Arts and Culture

Bismarck provides many arts and cultural opportunities that are exciting events occurring throughout the year. Classical, pops, and chamber music is provided by the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra. Special events occurring include the New Year’s Viennese Gala, the Fourth of July Spectacular and the Pops on the Prairie summer series, and summer serenades. Sleepy Hollow Summer Theatre offers classes in June and presents a Broadway musical in July, as well as performances in the outdoor amphitheater in the Sleepy Hollow Arts Park. There are also concerts, arts/crafts shows, museums, recitals, and more!

Parks

Bismarck also offers fun and exciting ways to enjoy recreation time! Living beside the Missouri River offers you water sports that include everything from beautiful cruises on the riverboat, to fishing, boating, and swimming. Lake Sakakawea is also located not far away, providing 1,600 miles of lake shore to experience challenging sailing. The world-class fishing also draws people from all around the world!

48 parks with more than 3,500 acres among them, offer hiking trails and biking routes. Bismarck also offers two indoor arenas, as well as a recreation center. Rated one of the best in the country, the Bismarck YMCA is a popular draw for people of all ages. It is home to the second-largest aquatic facility in the nation.

The Dakota Zoo, located in Bismarck’s Sertoma Park, provides a home for more than 500 reptiles, birds, and mammals, representing a total of 125 species.

Sports

The Bismarck Parks and Recreation District offers programs for all seasons:

• Baseball

• Hockey
• Basketball
• Tennis
• Golf
• Volleyball
• Soccer
• Swimming
• Skating
• Racquetball
• And more!

There are seven superb golf courses in the Bismarck area. One of which, Hawktree Golf Club, placed second on Golf Digest’s 2000 list of top new courses in the US and is ranked No. 61 on Golfweek magazine’s 2004 list of the Best Modern Golf Courses in the nation.

There are 14 different soccer fields, 19 outdoor tennis courts, 4 indoor tennis courts, 2 bowling alleys (Midway Bowling Lanes and Ten Spot Lanes), 16 sand volleyball courts, a BMX bicycle track, miniature golf, rodeo,  and stock car racing facilities are sure to provide fun for you and your family.

Entertainment

Bismarck is also the home of the CBA basketball champions Dakota Wizards and the AWHL’s Bismarck Bobcats.

The Bismarck Civic Center provides music, drama, sports, and other events. In the past they have hosted Alabama's last concert of their farewell tour, WWE wrestling tour, monster truck rallies, rodeos, and theatre.

The Bismarck State College Community Bowl hosts football, track & field, and soccer. It is also the home of many high school playoffs, championships, and many other community events.

Historic

There are also several historic sites in Bismarck, including:

Camp Hancock State Historic Site – Established to house troops that were protecting the railroad workers.

Double Ditch Village State Historic Site – The remains of earth lodges

Former Governor’s Mansion Historic Site – Preserved mid-Victorian mansion lived in by governors holding office from 1893 to 1960.

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park – features the reconstructed home of General George and Libbie Custer, 7 th Calvary barracks and mess hall, storehouse, granary theater, museum, and modern campground.

Buckstop Junction – features approximately 20 historic buildings from 1877 to 1933.