A reimagined community space in downtown Dickinson
Events are held year-round at Legacy Square in Dickinson, an outdoor multipurpose community space which opened in 2023 after years of planning and fundraising. Courtesy Photo
The city of Dickinson reimagined a downtown site – a former banking center – to create a vibrant outdoor space for the community.
Dickinson’s Legacy Square opened in 2023 after five years of planning and fundraising.
It’s “a community gathering place, a downtown hub within our community here, where people can come and get together and enjoy everything from the arts to various community events,” says Joel Walters, marketing and events director for the city of Dickinson.
Legacy Square is a multipurpose space, serving as a concert venue, event site, children’s fun zone and a place to get dinner and a beer in the heart of downtown Dickinson. It includes a stage, covered pavilions, pergolas, splash pad and dinosaur-themed play area for kids, and a concourse where people can gather.
The outdoor venue’s popular live music series returns for its third summer of music in 2025. Since opening, Legacy Square has brought in nearly 50 bands and 40,000 concertgoers. One concert brought a record 4,000 people in one evening. Last year, featured artists included Scranton native Kat Perkins, the Eli Young Band and Warrant.
And, the concerts are free!
Vendors also sell a variety of food, drinks and merchandise at select events, including the concert series.
Events are held year-round at Legacy Square, from outdoor movie nights in the summer to its annual Christmas tree lighting, complete with hot cocoa and holiday carols. The venue has been used for community outreach events by the police and fire departments and can be rented for weddings and personal events.
Walters recognizes the Downtown Dickinson Association and the Downtown Improvement District as key players in creating this legacy space for the community.
Providing access to the arts and entertainment one might not always find in a rural community like Dickinson is part of what makes Legacy Square special, he says.
“It’s just a big sense of atmosphere that people really enjoy,” Walters says. “(Legacy Square is) providing that quality of life, providing that recreation for our community members, some sense of community pride, and then also really helping draw people to the community.”
Dickinson’s Legacy Square will have its summer concert series schedule finalized soon. Visit its website, dickinsongov.com/downtown/page/live-legacy-square, or Facebook page for more information.
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Kennedy DeLap is interning with North Dakota Living. She can be reached at kdelap@ndarec.com.
