Best Places to Play Inside in Sioux City

Winter in Siouxland sometimes means frigid temps, arctic winds, and plenty of snow, ice, and slush, but that doesn't we have to stay cooped up! Here are some of my top suggestions for where Sioux City area kids can play indoors when the weather outside is frightful:

Winter 2019 Books From Midwest Authors

Welcome to my  Midwest authors series! Seasonally, I'll highlight books from Midwest authors that your family might enjoy, both new books and books you might have missed or forgotten. Some of the books featured are books I've received free from publishers or authors for review purposes, and all Amazon links are affiliate links.


What's better than reading a book together while watching snow fall outside? For me, a cozy midwest winter wouldn't be complete without some new books to read and to gift to others. Here are a few books by Midwest authors that you may want to add to your wishlist, or buy for kids, teachers, and others in your life. There are books here for all ages and stages, from picture books to a YA thriller, and a kitchen planner the moms and Grandmas in your life will love! Enjoy:

Best Experience Gifts for Siouxland Families

Christmas gifts that create lasting memories--that's what we are all looking for, right? While the right toy, game, or book can definitely be a treasure that leads to making happy memories, an increasing number of families are also finding the value in "experience" gifts. We are lucky to have a plethora of options here in Sioux City and in our neighboring communities like Omaha and Sioux Falls. From museum memberships to concert tickets, here are some of my top recommendations for experience gifts for Siouxland Families for Christmas 2019 or any gift-giving occasion, along with a few suggestions of physical items to pair with them if you'd like your kids or other loved ones to have something to physically open and enjoy on Christmas morning in anticipation of the experience gift:

New Years Eve Fun for Siouxland Families

2020 is almost here! Are you looking for a fun way to spend it with your kids? While I definitely love playing board games, eating junk food, Netflix countdowns, and other New Year's fun at home, going out can be a really special way to celebrate the end of the year and the start of the new one. Here are some of the planned events your family might enjoy together to celebrate New Year's Eve. All events are on New Year's Eve, Tuesday 12/31/19, unless otherwise noted. You might also enjoy my post on Christmas events in Sioux City.

Family Friendly Events in Siouxland December 2019

Each month I bring you info on family friendly events and activities in the Siouxland Area. If you know of one I have missed, please leave me a comment or send me an email. I will update my lists throughout the month as I hear of new things to do in Sioux City and our surrounding communities, so check back often for the latest scoop! I  recommend checking out my Event Lists tab to find our lists for other months, and this month, you may also enjoy my posts on Christmas events in Sioux City (most are included in this post as well, but there are more details in the Christmas specific post!, Christmas Road Trips (which includes many festive events in nearby communities like Sioux Falls, Omaha, Vermillion, Yankton, and Okoboji!), and Family Friendly New Year's Eve.

Christmas Road Trips for Siouxland Families

There are tons of great holiday events happening in the coming weeks in some of our nearby communities. Here are some of my top picks for Christmas events within about 4 hours or so of Sioux City that could make a really fun day trip or weekend trip for families in the Siouxland area! This post will be updated with 2019 details as they are available!

Christmas Tree Farms Near Sioux City

Here are some of the Christmas tree farms I found within about 2 hours of Sioux City. Some didn't have many details available yet, but I encourage you to give them a call if you have questions about the one you want to visit. The Christmas tree farmers I spoke to in writing this post were super nice, festive people who are genuinely excited about helping families make the season special. This post currently shows dates, hours, and prices for 2018 unless otherwise noted. It will be updated soon with 2019 details!

Sioux City Christmas

Christmas is coming! The Sioux City area has so many fun and festive events to celebrate the Christmas season, and this post will be updated throughout the coming weeks as new events and details  for 2019 are announced. I'm thrilled to share all the festive fun with you! You might also enjoy my posts on Christmas Road Trips (Christmas events in places like Omaha, Sioux Falls, Okoboji, and more!) Christmas Tree Farms in Siouxland, Family Friendly New Year's Eve, Experience Gifts for Siouxland Families (coming soon!), and Last Minute Christmas Gifts You Can Buy in Siouxland!

November 2019 Kids Events in Siouxland

Each month we will bring you info on family friendly events and activities in the Siouxland Area. If you know of one we have missed, please leave us a comment or send us an email. We will update our lists throughout the month as we hear of new things to do in Sioux City and our surrounding communities, so check back often for the latest scoop! We also recommend checking out our Event Lists tab to find our lists for other months.

Fall Books from Midwest Authors & Illustrators

Welcome to my new Midwest authors & illustrators series on my blog! Seasonally, I'll highlight books from Midwest authors and illustrators that your family might enjoy, both new books and books you might have missed or forgotten. Some of the books featured are books I've received free from publishers or authors for review purposes, and links may be affiliate links.


Fall in the Midwest wouldn't be complete without some time spent curling up on the couch to read a great book, and I'm excited to share some wonderful books with you from Midwest authors that you'll want to check out. This edition features authors from Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan, and Iowa, including Sioux City's own Cory Kruse, with books for every age group about apples, horses, pumpkin patches, friendship, love, death, bravery, and freedom. I hope it inspires you to find a great fall read!

Explore the Sioux City Art Center

If you're looking for fine art in Sioux City, the Sioux City Art Center is the place to go! The Sioux City Art Center is Siouxland's home for art in a variety of mediums, primarily from modern local and regional artists, as well as pieces from historical masters like Grant Wood and Thomas Hart Benton.

Sioux City Fall Festival 2019

Grab your coziest boots and sweaters, 'cause it's time to celebrate fall! Every year, businesses and attractions around Sioux City join in the same weekend in October to have autumnal fun, and from the sounds of things, 2019 might be the best year yet! This year, Sioux City Fall Festival will be primarily Friday through Sunday, October 11th-13th, and here are some of the fun fall and Halloween themed events happening in Sioux City that weekend:

Halloween 2019 in Sioux Falls

There's tons of spooky fun scheduled this fall in the Sioux Falls area! Here are some ways you can score candy, paint pumpkins, scream with delight, and otherwise enjoy the season. Want to find Halloween events in Sioux City or other parts of Siouxland? Check out my Halloween in Siouxland 2019 post. For Halloween events in Sioux Falls, read on!