Sioux Empire Fair — Local services in Wayne Township

From January 2018 to 2022, annual journeys home for me as a Sioux Falls Snowbird Resident, used to be a joyous hassle-free routine, because it provided opportunities for snowbirds to keep prescheduled annual appointments with primary care doctors, surgeons, and physical therapist at nearby Standford Hospital. As well as reconnect with returning Sioux Falls snowbird friends and associates, reforming a common interest community of respect, safety, and support. However, these connections and normal prescheduled annual appointment routines were destroyed when fairgrounds managers decided to change the opening of fairground gates from its original April 1st to May 1st, which begin 2023. Forcing unaware Sioux Falls Snowbird returning residences to return to New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, and find new homesteads elsewhere. Which many returnees did; choosing not to return to this fairground when gates opened on May 1, 2023, and May 1, 2024. Although, I did return when gates opened May 1, 2023, and again on May 1, 2024. Both returns to this fairground were disappointing and depressing. Disappointing because April 2022 snowbirds I used to know who took pride in where and how they lived never returned upon discovering gates were closed April 22, and May openings would not meet their return home needs. As a homeowner prior to becoming a full-time motorhome travelling dweller and resident of Sioux Falls. I was a Maryland Homeowner for thirty-five years and took immense pride in where and how I lived; ensuring effective maintenance on my home as needed, and regularly mowed my own lawn, cut hedges, and shovel snow from driveways and public walkway that stretched across the front length of my property after snowstorms. Depressing because this once beautiful property is so poorly maintained that grounds in long-term stay camping area is covered by gopher holes, deep leveling jack holes which are covered by old grass-clippings, overgrown grass and weeds, ground cracks, unleveled camp spaces covered by over-grown-grass which describes my long-term camping space. As well as tall uncut grass around my motorhome which appears to be a preferred gathering place for snakes that leaves behind shed-skin as proof of visits. Further, I pay $720.00 a month to occupy this unkept grassy space with snakes and bugs. Twice I have been forced to ask grass lawn service workers to cut tall grass down around my motorhome that covered my exhaust pipe, tires and front bumper which made me angry. Because as a paying campground resident, tall grass should not be growing around my motorhome. As workers with weed whackers remove tall grass from the fence-line behind my motorhome but ignores everything else. I shouldn’t have to beg these employees to do their jobs. After asking twice I never asked again. Instead, I went to Lowe’s and purchased a Push Reel Scotts Lawn Mower which worked great unless grass height exceeds mower length requirements. As well as purchased a collapsible rake to rake and bag grass clippings and long blade hedge cutter to clip under low edges around my motorhome in hopes of spotting visiting snakes before they felt the need to strike my two-year old dog or me because we, unknowingly invaded its space. Then raked, bagged, and hauled full white trash bags to nearby trash dumpsters where they sit for days. At this time, I want to express heart-felt kudos to Mark and Johnny, who on various occasions showed up to cut tall grass from around my motorhome and sewage connection area, which wasn’t either of their jobs or responsibility. I thank both of them for their compassion and friendships shown. As well as, for your support in helping me to live an accustomed lifestyle in a clean space...

If you are looking for a slice of Americana experience....The Sioux Empire Fall is not it.

I have taken 24 hours to consider what to say in this review. Here are my takes.

I think of a county/state fair as community coming together, celebrating Agriculture, celebrating the summer's accomplishments, family time together, and yes, fun experiencing carnival rides, fair food and concerts.

The Sioux Empire Fair, which is a country fair, is 50 carnival, 25% fair food alley, 20% grandstands, 5% Ag/summer accomplishments/community focused/family time. Its a carnival/concert festival, its not a county fair. The only reason the Sioux Empire Fair can tout the "largest" fair in South Dakota is because they have free concerts for $10 gate admission that bring in people for the shows and....the thousands and thousands of high school and middle school age kids that come down on that grounds, with no parents multiple days over the course of the fair.

Other specific elements that take away from the overall experience. No outside food or drink. Attenders are not allowed to bring in a water bottle. Mind blowing, its an outdoor county fair?!?! People come for the whole day. Water is a human right.

The insanely, concerningly long, "do not" list the fair has posted on their website and posted at the gate is the most bizzar list I have ever seen, it feels I am going to a camp for trouble kids, seriously. First of all, if the Fair feels they have to tell people not to bring that long of a list of items, I already do not feel safe. But, then on their long list is over counter the drugs??? So, no Tylenol in the purse I guess. No Motrin for cramps. Like what the heck?

In their very long list of "do nots" weapons are not listed. There are no signs posted anywhere saying no weapons...but, you are made to empty your pockets and are wanded by security and may be subject to TSA style pat downs if they want, but looking for what?.....we don't know unless its the selfie stick they have on the "do not" list. If they clearly don't want weapons on the grounds, they need to clearly post that.

If you want a slice of Americana, this fair is not what you are...

Well, I'm mixed about my review. The fair was ok. I did think the gate price was a little high for it being a county fair that seemed more like a state fair gate price. I didn't really see a lot of things for free, once you got inside the gate, I enjoyed looking at the 4H exhibits and the open class. There just didn't seem to be a lot of free items that I noticed to take kids too or to just enjoy at the fair. I was Not impressed at the cost of the midway because you had to pay a $2 fee just to put your money on their wristband. So you paid $42 to get an unlimited ride wristband and then you had to buy another wristband to keep track of your money for games because the computer would just take your money for games for your rides. Therefore you are spending an extra $4 if you wanted to ride some rides or play some games. This is not a cost I faced at the state fair or the other fairs that I attended, you simply put your money on your bands and you were done they did not cost you anything, and I was told that sioux falls, was getting the extra money. I did however think the fairgrounds were very clean and people did a good job with security. The food has gotten to be extremely overpriced. We tried to look for booth that kept it more local like A 4H food stand or things like that but they just didn't seem to be anywhere that had some reasonable priced drinks and food. I was also pretty disappointed that the exhibitors did not get...