Happy Wednesday! Megan here.

First things first: This newsletter is brought to you by The Premiere Playhouse.

  • The Premiere Playhouse is opening its 2026-27 Mainstage season this week with "Goosebumps The Musical." The show follows a high school drama club production in which young actors are working to figure out if their auditorium is truly haunted or if it’s just an elaborate prank when eerie messages appear and a masked menace starts interrupting rehearsals. Get your tickets here.

Weather check: More rain on the way

This week, we're hitting on some BIG topics including data centers and downtown convention centers. You'll find the latest on both, plus even more Halloween events and some Super Simplified stories worth checking out.

And now, news:

COMMUNITY

Old and new: How the downtown convention center convo is shifting

Simplified: Experience Sioux Falls and Forward Sioux Falls are leading a new effort to educate the community about the need for a new downtown convention center, and unlike earlier community conversations, this time around they're looking at the possibility of building a new facility – and keeping the current one in use.

Photo credit: Sioux Falls Convention Center Facebook page

Why it matters

  • A downtown convention center has been part of the public discourse for several years. In February 2024, then-Mayor Paul TenHaken unveiled a "2050 vision" that placed a new convention center east of downtown in the area the city's called the Riverline District. That plan ultimately was placed "on pause" when the committee last met over a year ago.
  • Initially, TenHaken's vision was to build a new convention center and repurpose the existing building for indoor recreation. Now, though, Experience Sioux Falls and Forward Sioux Falls are looking to prove to the community that the city could sustain not only a new downtown convention center, but also continue to fill the existing one, according to Forward Sioux Falls Program Director Brittany Hanson.
  • The two private entities are working together to conduct a community education campaign and listening sessions in the coming months to reignite discussions on bringing a new convention center downtown – wherever it might be, and however it might get there.
    • For Teri Schmidt, executive director of Experience Sioux Falls, the decision boils down to one question: Does Sioux Falls want to be in the convention industry?
"Frankly we’re just being left in the dust," Schmidt said. "What we’re doing now is what we should be doing, and that is establishing the need, showing what we’re losing for businesses, why it affects and how it affects our community, and what we can do about it."

Why downtown? Tell me more

CITY

Hundreds turn out to talk data centers with city, county officials

Simplified: Hundreds of people filled Carnegie Town Hall for a more than three-hour public meeting on Tuesday night to talk about data centers and share concerns with elected officials from the Sioux Falls City Council and the Lincoln County Commission. But unlike the typical long line of public input – though that was still part of it – this meeting gave a full hour for public officials to chat in small groups with residents.

Why it matters

  • Earlier this year, the Sioux Falls City Council voted unanimously to pave the way for a hyperscale data center in northeast Sioux Falls after four hours of public input – largely in opposition.
  • Since then, residents have turned up time and time again to speak out against data centers at public meetings, including a contentious joint city-county meeting in August at which point officials agreed to the public meeting held Tuesday night.
  • Tuesday's meeting was a unique format centered on civic engagement and listening to residents. Residents arranged themselves in groups of 10-15 people, and both councilors and commissioners moved from group to group listening and discussing unanswered questions on data centers, impacts on the community and what expertise officials should seek as they look to establish policy around these facilities.
"It's very different to sit down one-on-one with people to talk compared to getting emails or hearing people at the dais," Councilor James Oppenheimer said, adding, "It’s a very clear message from the public that they are not in favor of having data centers in Sioux Falls."

Tell me more

SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS

More than a play space: How the Sensory Studio helps kids develop

This is a paid piece from The Sensory Studio.

Simplified: The Sensory Studio has evolved to become a play space that gives kids all sorts of sensory input, space for imaginative play and ways to regulate their fast-growing bodies. Here's what you need to know about this hidden gem.

Why it matters

  • All kids need open-ended play, but for some kids, big, busy indoor playgrounds can be overwhelming or overstimulating. The Sensory Studio is an intentionally smaller space where kids can run, jump, swing and play without big crowds.
  • It's also under the same umbrella as FUNctional Kids Pediatric Therapy, which means it's built with the help of licensed occupational and speech therapists who are experts in knowing what types of toys, sensory and movement opportunities, and imaginative play spaces kids need to support their growth and development. Public play times are typically best for children ages 0-6, however they also host camps and classes for school age children as well.
  • In addition to The Sensory Studio, FUNctional Kids Pediatric Therapy also has a series of Play and Grow parent workshops. These workshops and classes help parents understand and connect with their kids, help parents connect with other parents, and support parents in learning how to better engage with and support their child.
"All of that sensory input in their environment is sending signals to their brain and helping them make associations of, 'how do I move my body?'" owner Nicole Fluth said. "That’s how we learn and unlock those fundamental development skills – giving kids the opportunity to have some of that natural imaginary play, pretend play, and developing skills with other friends around."

