November 2025 in Sturgis
Happy New Years, and welcome to 2026! December was a wild and festive month to wrap up my 2025, with plenty of fun happenings.
The month of December kicked off with the annual Sturgis Tree Lighting Ceremony. I love how many local nonprofits and organizations set up booths at the Rally Point to give out free treats. The kids always go bananas for Santa and the reading of The Night Before Christmas.
The Sturgis Parade of Lights for 2025 was most likely one of the largest we’ve had in a long time! Sooo many creative floats and trailers decked out with colorful lights and decorations. After helping to get the floats lined up, I got to run downtown to be a judge. It was super difficult to pick out winners, everyone put in so much effort and talent, but I definitely had a great time.
Next up was our 2nd meet up of the Sturgis Young Professionals at the 44 Lounge. We are hoping to keep growing this group throughout the year. I also stopped into a few shops for Scrooge Night. The purpose of Scrooge Night is to give people one last chance at great deals in local shops for their holiday shopping. I try to purchase a good portion of my Christmas presents locally, and the Sturgis stores did not disappoint this year. Windchimes from Rushmore Office Supply, cozy socks from Black Hills Rally & Gold, spicy salsa from Bear Butte Farm Stand, and more!
This year, the Chamber decided to make a holiday video from our members for the community. I spent a couple weeks coordinating with many of the Chamber members to get videos of them wishing the Sturgis community well through Christmas and the New Years. This was a fun and new project to do, and I’m excited to create more in the future.
The December Mixer was held at the Sturgis Welcome Center this year! We brought in a massive tree, decorated with ornaments of local businesses and Sturgis events. These fun ornaments were created by Sturgis middle schoolers. There was festive Christmas music and a cookie decorating contest. This mixer was a great way to wrap up 2025 at the Chamber.
I spent Christmas with a LOT of family- 4 separate gatherings in fact! Getting to visit with my parents and then my fiance’s parents/sister’s family was plenty hectic but filled with so much holiday cheer. I also got to meet some more of his extended family for the first time. We then went to the Rush hockey game on New Year’s Eve and cheered them into an overtime win. Hockey is definitely a great way to finish off a busy year and welcome another.
2025 has come to an end, and 2026 has just begun. Who knows what this year will hold for me, the Sturgis community, and even the rest of the world. My fingers are crossed for a great one!