Wild West Days: Good for the Soul and the Economy

Wild West Days are here again in Faulkton, South Dakota: Friday, July 1 through Monday, July 4! In its 33rd year, you can expect all of the legendary fun: theater productions, free movies, parade, rodeo, lawn games, a car show, live music, carnival, color run, fireworks, tours of the Pickler Mansion, free carousel rides, All-School Reunion, Two-Person Scramble Golf Tourney, and much more. There’s really something for everyone!

The four-day Wild West Days extravaganza celebrates our nation’s Independence Day while showcasing Faulkton’s history and unique sense of place. Wild West Days give families a reason to “come home” and visitors a reason to fall in love with us. These feelings of connection and community translate into prosperity. Faulkton knows the creative sector — arts, culture, and events — is an essential factor for economic development.

Faulkton’s focus on the economic impact of arts, culture, and events and how they build community is evident in our mural projects, the restoration of the Pickler mansion and carousel, and especially Wild West Days.

Wild West Days came about in 1990 from a Business and Professional Association meeting discussion centered around ways to promote Faulkton. The festival was conceived to celebrate Faulkton’s history and augment the already popular Faulk County Saddle Club’s rodeo.

“What's great about Faulkton is that people step up and pitch in when needed,” said Linda Bartholomew, Secretary, Faulkton Area Economic Development Board of Directors. ”The fact that Wild West Days is in its 33rd straight year is a testament to that. When a small town of 800+ swells to over 2000, it proves that working together has turned an ‘idea’ into a premier event that is still going strong. I'm so proud of our community and the people who keep it full of vitality!" 

Faulkton’s strategy is backed by research. According to the National Governor Association’s “Rural Prosperity Through The Arts & Creative Sector: A Rural Action Guide For Governors And States” (2019):

A robust body of research shows that the creative sector can help state economies thrive. The arts, culture and creative sectors contribute to a productive business climate, a diversified economic base, a competitive workforce, a desirable quality of life and an innovation habitat. Such effects have long been documented in urban environments, but a growing body of research points to the power of the creative sector to drive prosperity in rural settings, too . . . the creative sector is providing real economic benefits to America’s rural places. 

Furthermore, the guide documented the value the arts and cultural sectors added to the national GDP exceeded $763 billion. When focusing on the value added to rural states and their workforces, arts and cultural production contributed $67.5 billion to the economies of states in which 30 percent or more of the population lived in rural areas in 2015.

Bottom line, an expanding body of research and practices proves what the leadership of Faulkton has known for years: Positive economic and quality of life outcomes are associated with the rural creative sector. Now let’s have some fun!

Wild West Days Schedule

Find details and registration for the All-School Reunion here

Friday, July 1st

• 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Tours of the Pickler Mansion
• 1:00 pm – 5:15 pm: Open swim at city pool
• 2:00 pm: Faulkton Area Arts Council Play “An Idiot’s Guide to High School” at Legion Hall
• 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Registration and Reunion packets at City Hall
• 5:00 pm: Dacotah Bank Brat Feed
• 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Open swim at city pool
• 7:00 pm: Faulkton Area Arts Council Play “An Idiot’s Guide to High School” at Legion Hall
• 7:00 pm: Bean Bag Tournament at J & J Bar (registration @ 6:30 pm)
• 7:30 pm: The Bad Guys movie at the Lyric
• 9:00 pm: Color Glow Run
• 9:00 pm: Live music & karaoke by Darren Beyer at Short Stop Bar

Saturday, July 2nd

• 10:00 am: Parade
• 11:00 am – 3:00 pm: Registration and Reunion packets at City Hall
• 11:00 am: Bloody Mary Bar at Short Stop Bar
• 11:30 am: Smoking Hot Dudes burger bar at Short Stop Bar
• 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Wild West Wheels Car Show at the ball field (registration @ 11 am)
• 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Town Tours in Air-Conditioned Transit Bus ($1/person)
• 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm: 4-H Carnival at 4-H grounds
• 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Tours of the Pickler Mansion
• 1:00 pm – 5:15 pm: Open swim at city pool
• 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Free carousel rides
• 6:00 pm: Wild West Days Bull Riding at Faulk County Saddle Grounds (Calcutta @ 5:30 pm) including mini bronc riding, candy scramble, & trick riding entertainment - Beverages served at event
• 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Free carousel rides
• 7:30 pm: The Bad Guys movie at the Lyric
• 9:00 pm – 1:00 am: Randy Burghardt Band sponsored by J & J Bar under the tent
• Fireworks at Dusk

Sunday, July 3rd

• 9:00 am- 1:00 pm: Transit Bus breakfast fundraiser (pancakes, eggs, sausage) at Our Savior Lutheran; free-will offering accepted
• 9:00 am: Two-Person Scramble Golf Tourney ($100/ team includes lunch and mulligans)
• 10:00 am: Ecumenical Church services at city park
• 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Registration and Reunion packets at City Hall
• 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Tours of the Pickler Mansion
• 1:00 pm – 5:15 pm: Open swim at city pool
• 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: Teacher gathering at Faulkton School
• 2:30 pm: Visit with past teachers at Faulkton School
• 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Tours of the school
• 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Free carousel rides
• 5:00 pm: Happy Hour under the tent
• 6:00 pm: All School Reunion Banquet and program under the tent
• 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Free carousel rides
• 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Open swim at city pool
• 7:30 pm: The Bad Guys movie at the Lyric
• 9:00 pm: Power Play Entertainment under the tent (open to public & admission at gate)

Monday, July 4th

• 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Tours of the Pickler Mansion
• 1:00 pm  – 5:15 pm: Open swim at city pool
• 12:00 pm: Tractor Pull at Dot T's (registration @ 11 am)
• 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Open swim at city pool
• 7:00 pm: Historical Society Program at Pickler Mansion

Food Vendors
Gypsy Nosh Food Truck

• July 1st @ J & J Bar, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• July 2nd 
  • @ Ballfield, 8:00 am – 10:00 am
  • @ Car Show, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
  • @ Rodeo Grounds starting at 5:30 pm

Smokin’ Hot Dudes Burger Bar

• July 2nd @ Short Stop starting at 11:30 am

Dot T’s, Burger Shack, BerMac, & Bauer’s

• Open to serve you! See business for hours.

Follow Faulkton Area Economic Development and Faulkton Business and Professionals Association on Facebook for updates and information.