Mitchell celebrates its grain-clad landmark each summer with concerts and a street fair. The state's calendar fills each year with events that draw crowds from far beyond its borders.

The festival coincides with the unveiling of the new corn murals.

What sets it apart

Grandstand concerts draw national touring acts to Mitchell. That detail is easy to overlook, but it helps explain the pull this place has on locals and visitors alike.

Carnival rides and food vendors fill the surrounding streets.

Why it matters

Taken together, these threads say something about South Dakota itself — a place where the old and the new sit close together. For the crowds who return year after year, it has become a fixture of the South Dakota calendar.