Vermillion is proud home to an endless number of unique offerings that you can't find anywhere else. Nestled along the banks of the Missouri River, Vermillion delivers no shortage of arts, culture, history and heritage to explore. Whether setting out to explore any of our beautiful parks, many historic sites, or some of our countless artistic sites and venues, visitors are sure to discover many reasons to #LOVermillion.
We welcome you to come and learn more about the culture of Vermillion, our region, and the state of South Dakota by visiting some of our wonderful gems:

Shop, dine, and enjoy the nightlife in beautiful historic downtown Vermillion, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Comprised of over 90 locations offering fine dining, art galleries, theaters, pubs, entertainment, retail and specialty shops, and other businesses and services. Enjoy the pocket parks, Sculpture Walk and murals, and beautiful architecture. The annual festivals held in and near historic downtown, as well as regularly scheduled live music during Thursdays on the Platz during the summer months prove that whatever you love, you'll #LOVermillion!

The South Dakota Shakespeare Festival (SDSF) is professional non-profit theatre company based right here in Vermillion. Through collaboration with the University of South Dakota, the Vermillion Chamber and Development Company, the City of Vermillion, the South Dakota Arts Council as well as many other great contributors, SDSF is proud to produce their seventh production, Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream! In addition to the full-length Shakespeare production, the SDSF will feature live music and vending of food and beverages. Workshops and educational programming for all ages will be offered throughout the four days of the Festival. All programs are free and open to the public.
The South Dakota Shakespeare Festival will present Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare's beloved comedy filled with love, laughter, magic and transformation, in Vermillion's historic Prentis Park on June 6-9th. Directed by Madeline Sayet. www.sdshakespearefestival.org

Thursdays on the Platz feature live music and food vendors at Ratingen Platz, on the corner of Main and Market Streets in historic downtown Vermillion. Enjoy food and spirits, socialize with friends, and take in the beautiful summer weather while listening to some great local musicians. Join in on the fun this summer, July - August. www.facebook.com/ThursdaysOnThePlatz
A very special 'Green Thursday on the Platz' is scheduled for April 18th from 5 to 7 p.m. As part of Vermillion's celebration of Earth Days 2019, the public is invited to gather again for an evening of local music, exhibits on how to green up their lives, barbequed and grilled food-and fresh, local food from the farmers market. Activities for the children, and much more! Co-sponsored by Vermillion Area Chamber & Development Company and Greening Vermillion.

Great live music, exhibits, Lawn Mower Races, Barnyard Olympics, Demolition Derby, and delicious fair food are only a few great experiences to be had at the Clay County Fair. Community members and visitors alike enjoy the many festivities as the food and entertainment attracts countless fans! You don't want to miss traditional livestock shows, live music each day and evening, inflatable, vendors, cotton candy, youth talent shows, and so much more. Located at the Clay County Fairground at the intersection of Cherry and High streets. Events are August 8-10th. www.claycountyfair.net

The two-day Great Dakota Wine Fest is held annually in August at Valiant Vineyards Winery. The festival includes wine tasting from different South Dakota wineries, live music, cooking demonstrations, winery tours and food vendors. Visitors can even get the full experience by stomping grapes and receive a bottle of wine with a custom label displaying your picture. There is even an opportunity to enter an amateur wine-making competition! Makes plans to visit the Wine Festival August 24-25th.
www.greatdakotawinefest.com

Enjoy world-class barbeque at Ribs, Rods, and Rock' n Roll! Mouth-watering BBQ, live music, classic cars, and food and beverage vendors fill the streets of historic downtown Vermillion. Events include People's Choice Judging, Kids BBQ Competition, Kids Zone, Classic Car Show, Motorcycle Fun Run, and more. September 6-7th, 2019. www.sdbbq.us

Vermillion's Annual Oktoberfest rolls around during the harvest season and brings two nights of great downtown fun! Head down to the Ratingen Platz on the corner of Main and Market Streets during the last weekend of September to hear some great live music, enjoy delicious, German-themed food and celebrate Vermillion's German heritage with a variety of vendors and tons of fun! It all kicks off at 5:00 PM both Friday and Saturday evening! You'll find regional Polka bands, folk-dancing, German beer and food, costumes and a whole lot of fun for the whole family. Vermillion is sister city to Ratingen, Germany and uses the phrase 'Platz', or 'the Place' for its downtown venter of activities. Come dance with us Friday and Saturday, September 27-28th, 2018.

