FunSki and outdoor show highlight things to do this week

Sioux Falls won’t make any best-of lists when it comes to skiing and snowboarding destinations.

That’s fine, because we’ve got a bunch of other stuff to put on our resume, like a bike trail, river park system and downtown aroma.

But Great Bear Recreation Park is still a lot of fun, especially when the Media One FunSki event takes place every year to benefit the Children’s Home Society of South Dakota.

It’s one of many things taking place in the Sioux Falls area this week that you need to know about. See our list below, or check out our events calendar on SiouxFallsLive.com for more.

Hit the slopes for charity this weekend

Calling all skiers, snowboarders, fat bike riders, sled racers and snow sculpture artists, the 34th Annual Media One FunSki event is this weekend at Great Bear, and there are events for everyone who loves the slopes.

The FunSki starts Friday, Jan. 20 and ends Saturday, Jan. 21, with several competitions both days. Join in on family tubing night for just $10 Friday and vote for your favorite snow sculpture. On Saturday, there are cross country ski races, fat tire bike races, a giant slalom and a Zipfy sled race. Registration closes 45 minutes before each event. Register and find more information at funski.org .

Great Bear is open for normal activities during the FunSki event.

Opera, orchestra and a matinee play about a dog

Support the University of South Dakota Opera and enjoy an evening performance of “Death by Chocolate & Aria” from the award-winning organization on Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Minnehaha Country Club. The $150 admission includes a $75 donation to USD Opera as well as dinner, dessert, wine and live music. Doors open at 6 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. The funds raised help with the costs of putting on two operas per year and tours to area schools and community centers as well as providing financial support for students. Tickets can be purchased at the USDAlumni.com website.

The Washington Pavilion will bring the story of Buck and the “Call of the Wild” to life during a performance as part of its school matinee series at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19. Tickets are $3 and can be purchased on the Pavilion website . The story will be presented in a multimedia format that mixes classic story-telling along with projected illustrations that show how Buck was kidnapped from California and survives in the cold and snow of the north.

The South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, Rui Du and the Sioux Falls Lion Dance Team perform the music of Chinese composer Chen Yi, Erich Korngold and Antonin Dvorak during the Du and Dvorak concert at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Washington Pavilion. Tickets are $15-$52 and can be purchased on the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra website .

Operation Hopeful aims to raise money to pay for lunches for Sioux Falls students who are behind on their payments by selling artwork from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21, at Sioux Falls Overlook Cafe. More than 20 vendors will be selling a variety of pieces, with donated artwork being raffled off.

Country concert and a benefit show

Country music artist Chris Janson is returning to The District on Thursday, Jan. 19, after performing there in 2019. Janson’s 2015 album “Buy Me a Boat” reached No. 4 on the Billboard country charts and No. 18 on the Billboard 200. He’s had several top-20 hits on the country charts, including “Buy Me a Boat,” “Fix a Drink,” “Good Vibes” and “Done.” Tickets for the concert, which includes a performance by Tim Montana, are $40 for general admission and $50 for early-entry pit.

Three musical guests will perform at DaDa Gastropub during the Phil Phest! from 6-11:45 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21. The family-friendly event will benefit Phil Mueller, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in November. Phil and his wife, Tara, have two children. The performers are Tony DePaolo at 6:30 p.m., Thomas Hentges at 8 p.m. and the 4 Sure Band at 9 p.m. Entry is a freewill donation from 6-8 p.m. and $10 from 8 p.m. to close.

For the love of the outdoors

The 35th Annual Greater Sioux Falls Outdoor Show at the Expo Building at the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds can help you dream of warmer days and plan summer vacations. The event will feature boats, trailers, accessories, campers, fifth-wheelers, camping and outdoor equipment, fishing equipment and various electronics. Dozens of exhibitors and vendors will also be on hand to answer any questions and to help spend your money. The cost is $8 per day, and children under the age of 12 are free. Event times are 2-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 22.

Corn conference is all things – well -- corn

“It's corn! A big lump with knobs! It has the juice!” Ask your kids or grandkids about that one if you don’t get it. Anyway, if you are a corn grower or work in the corn industry, the 37th Annual South Dakota Corn Conference will provide the latest information and technology. The conference is Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. It starts at 7 a.m., and there will be various sessions throughout the day on weather, marketing, agriculture topics and the outlook on ethanol. The daytime sessions are free, but tickets are required. The evening reception, which includes dinner and a keynote reception by former Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway is $80 for members and $150 for non-members.

Cheer/dance, wrestling and monster trucks, oh my!

There’s more to winter sports than basketball, hockey and football playoffs. This weekend is a perfect chance to show your support for other high school athletes. The 2023 Dakota Spirit Valentine’s Classic brings the best dancers and cheer teams in the four-state region to the Sanford Pentagon on Saturday, Jan. 21 and Sunday, Jan. 22. The first day kicks off with dance solos, duets, team ensembles and cheer solo competitions with the cheer team competitions on Sunday. More than 1,2000 athletes will be participating. Tickets are $10 per day for children (ages 5-12) and $15 for adults. Two-day admission is $20 both days, and you can find a link to buy the tickets at DakotaSpirit.com .

Tea Area is hosting a wrestling quad on Friday, Jan. 20. Four teams from the Sioux Falls area will be competing: Tea, Sioux Falls Jefferson, Sioux Falls Lincoln and Harrisburg. It starts at 4:30 p.m.

Here’s one for the kids: The Toughest Monster Truck Tour brings its large and loud trucks to the Denny Sanford Premier Center on Friday, Jan. 20 and Saturday, Jan. 21. Tickets are $16-$37 plus fees, and a pit pass, which allows you to walk the track next to the cars and meet drivers, costs an additional $15.

In other sports action, the Lakeland Magic visit the Sioux Falls Skyforce twice this week. Both games are at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 17 and Thursday, Jan. 19.