A Downtown Tradition Begins
Forget Rockefeller Plaza and the White House lawn. Rapid City has its own showstopper for the holiday season, and it stands tall at the heart of Main Street Square.
Each year, the holiday spirit in Rapid City starts with a special mission that could rival a Hallmark movie plot: finding the perfect holiday tree for Main Street Square. This isn’t your average tinsel-and-twinkle operation. The Downtown Rapid City team spends a day venturing through the community, visiting homes of residents who have submitted trees to donate. Some have grown their trees for decades; others inherited them from family — every tree comes with a story, and choosing the right one feels less like logistics and more like destiny.
Once the ideal tree is selected, it is carefully transported to Main Street Square, where it will soon become the centerpiece of Rapid City’s winter season.
The Name Game: Giving the Tree its Personality
Once the holiday tree arrives downtown, the real fun begins. Each year, Downtown Rapid City invites followers on social media to help name the tree — and let's just say the creativity never disappoints.
It starts with a call for ideas. Community members can comment with their name suggestions on the announcement post. After the submissions close, the Downtown Rapid City team narrows the list to the top five names and opens another post for voting.
Then comes the friendly campaigning. Locals rally behind their picks, families debate over dinner and coworkers plead their case in the group chat. After a few days of online fun, the winning name is revealed just before the lighting ceremony, when the mayor and community gather to officially bring the tree to life.
Where the Holidays Come to Life: Winter Market & Tree Lighting Ceremony
The holiday season officially begins on Friday, November 29, when Main Street Square transforms into a winter wonderland for the Winter Market. From 2 to 6 p.m., this free event fills downtown with festive cheer, delicious aromas and the kind of joy that can only come from hot cocoa and string lights.
Visitors can browse handmade goods at the Vendor Village, warm up with treats from food trucks and enjoy live music that captures the spirit of the season. The market also marks the grand opening of the Main Street Square ice rink, inviting guests to lace up their skates for the first glide of the winter. (Extra points if you stay upright on your first lap.)
As evening approaches, anticipation builds the highlight of the day: the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. Rapid City’s mayor takes the stage to lead the countdown, and as the final numbers echo through the square, the tree comes to life in a glow of colorful lights.
The celebration doesn’t stop there. The Festival of Lights Parade rolls right through downtown, adding more sparkle, more music and more reasons to stick around and celebrate under the stars.
Bring the Magic Home
If the glowing tree at Main Street Square inspires you to find one of your own, the Black Hills National Forest makes it easy to start your own tradition. Tree permits are now available for residents who want to cut and bring home a natural Black Hills tree this season.
Permits can be purchased online or in person through the Black Hills National Forest. Each permit allows individuals to harvest one tree from designated areas across the forest. When you purchase your permit, you’ll also receive maps and guidelines to help you choose the right location, stay safe and protect the surrounding landscape.
Whether you’re after a picture-perfect spruce or a chubby little pine with personality, heading into the hills is a tradition worth starting. Just remember: Mother Nature doesn’t provide extension cords, so measure wisely before you cut.
For details and current permit information, visit the Black Hills National Forest website before you go.