The Parade of Lights celebrates its 11th year in Vermillion, and its fourth exciting year as a stand-still parade. Scheduled near the first weekend of December, our annual Holiday Parade of Lights is unlike any other parade in the region because instead of the floats moving, the people move! Festively-lit floats are displayed along Vermillion's historic Main Street as parade-goers saunter up and down the street, enjoying the spirit of the season. To cap off the event, Santa rides his sleigh (or sometimes, firetruck) to the Ratingen Platz for the annual tree lighting ceremony. After the tree lighting, Santa escorts children to the Edith B. Siegrist Public Library to warm up with hot cocoa, participate in festive holiday crafts, hear special music, and have the opportunity to take a picture with Santa! Jointly hosted by the Vermillion Area Chamber & Development Company and the Edith B. Siegrist Vermillion Public Library. The 2019 parade is scheduled for Thursday, December 5th.

Vermillion is proud to be home to the internationally-renowned National Music Museum, one of the greatest institutions of its kind. With over 15,000 rare musical instruments in its holdings and 1,200 on public display, the NMM has been called a "national treasure" and has received travel-site TripAdvisor.com's highest certificate for excellence. Within the walls of this world renowned museum, guests will find everything Stradivari violins that were built in the early 17th century to Martin guitars played by Elvis.
During 2019-2020, the NMM will be undergoing an amazing, $10 million dollar renovation and expansion. Although the museum itself will not be open to the public during this time, the museum has a large number of satellite exhibits housed all over the community. They can be found in numerous public buildings, such as McVicker Plaza, City Hall, the University's Lee Medical Building, and many more. Find out more about tours, special events, the collections, and more at: www.nmmusd.org.

The W.H. Over Museum highlights the collection of William H. Over, a distinguished naturalist of the northern plains from 1913 to 1945. See South Dakota's largest collection of natural and cultural history, including a Lewis & Clark display with an 8x20 mural depicting the explorers' walk up Spirit Mound in 1804. You will find pre-reservation and early reservation Dakota and Lakota artifacts, and the Stanley J. Morrow collection of historic photographs, firearms, and clothing. The museum hosts events throughout the year, including Welcome Fall in October and W.H. Over Christmas Festival in December, and provides visitor and tourist information for the Vermillion area. Enjoy a tour and educational program offered at the museum, browse the gift shop for unique souvenirs, and pick up visitor and tourist information. Open Monday-Saturday 10-4 on USD campus. (605) 659-6151. www.whovermuseum.org

Old Main, the flagship building of the University of South Dakota, was restored to its original glory in the mid-1990s, and is now home to Farber Hall and the Oscar Howe Gallery, the largest collection of work by internationally-celebrated American Indian artist Oscar Howe. Old Main is rich in history and tradition. It is a symbol of the quest for excellence at the University and is located in the heart of the USD campus.

The Clay County Historical Museum is located in the Italian Villa style home known as the Austin-Whittemore House. The house was built in 1881 atop the river bluff after the disastrous flood swept three-fourths of the town away. The house is filled with Victorian furnishings and items of local interest, including many historical records and documents. Open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and by appointment. Free admission. 15 Austin Street in Vermillion. (605) 624-8266.
www.cchssd.org.

The primary artery into Vermillion from I-29 and Highway 50, Cherry Street and adjacent streets offer a bounty of shopping and dining opportunities. Locally owned as well as national eateries and retail stores provide something for every interest. W. Cherry Street at Princeton is a growing retail area featuring national and regional brand stores such as Walmart and Hy-Vee, among other well-known merchants.

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