October Events
Artists of the Month
Art Students from Sturgis Brown High School will be our Artists of the Month for October.
Stop at the library during regular hours to see these (and every month’s) displays. Many thanks to the fine folks at the library for coordinating these exhibits.
Armchair Travelers Book Club
Armchair Travelers will meet at noon on Thursday, October 1st, in the Lushbough Room of the Sturgis Public Library to discuss books about the Civil War. The librarians will feature some of the library’s stash at the front desk for your convenience, so stop down and see what you might enjoy.
Armchair Travelers Book Club is co-sponsored by Sturgis Area Arts Council and the Sturgis Public Library. Open to all interested readers, the group meets at noon in the Lushbough Room of the Sturgis Public Library on the first Thursday of each month except August.
October Meeting
Our October meeting will be Thursday, October 8th, at 2:30pm in the Lushbough Room of the Sturgis Public Library. One and all are welcome to join us. We love new faces and we need folks that are willing to help us do what we do. Whether you want to be an active board member, or simply want to see what we’re up to, you’re more than welcome to join us.
One Book SD Discussion of “A Biography of a Mountain”
Yeah, WE GOT BOOKS!!! We’re rescheduled our discussion 🙂
The South Dakota Humanities Council has chosen “A Biography of a Mountain”, by Matthew Davis for its 2026 One Book SD. Just in time for the Centennial of the Monument’s dedication, Davis brings this complicated story to life.
“Well, most people want to come to a national park and leave with that warm, fuzzy feeling with an ice cream cone. Rushmore can’t do that if you do it the right way. If you do it the right way people are going to be leaving pissed.”
Gerard Baker, the first Native American superintendent of Mt. Rushmore, shared those words with author Matthew Davis. From the tragic history of Wounded Knee and the horrors of Indian Boarding Schools, to the Land Back movement of today, Davis traces the Native American story of Mt. Rushmore alongside the narrative of the growing territory and state of South Dakota, and the economic and political forces that shaped the reasons for the Memorial’s creation.
Copies of this impressive work of narrative nonfiction are available to borrow at the Sturgis Public Library.
A discussion led by Elizabeth Mattson, of Henry’s Books in Spearfish, is scheduled for 7:00pm on Tuesday, October 13th, in the Sturgis Public Library’s meeting room. Please use the Sherman Street entrance. This event is made possible by the SD Humanities Council and the Sturgis Public Library, as well as the Sturgis Area Arts Council
History at High Noon
On Friday, October 16th, Walter Stein from Dinosaurs of Hell Creek Museum will do a talk titled “There’s bones in those hills!” He will talk about the history of paleontology in the Black Hills and how the gold rush brought more than people hoping to strike it rich from gold.
We are looking at expanding our programming to include people who might want to talk about their travels. If you would like to tell your family’s history or have something history or travel based, please contact someone on our committee:
Richard Moeller (running2win@gmail.com, 605-939-3789)
Ross and Jan Lamphere (rosslamphere@gmail.com, 605-490-3110)
Diana Hayes (605-347-3007)
Peg Aplan
To learn more, visit sturgisarts.org or youtube.com/@sturgispubliclibrary.
History at High Noon is a program on the third Friday of the month (October and November, January through May). We meet at noon in the Community Room of the Sturgis Public Library.
History at High Noon is co-sponsored by the Sturgis & Meade County Historical Society.
All History at High Noon programs are live streamed on the library’s YouTube channel at
https://youtube.com/@sturgispubliclibrary
Halloween Tales with the Black Hills Storytellers
The Black Hills Storytellers will be telling spooky tales at our Halloween Haunted House. On Friday, October 30th, at 6:00pm, please join us as Anne Bodman, Dorothy Rosby & Sharon Henry give us their spine-tingling prelude to Halloween. These stories are intended for adults and teens only – but your little ones can enjoy the Haunted House happening at the other end of the building at the same time.
The charge for this event is $10 (cash or check only) to raise funds for our theater renovation fund.
The BrewBerry Bistro will be selling beer and wine if you’d like a glass while you listen.
We’ll have part of the building turned into a Haunted House for the evenings of October 29th and 30th, from 4-8 both evenings. All are welcome – there is no admission charge for the Haunted House, but donations (again, toward the theater fund) will be happily accepted.
Halloween Haunted House
The Sturgis Area Arts Council is partnering with BrewBerry Bistro and the Black Hills Storytellers to bring you a creepy fun Halloween experience.
