Sioux Falls St. Patrick's Day Parade

2024 was the 44th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade here in Sioux Falls, and some people may not know the parade’s unlikely origin of the start of this Sioux Falls Holiday Tradition.

Sylvia Henkin was president of KSOO radio and was inspired by the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade she had attended. She loved the parade so much she brought the idea home with her to Sioux Falls. So in the spring of 1980, she decided to start the tradition here and began the parade planning from her kitchen. This is probably when you are expecting me to tell you she was Irish. But she was not. In fact Sylvia’s parents immigrated from Russia and her mother was born Poland. The Argus Leader also made sure to mention that Sylvia was Jewish.  Sioux Falls has always been a melting pot and lets not forget that you don’t have to be from Ireland to celebrate Irish heritage.

The first parade was a complete success and the city decides to make it an annual event. For the past 44 years Sioux Falls has embraced the Parade and each year it seems to grow in size and popularity even the cold weather parades have a good turn out. The parade was canceled in 2020 and 2021 as a result of Covid 19 but has since made its return to the streets of downtown.  As for Sylvia Henkin she lived to see the smashing success of the parade and passed away at the age of 96 in 2018. The parade is only one of many causes she championed in her life. So now you know one womans idea got us a 44 year strong tradition. A hodgepodge of cultures and ages all wearing green watching a parade downtown because isn’t’ everyone a little Irish on St. Patrick’s Day?