Thousands gather for Rapid City's Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival

['Per Grew Up In Sioux Falls', 'Graduated South Dakota Mines. He Found His Passion For Weather Reporting The Impact It Has On The Community', 'Both In How People Work', 'How It Brings People Together Through Severe Weather Preparation. He Also Has A Passion For Preventing Health Issues With Air Quality Index Awareness. Per Can Be Found Enjoying Outdoor Activities In The Black Hills When The Weather Allows.'] Homepage 2025-09-20 23:13:19

— One of Rapid City’s biggest events of the year, the Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival, returned for its 17th year on Saturday. Popular events included the giant pumpkin weigh-off and the Touch-A-Truck event, where kids could interact with firetrucks and heavy machinery. The South Dakota Mines Robotics team also had a strong showing, winning both the 100-foot and 250-foot accuracy events. The SD Mines Baja team was consistently on the scoreboard, securing multiple second and third-place finishes across the various challenges. The next big event at Main Street Square is the Bierborse Festival on October 11th.