Canada. In 2007, nearly 1,600 people registered for the casino run and 4,000 riders participated in a parade that stretched more than six miles through Sioux Falls, past hundreds of people waving American flags. After the parade, nearly 40,000 people converged at Falls Park to enjoy live music, a bike show, food vendors, a silent auction and much more.

This year, Hot Harley Nights involves a casino run, motorcycle parade, live music, raffles, bike show, silent auction, great food and an outdoor party at Falls Park West. For more information about Hot Harley Nights or to purchase raffle tickets call (605) 334-2721.

Hot Summer Nites brings Corvettes and Harley-Davidsons to downtown Sioux Falls for anight of classic rock n' roll music. More than 700 Corvettes and more than 200 Harley Davidson motorcycles are expected to be on display the one-night event, now in its 15th year.

Hot Summer Nites features Corvettes and Harley-Davidsons on display in downtown Sioux Falls, including a Harley-Davidson parade at 6:45 p.m.

Phillips Avenue will be closed from 9th to 14th streets and will feature Corvettes and Harleys on display, including a parade of Harleys taking place at 6:45 p.m. An array of food and beverage vendors will be on the streets and many downtown restaurants and specialty shops will also be open.

Admission and parking are free and no pre-registration is necessary. For more information, contact Downtown Sioux Falls at (605) 338-4009.

JazzFest, the annual Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Festival, has become a summer favorite forSioux Falls and the region. This two-day outdoor musical event features two stages and is free to the public. In 2007 an estimated 95,000 enjoyed the music, sun, food and people-watching.

Johnny LangTaj Mahal

JazzFest is a fundraiser for the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society. JazzFest features a wide variety of music every year including jazz, blues, Zydeco, Latin, reggae, big band, rock, soul and funk among others.

The Jazz & Blues Society raises money through the sale of beverages at the festival. Generous sponsorships from many local and regional companies as well as hundreds of volunteers from the community allow the event to remain free to the public. Because there is free admission, no outside food or beverages are allowed. JazzFest is possible because of sponsors, volunteers and the sale of food and beverages at the event. Yankton Trail Park is made up of soccer fields. Open seating (no bleachers, etc) is available, so bring your own small lawn chairs and blankets to set out on the grass.

There are several ways to get to JazzFest. A bike/walking trail connects Yankton Trail Park to several other parks in Sioux Falls. You can park your car at another park along the trail and then take the path into the JazzFest site or bike on the trails into Yankton Trail Park. There is a $5 parking fee to park inside Yankton Trail Park. Additional parking is available at Memorial Lutheran Church (5000 S. Western Ave.) Shuttle buses will take people from Lincoln, Roosevelt and O'Gorman high schools for $2 per person round-trip. The Sioux Falls trolley will also run from the Holiday Inn City Centre from 5 p.m. to midnight both days for free.

For more information, contact the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society at (605) 335-6101.

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