We’ll be turning part of the Massa Berry building into a Haunted House that will be open Thursday, October 29th, and Friday, October 30th, from 4-8pm each evening. Admission to the Haunted House is free, but if you’d like to make a donation to our theater renovation project either evening we’d be more than happy to accept it.
On Friday evening only, the Black Hills Storytellers will be there at 6:00pm to share their spooky tales. Admission to that is $10 and those proceeds will also go into our theater renovation fund
November Events
Armchair Travelers Book Club
The Armchair Travelers November 5th Book Club will focus on books about The Great Depression.
Armchair Travelers is a book club open to all interested readers. Participants gather to share their choices in the Lushbough Room of the Sturgis Public Library at noon on the first Thursday of each month except August
Our November Arts Council Meeting
Our November meeting will be Thursday, November 12th, at 2:30pm in the Lushbough Room of the Sturgis Public Library. One and all are welcome to join us!
History at High Noon
In honor of Veteran’s Day, on Friday, November 20th, Tim Velder will be giving the program “Sailing for the brand: The USS Wyoming (BB-32).” This Teddy Roosevelt-era battleship was a record-setting and forgotten dreadnaught for two world wars. Find out more about the colorful and critical history of the Naval flagship and a few of its personnel.
We want to expand our programming to include people who might want to talk about their travels. If you would like to tell your family’s history or have something history or travel based, please contact someone on our committee:
Richard Moeller (running2win@gmail.com, 605-939-3789)
Ross and Jan Lamphere (rosslamphere@gmail.com, 605-490-3110)
Diana Hayes (605-347-3007) and Peg Aplan
History at High Noon is a program on the third Friday of the month (October and November, January through May). We meet at noon in the Community Room of the Sturgis Public Library.
History at High Noon is co-sponsored by the Sturgis & Meade County Historical Society.
All History at High Noon programs are live streamed on the library’s YouTube channel at
https://youtube.com/@sturgispubliclibrary
To learn more, visit sturgisarts.org or youtube.com/@sturgispubliclibrary.
Stars, Stripes and Spotlights!!
On July 4th, our nation commemorated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This historic milestone is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nation’s past and honor the contributions of many Americans. In celebration of our country’s milestone birthday, the Sturgis Area Arts Council will present an afternoon of entertainment – all played by many of our well-known local actors and musicians.
Similar to our USO variety show performed some years ago, the entertainment will range from patriotism to humor to toe-tapping musical numbers. Veterans are especially invited to come and be honored for their long and proud service to America’s past, present and future.
Admission will be free to all, but this performance is one of many events planned as part of the Arts Council’s Capital Campaign targeted for theater improvements. Your freewill contributions will be appreciated. Any gift over $25 will be recognized in future programs if you attach your name to the gift or bring it in a marked envelope. Thanks for your support, which will help preserve our theater.
The show is on Sunday, November 22nd, at 2:00pm in the Community Center Theater. You won’t want to miss this wonderful community celebration of our country’s birthday!
December Events
Armchair Travelers Book Club
The Armchair Travelers December 3rd Book Club will focus on your favorite short stories.
Armchair Travelers is a book club open to all interested readers. Participants gather to share their choices in the Lushbough Room of the Sturgis Public Library at noon on the first Thursday of each month except August
Our December Arts Council Meeting
Our December meeting will be Thursday, December 10th, at 5:00pm at Dedi LaRue’s home.
Sing for Joy! A Favorite Community Event Returns December 13th
The Sturgis area will once again enjoy the beautiful music of Christmas as the Sturgis Area Arts Council presents the 47th Community Christmas Concert. Church musicians from the area will gather at the Sturgis Community Center Theater on Sunday, Dec. 13th at 2:00 pm. for this popular community event.
Premiering in 1979, the concert is a beloved part of the Christmas holiday season. Singers from our local churches will share their love of choral and handbell music with our local music patrons. The concert is free to the public with an opportunity to give a free-will donation at the door.
Toby Rath, director of the Whitewood Immanuel Lutheran Church Choir, is the combined choir director this year. He has chosen “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” arranged by Jay Althouse, for the final mass choir anthem. This piece is full of energy and joy and will be an audience favorite as the melody will be familiar but with a modern rhythmic excitement.
Please put this date on your calendar as you won’t want to miss this joyful event.
