Your weekend, simplified: May 30, 2025

Megan Raposa -

Happy Friday! Megan here.

First things first: This issue is brought to you by the Siouxland Renaissance Festival.

  • The 24th Annual Siouxland Renaissance Festival will take place June 7-8 at the W. H. Lyon Fairgrounds. You can enjoy food vendors, shop, find all sorts of entertainment and fun for the whole family. Learn more and get your tickets here.

Weather check: Heatin' up

This week, I've got a look at how new downtown events aim to show the importance of walkability. Plus, there are some very exciting new residents of the Butterfly House and Aquarium, and, while we're meeting new folks, you'll get to know the new director of Siouxland Libraries. Oh, and if you're feeling helpful, can you take five minutes and fill out a quick survey for us?

And now, news:

COMMUNITY

These new events show why walkability matters

Simplified: A series of events this summer will shut down parts of Phillips Avenue to encourage people to slow down, walk around and really take in all that downtown has to offer. Here's what you need to know about Open Streets.

Why it matters

  • For years, Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc. (DTSF) hosted summer block parties at 8th and Railroad with live music and food vendors. With the Levitt filling that need for live music now, DTSF President Brandon Hanson said they were looking to adjust their strategy for summer First Friday events.
  • The first Open Streets event took place earlier this month with the downtown Art and Wine Walk, and each monthly event moving forward will have its own theme with events, activities and vendors.
  • These events are not only a fun thing to do on a Friday night, but they're also a way for DTSF to serve its mission of advocacy for both the health of local businesses – who report seeing a boost in sales from more foot traffic – and safety for all modes of transportation.
"It really showcases our vibrant public spaces, but it also showcases that roads and sidewalks and crosswalks are meant for people, not necessarily always cars," said Erik Gaikowski, state director for AARP South Dakota, which is helping fund Open Streets.

Tell me more

SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS

Meet the aquarium's newest residents: axolotls

This is a paid piece from the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium.

Simplified: You can now see axolotls in their new habitat at the Butterfly House and Aquarium. Here's what you need to know about these adorable (and increasingly popular) amphibians.

Why it matters

  • Axolotls are a critically endangered species that only exist in nature in one freshwater system near Mexico City. Only 50 to 1,000 axolotls are alive in the wild, according to Biologist Colton Eckstrand, and, though the species does well breeding in captivity, axolotls aren't meant to be household pets.
  • Biologically, the axolotls are basically salamanders that "didn't grow up," Eckstrand said. Axolotls don't go through the same metamorphosis salamanders do to get rid of their feathery gills, and, in many ways, they're just babies their entire life.
  • Axolotls have become increasingly popular culturally both because they were featured in the game Minecraft and because, frankly, they're just plain cute. Eckstrand hopes the axolotls can become ambassador animals that can be used to educate the public about all sorts of aquatic species.
"These guys have what I call the greatest trait an animal can have: they're cute to humans," he said. "Cuteness can help people connect with different species. That human to animal connection is incredibly impactful as empathy for animals can lead to conservation actions.

Tell me more about axolotls

TL;DR

Super Simplified Stories

  • Help us help you shape Sioux Falls' future. If you've been following SF Simplified this week, you've been introduced to Makayla Voris, our summer fellow (like an intern, but cooler). Makayla is working on some cool content to help you easily connect with the forces that shape Sioux Falls, but in order to do that, she needs to know a little bit more about you.
    • Can you do us a favor and fill out this quick survey? Five minutes tops, and you'll be entered to win a $25 gift card to a coffee shop of your choice as well as a Sioux Falls Simplified tote bag (and y'all know those are cute AF).
Take this cutie little survey

CITY

Meet the new director of Siouxland Libraries

Simplified: Sioux Falls' library system is on track to have its first new leader in decades. Meet Alysia Boysen.

Why it matters

  • Longtime Director of Siouxland Libraries Jodi Fick will retire next month, and the city began a search for her replacement. Mayor Paul TenHaken said the city received applicants from all over the country, and that there was a lot of interest in the position.
  • TenHaken on Thursday announced the appointment of Alysia Boysen as the next Director of Siouxland Libraries. That appointment will have to be approved by the Sioux Falls City Council before Boysen can officially take the job.
  • Boysen started working with Siouxland Libraries in 2005 as a part-time employee in the Colton Branch. Though, she's been enjoying the library system for as long as she can remember – citing her upbringing in rural Lake County.
"Being on a farm, there was no better opportunity to get off and go into town ... my sister and I, the first thing we'd ask is if we could go along with our dad," Boysen said. "We wanted him to drop us off at the library."

Tell me more

THIS AND THAT

What I'm falling for this week:

ICYMI

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Here’s a look at what’s happening this week (spoiler: a lot).
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The Sioux Falls City Council needs to decide when the 2026 mayoral election will take place to align with a new state law, and, whatever they decide, it’s possible more policy changes could follow.
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Why the city is tightening its belt and ‘recalibrating’ its budget
The city is looking to “recalibrate” its overall budget in the coming years to account for less money coming in after state lawmakers voted in favor of property tax relief, Finance Director Shawn Pritchett told the City Council Tuesday afternoon.
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Thank you

Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc., Live on Stage, the Sioux Falls YMCA, EmBe, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Barre3 Sioux Falls, the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium, the Washington Pavilion, 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 Siouxland Renaissance Festival!

Travel back to the Renaissance era viewed through Tudor, England, and play in the past at the Siouxland Renaissance Festival on June 6-7 at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds. Find the full festival guide and buy tickets here.