Happy Friday! Megan here.
Weather check: Might finally be time to put those shorts away. Maybe.
This week, it's all about events. You'll learn about fall fun at the zoo, a fall festival that can triple the size of a regional town, and I've got all the details about Sioux Falls Simplified Trivia Night coming up later this month. (And no, that doesn't mean the questions are all super simple...)
And now, news:
COMMUNITY
How well do you know Sioux Falls?
Simplified: Maybe you've been reading Sioux Falls Simplified since the beginning. Maybe you're relatively new around here. Either way, the fact that you're reading this right now means you're on a path to feeling smarter about this great city. It's time to put that knowledge to the test.
Tell me more
Sioux Falls Simplified is putting on a Sioux Falls-themed trivia night at 6 p.m. Oct. 23 at Good NAtured.
- You and your team (of up to six people) will get a chance to test your knowledge of Sioux Falls history, culture, iconic faces and places, and even how prepared you are for what's on the November ballot.
Who's hosting?
So glad you asked! Our trivia masters for the evening will be local comedian Zach Dresch and his lovely and talented partner Becca Gehm.
What's the vibe? And other logistics.
SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
How Centerville's fall festival is attracting folks from across the region
This is a paid piece from the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.
Simplified: Centerville's annual Fall-O-Ween festival started in 2021 as a way to bring businesses and the community together. Now, the annual event brings thousands of people to the small town southwest of Sioux Falls.
Why it matters
- Last year's Fall-O-Ween nearly tripled Centerville's population with 3,500 visitors.
- The town closes five blocks of downtown for the event, which features live music, food trucks, inflatables, games, face painting and a vendor fair with more than 50 vendors.
- The early success of Fall-O-Ween also led the downtown group of business owners to form their own nonprofit – the Centerville Festival Committee – to fundraise and work on this and other community events.
"It's a community event for the locals, but it also brings people within the region to our community to showcase Centerville and what we have to offer," said Jared Hybertson, executive director of the Centerville Development Corporation and president of the Centerville Chamber of Commerce.
Tell me more about the event
TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- Meet Mosaic. The Museum of Visual Materials announced a rebrand this week. The historic downtown building is now known as Mosaic Arts & Events, and it'll continue to host art classes for all ages, as well as private events.
- Sanford announces new pediatric emergency department. Sanford Health this week announced the David H. and Christine Billion Pediatric Emergency Department, named for the donors whose gift made the facility possible. It'll be the state's first emergency and trauma care center specifically for children.
- Name the zoo's new kitty. The Great Plains Zoo is auctioning off naming rights for the baby Pallas cat who was born this summer. Not into naming adorable kittens? You can also bid on a rhino spa day, tea time with a giraffe and a chance to feed horseshoe crabs. Learn more here.
SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
How to find fall fun with the zoo, butterfly house
This is a paid piece from the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium.
Simplified: From making treasure maps with the Little Mermaid to a family fun run through the zoo, there's a lot of fall fun to be had this month with the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium. Here's a look at what's happening.
Why it matters
- Both the Butterfly House and Aquarium and the Great Plains Zoo have Halloween-themed events this month with Spooky Seas and Zoo Boo, respectively.
- Spooky Seas on Oct. 26 has a pirate theme this year, with a chance to make your own treasure map and see the Little Mermaid.
- Zoo Boo also has some new features this year, including a half-mile Family Fun Boo Run to kick off the weekend, as well as an opportunity for guests to enjoy the zoo after regular hours.
- It's also taking place a week earlier than it has in the past, running Oct. 18-20.
"We hope it'll be warmer weather," said Denise DePaolo, PR and marketing manager. "And then the following week, we'll have our warmer, indoor event with Spooky Seas."
Tell me more
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
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Thank you
Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including Dakota Adventure Supply, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, Panther Premier Print Solutions, Barre3 Sioux Falls, the Great Plains Zoo, and the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. When you support them, you're also supporting Sioux Falls Simplified.
Oh, by the way
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