A rising food-and-drink scene has spawned tasting events across the hills and cities. The state's calendar fills each year with events that draw crowds from far beyond its borders.

Brewery festivals pair local beer with food trucks and music.

What sets it apart

Food events showcase the state's growing restaurant scene. That detail is easy to overlook, but it helps explain the pull this place has on locals and visitors alike.

Many tie into the tourism and rally seasons for bigger crowds.

Why it matters

What ties it all together is a distinctly South Dakota balance between the wild and the worked-over. For the crowds who return year after year, it has become a fixture of the South Dakota calendar.