2025 Festival of Bands Parade Returns to Downtown Sioux Falls
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 – Festival of Bands USA is excited to announce the return of its parade to beautiful downtown Sioux Falls this year on Saturday, October 4. The Festival first stepped off its parade on Philips Avenue 38 years ago. Since that time, Festival of Bands has grown into a premiere regional high school marching band event, drawing bands and thousands of spectators from multiple neighboring states and from across South Dakota.
The Festival is hosted by five Sioux Falls high schools — Jefferson, Lincoln, O’Gorman, Roosevelt, and Washington — all of which will perform in exhibition in the parade. In addition, Mayor Paul TenHaken and his wife Jill TenHaken will be on hand to serve as the 2025 Grand Marshalls, leading bands down Phillips Avenue from 13th to 6th Street while passing by many of Sioux Falls’ most well-known businesses. Brandon Hanson, CEO of DTSF is excited to bring the parade back into the heart of Sioux Falls.
“We’re thrilled to welcome this beloved parade back to Downtown, bringing even more foot traffic to support our local businesses and energize our streets. Every investment into the vibrancy and culture of Downtown Sioux Falls strengthens its role as the heart of our city, pumping energy and quality of life back out to the entire community” — Brandon Hanson, CEO of Downtown Sioux Falls
The parade, which has been held near Covell Lake since 2019, will return to downtown on a one-year pilot program as the organizing committee and the Sioux Falls Police Department navigate a new approach to band staging and employment of enhanced safety measures on the route. The Sioux Falls Arts Commission played a pivotal role in securing a return to downtown for this event, which features hundreds of area youth each year. Arts Commissioner and downtown business owner Michael Hart has been a supporter of the Festival of Bands since his days as a performer:
“As a young percussionist, I had the opportunity to march down Phillips Avenue. It’s an incredible memory. As an arts commissioner, it has been fulfilling to connect our city leaders with the Festival of Bands committee and to watch the level of cooperation and collaboration in re-imaging how to bring the parade back downtown. It’s my sincerest hope that after this one-year pilot, we can continue to work together to keep the event downtown. I’m optimistic. Not only will this be a wonderful performing arts event for our community to enjoy the sights and sounds, but we’re also working closely with Downtown Sioux Falls to maximize the economic impact as well. As I think about all the visiting bands coming to Sioux Falls, I’m so excited to share the vibrancy of our city with them. Our community is thriving, and I’m confident their experience downtown will spark their desire to visit again!” — Michael Hart, Arts Commission
Line-up schedules for the 38th Annual Festival of Bands parade will be available soon under the “Schedules” tab on our website. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest updates on this year’s Festival of Bands event!