Tell me more

TL;DR

Super Simplified Stories

  • Enrollment down slightly in Sioux Falls schools. The Sioux Falls School Board this week got a look at the latest enrollment numbers and demographic data. Enrollment is down 301 students year-over-year, which will have implications on the budget because schools are funded based on enrollment.
    • From a demographic standpoint, 46.3% of students come from diverse backgrounds, 46.2% qualify for free lunches, and the number of students with special needs continues to rise with a combined about 7,400 students qualifying for IEP or 504 plans (i.e. extra supports in the classroom).
  • 10 years of hope through bingo. Giving Hope is celebrating 10 years of giving back through bingo, and they're celebrating with ... bingo, duh. The anniversary events kick off Wednesday and run through Sunday, Nov. 1. Over the last decade, the organization has raised $1 million to support local kids. Learn more about their anniversary events here.
  • SculptureWalk hires new director. SculptureWalk this week announced the hiring of a new executive director – Washington Pavilion Lead Curator Jana Anderson. Anderson's hiring also indicates a transition away from SculptureWalk being under the WashPav umbrella and back on solid footing as its own independent organization.
    • In a news release, SculptureWalk Board President Andrew Eitreim said the following:
      • "The Washington Pavilion team helped us grow to the point where we can hire an experienced, passionate, and proven arts leader to take our program even further.”

EVENTS

Stuff to do: Oct. 28-Nov. 3

  • 🇺🇸VOTE. The Midterm election is on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Not sure who to vote for? You can learn more about state legislative candidates, county commission candidates, county auditor candidates and ballot measures via SF Simplified. (And watch your inbox for an "Election Day Survival Guide" on Monday).
  • Go goth. The Hello Hi is making its annual spooky transformation to the "Hell Hi" Thursday night for Goth Night, and to quote their Facebook event listing: "Break out the black lipstick, fishnets and leather to meet up with other dark souls for an evening of misery and delight." More details here.
  • Go Gotham. Watch for the bat signal, Myrtle's Speakeasy is going Gotham Saturday night. The back dining room will be transformed into a dance floor with DJ Soleil, Batman will be on the TV in the speakeasy downstairs, and best costume wins a $100 bar tab. Details here.
  • Check out "Boo Boulevard." The Inn on Westport is hosting a trick or treat event from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday as a safe, weather-proof way for kids and families to enjoy Halloween. Learn more here.
  • Check out a whole bunch more Halloween fun in our round-up here:
Where to find Halloween fun in Sioux Falls – whatever your vibe
There's always soooo many things going on this time of year. Here's our best attempt at simplifying it for you.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa

THIS AND THAT

What I'm falling for this week:

ICYMI

More Simplified Stories

How SF Simplified readers showed up for Bread Break
Sioux Falls Simplified readers donated more than $4,000 to local food rescue nonprofit Bread Break as part of the third annual A Little Help give-back campaign.
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Election '26: How candidates view Medicaid expansion
We asked all state legislative candidates if voters made the right choice in voting to expand Medicaid in 2023.
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Karma on-par: O'Gorman golfer wins after show of selflessness
"It chokes me up now, talking about it," O’Gorman head coach Tom Jansa said, reflecting on Drew Simon's journey to a state championship.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedTom A. Savage

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Thank you

Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including SafeSplash Swim School, Wayne & Mary's Nutrition Center, Startup Sioux Falls, Encompass Mental Health, the Sioux Falls YMCA, EmBe, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Barre3 Sioux Falls, the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium, the Washington Pavilion, The Premiere Playhouse, The Good Night Theatre Collective and the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. When you support them, you're also supporting Sioux Falls Simplified.

Oh, by the way

Your feedback is extremely helpful – hit the reply button and send any news tips, typos, complaints, compliments or cups of coffee my way. ❤️

Special thanks to The Premiere Playhouse!

"Goosebumps The Musical" runs Oct. 31-Nov. 1 and Nov.6-8 at the Orpheum Theater downtown. Support local spooks and get your tickets here.