Good morning, Sioux Falls.

The city will host two free Christmas tree drop sites from Friday, Dec.

26 to Sunday, Jan. 4. Drop sites at E. Chambers St. and north Lyon Blvd near the Fairgrounds will operate 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday except New Year’s Day.

A downtown hotel has been renovated and rebranded as The Catlin Hotel, featuring updated guest rooms, lobby, banquet space, and an expanded fitness center.

The new name takes effect on Feb. 17 at the former Hilton Garden Inn Downtown at 201 E. Eighth St. in Sioux Falls.

Dakota Butcher opened its Sioux Falls location on Dec.

22 at The Bridges at 57th (57th and Western Ave) to serve last-minute holiday shoppers. The 8,000 sqft store will offer meat processing after Jan. 1 and is hiring staff for meat cutters and other roles.

CJ Schwan’s is using state funding to construct a $550 million food production plant in Sioux Falls that will open next year with 600 jobs, and questions have arisen over conflict of interest after a former official joined the company.

Lawmakers are reviewing aid practices amid the project’s progress.

Holiday travel across South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa is expected to break records as over 122 million people will travel from Dec.

20 to Jan. 1; air trips will hit 8.03 million while nearly 89% drive. Lower gas prices boost surge ahead of busy days before and after Christmas.

Sioux Falls officials announced that the city will cut funding for the Multi-Cultural Center effective Dec.

31 after nearly 30 years of support. LSS warns that the change could put the annual Festival of Cultures at risk unless a donor steps in - leaving community services uncertain.

Sanford Health’s website, Sanford Helps, connects patients to local resources for food, housing and transportation by linking community programs with individuals in need—Sioux Falls residents can access the tool by entering their ZIP code or visiting sanfordhelps.com.

Sioux Falls Community Blood Bank celebrates 30 years of giving during its holiday blood drive that runs from Dec.

22 through Jan. 3. In partnership with police and fire rescue, organizers call for more O-negative and O-positive donations to support emergency care.

Ernst Capital Group’s two Signature Cos multifamily projects – Split Rock Townhomes in Sioux Falls and Prairie Dunes Apartments in North Sioux City – sold out quickly as investors snapped them up.

Some townhomes will be available this year while North Sioux City units open mid next year with a full range of amenities.

On Dec. 22, 2025 a long-vacant restaurant property near the Empire Mall was sold to Kwik Trip Inc, which will demolish the old building to build a gas station, convenience store and car wash.

Construction will start early 2027 with a summer opening planned.

Feast of the Seven Fishes

5-9 p.m. — Harvester Kitchen by Bryan — Cost varies — Celebrate the Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition with a memorable feast of seafood delicacies.

Winter Blitz Flag Football Tournament

8 a.m. - 5 p.m. — Sanford Sports Complex — $225 per team — Enjoy a fun and competitive environment for young athletes in grades 1-8.

Rip City Remix: Sioux Falls Skyforce Game

2-4:30 p.m. — Sanford Pentagon — Tickets available — Catch the local Sioux Falls Skyforce in action during an exciting basketball game.

Mitchell vs. Roosevelt JV Basketball Game

4:00-5:15 p.m. — Roosevelt High School — Free entry — Catch the Roosevelt JV basketball team as they take on Mitchell in a home non-conference matchup.