PHILIP, S.D. – Between haying and harvest comes a 100+ year-old celebration that has retained its old-time, home-town county fair atmosphere. Scotty Philip Days in Philip, S.D., celebrates heritage and community and extends a welcome to all.
Set for this weekend, August 7-10, 2025, and with the theme, “Old Time County Fair,” that’s exactly what you’ll find – from watermelon seed spitting contests to free movies at the historic Gem Theater; from mini and grown-up demolition derbies to diaper races and tractor pulls and pie eating contests. And don’t forget the parade and free street dances.
Events kick off Thursday, August 7 with a free watermelon feed and the Stick Horse Rodeo. The first of two free street dances wraps up the day with much more to come Friday through Sunday.
Doreen Vetter and Tricia Burns are among the many organizers of the three-day event. They are joined by dozens of volunteers and sponsors who help attendees enjoy free entertainment and activities in Philip.
Throughout Thursday to Sunday, August 7-10, the community offers a tractor show and shine, a 5K Run and Walk, a three-on-three basketball tournament, the Whippersnapper Bounce Yard, the Chug-a-Lug Dash Express Train, cornhole and golf tournaments and so much more.
This year’s Grand Marshal for the “Old Time County Fair” Parade that begins at 10:00a.m. Saturday, August 9, is life-long rancher Billy Markwed. The Philip Chamber of Commerce, in its news release, pointed to Markwed’s devotion to a career in agriculture and the livestock industry, his enduring spirit and deep roots in the community as among reasons why his is a life led that has inspired many.
There is breakfast on the menu starting Sunday, August 10th hosted by the Knights of Columbus and held at the Senior Citizen’s Center and the Spud Gittings Memorial Golf Tournament at the Lake Waggoner Golf Course at 9:00a.m and 1:00p.m.
All events for Scotty Philip Days “Old Time County Fair,” are free to the public.
See a complete schedule here and on Facebook at the Philip Chamber of Commerce
Thursday, August 7
• 3:30 p.m.: Stick Horse Registration Begins – Preregistration would be great
• 4:00-5:00 p.m.: “FREE” Watermelon Feed (First National Bank – Philip)
• 4:30-6:00 p.m.: “FREE” Stick Horse Rodeo (Ages: 0-10 (Bottle & Vet and Ignite Wellness Studio)
• 5:30 p.m.: Watermelon Seed Spitting contest (Golden West)
• 6:00 p.m.: “FREE” Street Dance on Center Avenue – Music By: West Bound
Friday, August 8
• 2:00 p.m.: “FREE” Movie at the Gem Theatre – Babe
• 2:00 p.m.: SD Farmers Union Safety Trailer (PHSI)
• 3:00 p.m.: Mini Demo Derby Registration Begins
• 4:00 p.m.: Buzzer Beater Basketball Shoot Out – Ages 10 & under
• 4:00 p.m.: P.I.G. Basketball Tournament – Ages 11-20
• 4:15 p.m.: “FREE” Mini Demo Derby – Center Ave.
• 5:00 p.m.: The Award Winning Pie Competition dropoff
• 7:30 p.m.: “FREE” Human Slot Machine (4E Foods)
• 8:00 p.m.: “FREE” Street Dance on Center Avenue – Music By: Williams & Wright Experience
Saturday, August 9
• 7:00 a.m.: 5K Registration – Swimming Pool Parking Lot
• 7:30 a.m.: 5K Run and Walk (Free will donation; T-shirts available) (PHS Cross Country & Track)
• 9:30 a.m.: Parade Line-up – American Legion Parking Lot
• 10:00 a.m.: Parade Begins! Theme: “Old Time County Fair”
• 11:00 a.m.: Following Parade, Tractor Show & Shine – North Center Avenue
• 11:00 a.m.: Following Parade, Haakon Co. Library Book Sale – at the courthouse
• 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Lunch – Senior Citizen’s Center (open until 5 p.m. for visiting)
• 11:00 a.m.: “FREE” Whippersnapper Bounce Yard – First National Bank at Parking Lot. (Chug-a-Lug Dash Express Train will be available) (Ages: 3-10)
• 11:30 a.m.: Pie Eating Competition (Ravellette Publications, Inc.)
• 12:00 Noon: Sugar Plum Shakers Cheer Performance – Center Ave. in front of Ignite Studio
• 12:00 Noon: – Corn Hole Tourney Registration Begins
• 12:15: Diaper Races – Center Avenue in front of Ignite Studio (Little Scotties’ Daycare)
• 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.: Dunk Tank (CHS River Plains)
• 12:30 p.m.: Kids’ Tractor Pull Registration Begins
• 1:00 p.m.: Corn Hole Tournament – Center Avenue All is welcome (PHS Volleyball)
• 1:30 p.m.: “FREE” Kids’ Tractor Pull Tournament – Center Ave. (Kennedy Imp. & Grossenburg Imp.)
• 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Carnival Games (Goldfish game, Throwing Axes, Inflatable Putt Putt, Lucky Duck Game – $1 per try – Center Ave.
• 3:30 p.m.: “FREE” Movie at the Gem Theatre – Little Rascals
• 5:00 p.m. to finish: Demolition Derby – South Side of Lake Waggoner (Philip Volunteer Fire Department)
Sunday, August 10
• 7:00 a.m.: Breakfast with Knight of Columbus – Senior Citizen’s Center (Profits go to local charity)
• 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.: Spud Gittings Memorial Golf Tournament Shotgun Starts, 3 Person Scramble format at Lake Waggoner Golf Course
• Scotties Booster Club & Scottie Golf Team’s Golf Cart Drawing at the end of the Tournament