Sioux Falls, SD (09/28/2026) — A new quarterly science and research lecture series will debut Friday, Oct. 2, as South Dakota State University, the Washington Pavilion and Downtown Sioux Falls come together for SDSU Day, bringing science, engineering and hands-on discovery to downtown Sioux Falls.
Dr. Todd Letcher, professor in SDSU’s Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering, will serve as the inaugural speaker at 6 p.m. in the Sweetman Planetarium. Developed by the Washington Pavilion and SDSU, the new series will create an ongoing opportunity for the Sioux Falls community to connect with university research, innovation and expertise. Letcher’s leadership has helped position SDSU among the nation’s premier NASA competition programs.
“This partnership creates an incredible opportunity to connect our community, and especially young people, with the innovation happening right here in South Dakota,” said Maddy Grogan, Director of Museums and Education at the Washington Pavilion. “By meeting SDSU students and faculty, seeing their work up close and getting hands-on themselves, kids can begin to imagine where their own curiosity might take them.”
The lecture series is one part of this year’s SDSU Day, a returning community event that connects students, families and the public with the work happening at South Dakota State University.
This year, SDSU Day also coincides with a special fall Open Streets experience in partnership with Downtown Sioux Falls. Main Avenue in front of the Washington Pavilion will be closed from 9 a.m.-7 p.m., creating space for an interactive showcase featuring SDSU Engineering’s nationally recognized NASA competition rovers, student projects and demonstrations, hands-on activities and opportunities to engage directly with SDSU students and faculty.
“SDSU Day is a great example of what’s possible when organizations with a shared commitment to education, innovation and community come together,” said Vernon Brown, Associate Vice President for External Affairs at South Dakota State University. “By bringing SDSU students, faculty and their work into the heart of Sioux Falls, we’re creating opportunities for people of all ages to experience the impact of our university and connect with the ideas shaping our region’s future.”
From 10 a.m.-3 p.m., scheduled school groups will participate in SDSU Day programming. More than 500 Sioux Falls-area students participated last year.
The celebration continues during Free First Friday from 5-8 p.m., when the public can enjoy free admission to the Kirby Science Discovery Center and Visual Arts Center. SDSU activities will take place approximately 5-7:30 p.m.
Free First Fridays at the Washington Pavilion regularly attract more than 800 visitors, while Downtown Sioux Falls Open Streets events have drawn more than 10,000 attendees. SDSU is the first organization invited to extend the Open Streets concept beyond its traditional summer schedule.
The evening also includes free SDSU ice cream, sponsored by Sioux Falls Area Jacks, while supplies last.
SDSU Day | Friday, Oct. 2
- 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Scheduled school group programming
- 5-8 p.m. | Free First Friday and public activities
- Approximately 5-7:30 p.m. | SDSU activities and demonstrations
- 6 p.m. | Dr. Todd Letcher in the Sweetman Planetarium
Museum admission is free from 5-8 p.m. For more details, visit WashingtonPavilion.org/Event/SDSU-Day .
About Washington Pavilion Management, Inc. (WPMI)
Washington Pavilion Management, Inc. is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the largest arts organization in the state. The management company oversees and programs two historic City of Sioux Falls facilities: the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science and the Orpheum Theater Center. The company also provides professional management services, including administration; arts, science and educational programming; ticketing; event management; marketing; and more to other arts and nonprofit organizations. For information, please visit WashingtonPavilion.org.
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