RAPID CITY, SD – People lined the streets in downtown Rapid City on Saturday for the Indigenous Peoples’ Day parade with dozens of floats and entries. At the Monument, the 38th Annual Black Hills Powwow got underway with more than 2,000 dancers and a packed Summit Arena.
The annual powwow is a time for fellowship, connection with friends and relatives, and a time to enjoy the importance of song and dance.
The Saturday powwow events opened with the Veteran’s Grand Entry, posting of the colors, followed by the Dancer Grand Entry.
The powwow runs Oct. 9 through 11 at the Monument.
NDN Collective is hosting the fourth annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration in downtown Rapid City on Monday, Oct. 12.
The event is a rally and free concert to honor and uplift Indigenous brilliance and resistance from the He Sapa to Palestine! The event will also feature Indigenous and local food vendors, shops, and interactive booths for the whole family to enjoy.
There will be several guest speakers and artists including a special guest performance by Macklemore.
The gathering takes place Monday at Main Street Square in downtown Rapid City from 2 to 9 p.m.
Powwow Schedule of Events
(Visit https://www.blackhillspowwow.com/ for complete schedule information)
Saturday, October 10, 2026
Parade – Downtown Rapid City
8:00 am – Parade Downtown Line Up by in Dacotah Bank Parking Lot – Sponsored by The Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board
10:00 am – Parade Starts 2nd & Main Street (Float Contest)
The Summit Arena –The Monument
11:00 am – 1:00 pm Dancer & Drum Registration – Head Table
10:00 am – Doors Open Main Arena & Tradeshow Venue
10: 15 am 2026 Miss He Sapa Win Tyler Star Comes Out – Women’s Traditional Special 21 & over
12:00 pm – Veteran’s Grand Entry – All Veterans and Dignitaries
- Flag & Victory Song – Colors Posted – Standing Rock Lakota Veterans
- Welcome Address – Miss He Sapa Win 2026
1:00 pm – Dancer Grand Entry
4:00 pm Free Chili Feed – Sponsored by Partnership With Native Americans – LaCroix Hall
6:00 pm – Veterans’ Grand Entry – All Veterans and Dignitaries
7:00 pm – SNL Black Hills Dancer Grand Entry – “Who Runs these Hills”
Sunday, October 11, 2026
The Summit Arena –The Monument
11:00 am – Doors Open Main Arena & Tradeshow Venue
NOON – Announcement of Winners of Junior, Teen, Platinum & Golden Age Categories
12:45 – Veteran’s Grand Entry – All Veterans and Dignitaries
- Flag & Victory Song, Sicangu Lakota Veterans, Colors Posted
- Welcome Address – New 2026-27 Miss He Sapa Win
1:30 pm – Dancer Grand Entry
