Main Street Square

Main Street Square is the living room of downtown Rapid City, a public plaza that was once a parking lot and is now the place where the city gathers. The tourism board describes it as the heart of the downtown, and the numbers back that up: the square hosts about a hundred and fifty events a year, from live concerts to family festivals. In summer, interactive fountains turn the plaza into a splash patio, and the fountains are free, which makes it one of the easiest ways to cool off a restless child without spending anything. In winter the square becomes an outdoor ice rink with real ice, described as the region's only maintained outdoor rink of its kind, with skating rentals available on site. Skating under the holiday tree is a local tradition, and the season usually opens around the holidays with a lighted parade and a winter market. Because the square sits in the middle of the downtown core, it is surrounded by restaurants, coffee shops and ice cream, including outdoor tables right on the plaza, and it is a short walk to the City of Presidents statues and Art Alley.

Timing is the key to getting the most from the square. In summer, the fountains are the main draw and the plaza is liveliest in the afternoon and early evening, when families arrive and the surrounding patios fill up. Bring a change of clothes for children, since the fountains are designed for getting wet. In winter, the rink is the attraction, and the schedule, admission and rental prices are best confirmed with the square before you go, because the rink operates on a seasonal calendar and weather can affect it.

The square also hosts a changing calendar of signature events, such as a lighted holiday parade and a winter market in late fall, so check the events page and plan around them if you want to join in or avoid the crowds.

The square works best as a base for a downtown stroll rather than as a stand-alone destination. Start with a coffee or an ice cream from one of the shops by the plaza, watch the fountains or the skaters for a while, then walk to the City of Presidents statues, which are scattered on nearby corners, and on to Art Alley and Prairie Edge.

The Journey Museum is a short walk as well. If you are traveling with children, the fountains and the rink give you a flexible break between museum stops, and if you are traveling as a couple, the square at dusk, when the lights come on, is a pleasant place to linger before dinner.

For budget-minded travelers, Main Street Square is an easy win, because the plaza itself costs nothing and the entertainment on offer, from summer fountains to free events, can fill a flexible hour or two. It is also useful on days when weather changes your plans, because it is close to indoor options like the Journey Museum and the shops and cafes of the downtown core.

Check the events calendar for concerts and festivals before your trip, since some of the most memorable evenings in Rapid City happen on the plaza, and a well-timed visit can turn a simple walk into a local celebration. Parking is typically available in downtown lots and on streets nearby, so plan to walk the last few blocks.