New Rides And Concerts To Make Arnolds Park A Sioux Empire Summer Hotspot

I know it doesn’t feel like it this week, thanks to the unseasonal cool-down Sioux Falls is experiencing early this week, but summer is basically down the hall and right around the corner. So when Mother Nature finally decides to flip the switch and turn the Sioux Empire into a full-on humidity sauna, you’re going to be looking for a cool escape that doesn’t involve hovering over your AC vent.

The good news is that escape is just about a 90-minute road trip east of Sioux Falls.

Arnolds Park Amusement Park in Okoboji officially opened for the 2026 season on Saturday, and it’s gearing up for what could be another record-breaking year.

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According to Dakota News Now, the popular northwest Iowa attraction is coming off a huge 2025 season that brought in more than 307,000 visitors. That makes it the second-most visited tourist destination in the entire state of Iowa, right behind the Iowa State Fair.

So what’s waiting for Sioux Falls-area families when they make the drive east to Lake Okoboji?

For starters, there are new rides and updated carnival games sprinkled throughout the park. Which means your kids will be thrilled, and you’ll probably lose a few bucks trying to win a stuffed animal that somehow costs more than your first car.

However, some of the real standouts this summer go beyond the rides. The Queen II is back on West Lake Okoboji with weekly dinner cruises, plus wine and cheese cruises.

Inside the park, they’re also offering “Dinner in the Sky,” where you can enjoy a meal on the big Ferris wheel. It’s exactly what it sounds like. So hopefully, your stomach is not only hungry but also strong.

And then there’s the live entertainment lineup, which is stacked all summer long at Preservation Plaza, the historic Roof Garden Ballroom, and Captain’s Getaway. Some of the big names hitting Okoboji this year include Styx (June 18), Chubby Checker (June 28), Whiskey Myers (July 2), Russell Dickerson (July 10), Candlebox (July 14), and Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone (July 19).

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If you’re in Sioux Falls and looking for a quick, family-friendly summer road trip, Arnolds Park in Okoboji checks all the boxes.

You can find Arnolds Park ticket information and full event details here.