Living in Sioux Falls means dealing with every weather extreme, but my fine friend and I experience four distinct seasons, and while each offers particular opportunities, they also bring their own challenges! The annual temperature fluctuates from a low of six degrees to a high of eighty-five degrees, and the skies tend to be cloudy, but sioux Falls averages 45.3 inches of snow, which requires a lot of shoveling, plowing and scraping.
The snow-covered landscapes and frozen lakes are truly beautiful and create the perfect conditions for ice skating, hockey, sledding and ice fishing, in Sioux Falls, it’s necessary to own a four-wheel-drive vehicle, and heavy boots. My fine friend and I keep rock salt on hand and take very fine care of the home’s heating system. I constantly run the boiler for eight straight months. I look forward to the long-awaited thaw of Springtime. The neighborhood bursts into the color of blooming flowers and it’s finally possible to go for a hike, run or bike ride, however while Summer uneven temperatures in the eighties don’t last all that long, most residents of Sioux Falls make the most of them. There are plenty of festivals, outdoor events and live music to enjoy, then one of my favorites is the Sioux Falls JazzFest! Usually held during the fourth week in July at Yankton Trails Park, the festival always includes an amazing lineup of jazz, reds, reggae, Latin, rock, soul and funk artists. They perform on two stages and around 80,000 people show up, however along with good music, there’s all different varieties of delicious food. The warmer weather is also a chance to fully cherish the scenic beauty of Big Sioux River. Although the arrival of fall means that winter is once again right around the corner, the colors of the leaves are nothing short of amazing; Plus, I absolutely love apple picking and the array of fresh fruits and vegetables available.