February (Feb. 20 in 2027)
Deadwood’s Big Whiskey
A ticketed afternoon of whiskey samples, including rye, Scotch, Irish, bourbon, Japanese and Canadian pours, spread across participating Deadwood venues.
Annual Events
Timing here is typical. Check the calendar or the organizer for this year's dates.
winter
February in past years; check with Deadwood History for the next date
Calamity’s Shindig
The annual fundraiser for Deadwood History, Inc., the nonprofit behind the Adams Museum and other local history sites.
Select dates, late November through December
Candlelight Christmas Tours of the Historic Adams House
Deadwood History opens the Adams House for candlelit holiday visits on select dates.
Early December
Community Christmas and Tree Lighting
Outlaw Square marks its anniversary with a tree lighting, a visit from Santa, s’mores and cocoa, and discounted or free time on the rink and bumper cars.
Mid-January
Deadwood Red Dirt Festival
Two nights of Red Dirt, Americana and Texas country acts at Deadwood Mountain Grand.
Late January
Deadwood Snocross Showdown
A weekend of professional snowmobile racing at the Deadwood Event Complex, part of the ISOC championship snocross series. The Chamber counts more than 400 racers in the field.
November (Nov. 13-14 in 2026)
Festival of Trees (Lead)
Decorated holiday trees fill the historic Homestake Opera House in neighboring Lead.
Mid-December
Kringle Crawl Weekend
A newer ticketed holiday weekend of shopping and festive drinks in Deadwood.
February (Feb. 5-6 in 2027)
Deadwood Mardi Gras
A Deadwood Mardi Gras with a parade, a masquerade ball, free food, themed cocktails and music, plus special open container zones for beer and wine.
December 31
New Year’s Eve Ball Drop
A midnight ball drop on Historic Main Street at the Franklin Hotel, with casinos and restaurants running their own specials.
We could not confirm this repeats every year.Mid-to-late February
Winterfest (Lead)
The neighboring town of Lead holds its annual snow festival, with on-mountain and in-town activities for all ages.
spring
April
Forks, Corks & Kegs
A long-running food, wine and beer festival. Ticket holders move between tasting venues around Deadwood, sampling pours and food at each stop.
Mid-May
Deadwood’s Craft Beer Fest: Hops & Hogs
Craft beer tasting paired with bacon dishes. General admission is a limited Saturday ticket.
We could not confirm this repeats every year.Mid-March
St. Patrick’s Celebration
A Wild West take on St. Patrick’s, with a Lucky Leprechaun Hunt, a pub crawl, a parade and parties around town. Pub crawl tickets are for ages 21 and up.
Late May
Outlaw Square Summer Kickstart Weekend
Free concerts on Outlaw Square’s stage open the square’s summer season.
summer
Late July
Days of ’76 Rodeo and Parades
Deadwood’s signature week: a PRCA rodeo at the Days of ’76 Arena, with parades. Its committee has been named PRCA Rodeo Committee of the Year 19 times since 1998, and the rodeo entered the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2011.
Early-to-mid July
Deadwood 3-Wheeler Rally
A five-day gathering for trike riders based at the Deadwood Event Complex, with daily Black Hills rides, vendors, a show and shine, poker runs and a parade.
Mid-May to mid-September, Monday through Saturday
Deadwood Alive Street Shows
Costumed reenactors stage shootouts and other Old West performances at Outlaw Square and the Franklin Hotel through the summer. The schedule shifts around large events, so check the daily listing.
Early-to-mid July (July 9-11 in 2027)
Deadwood Blues Festival
A ticketed three-day festival with local, regional and national blues bands at venues across town, closing with an evening show at Outlaw Square.
June
Deadwood PBR
Professional bull riding at the Days of ’76 grounds, staged as a stop on a regional series.
Summer Tuesdays in past years; check with Deadwood History for current dates
Family Fun Tuesdays
Deadwood History’s summer program of hands-on history activities for kids, listed on the Outlaw Square calendar.
July 4 weekend
Independence Day Parade and Celebration
A parade sets off from the Days of ’76 Event Complex and runs up Main Street, with live music in town. The 2026 edition also marked Deadwood’s 150th anniversary year.
We could not confirm this repeats every year.Mid-to-late August, after the Sturgis Rally
Kool Deadwood Nites
A classic car celebration with a parade, a show and shine, a 1950s and 60s sock hop, and free concerts on Main Street. Registered vehicles have to meet a model-year cutoff.
A Monday during the Sturgis Rally, early-to-mid August
Buffalo Chip Legends Ride
A charity ride that starts on Main Street at Outlaw Square and the Silverado Franklin and heads to the Buffalo Chip. The day includes a poker tournament and a live auction in Deadwood before kickstands go up.
Mid-July
Neutrino Day (Lead)
The Sanford Underground Research Facility’s free science festival fills neighboring Lead with hands-on activities, speakers, art and entertainment.
Monday evenings in summer
Outlaw Square Monday Movie Nights
Movies on the square on Monday evenings through the summer season.
Wednesday evenings, late May to early September
Outlaw Square Free Summer Concert Series
Free Wednesday-night concerts at Outlaw Square on Main Street, with a different band each week. The 2026 series skipped one week during the Sturgis Rally.
Early-to-mid August (ten days)
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
The rally is based in nearby Sturgis, and the Deadwood Chamber promotes the town as a place to stay during it. Deadwood bars, saloons and casinos run their own promotions over the ten days.
Mid-June
Wild Bill Days
A Main Street weekend named for Wild Bill Hickok, with free concerts, a vendor market, Old West demonstrations and reenactments, and a collector car auction at Deadwood Mountain Grand.
fall
Late October, around Halloween
Deadweird
Deadwood’s Halloween blowout: a Monster Ball with a live band and dancing, then a costume contest with more than $5,000 in cash and prizes.
Mid-September
Deadwood Jam
A long-running outdoor music festival, in its 36th year in 2026, held at Outlaw Square with an art auction alongside the concerts. Admission can change from year to year; the 2026 edition was free.
Mid-September
Fair in the Square
Outlaw Square’s juried open-air craft fair, where makers sell directly to shoppers.
Halloween
KidWeird
A Halloween party for ages 12 and under, with trick-or-treating, music, games and an age-grouped costume contest at the Deadwood Gulch Convention Center.
Early October
Oktoberfest
Deadwood’s Oktoberfest brings wiener dog races, beer barrel games, a brat cook-off, a German car show and a prize scavenger hunt to town.
Select October dates
Paranormal Investigations of the Historic Adams House
Deadwood History offers paranormal investigation sessions at the Adams House each fall.
Early September
Sturgis Mustang Rally
A week of cruises, racing and a car show for Mustang owners, listed on the Deadwood Chamber calendar. Check the rally’s own site for which events, if any, are in Deadwood.
Mid-October
Wild West Songwriters Festival
Three days of national hit songwriters and regional artists, with free writers’ rounds around town.
We could not confirm this repeats every year.Early November
Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Stroll
A ticketed afternoon of wine, cheese and chocolate samples at participating businesses, with a commemorative glass. Must be 21 or older.
year-round
Periodic Thursdays
Preservation Thursday Lecture Series
Deadwood History’s talks on regional history, held at the Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center.