Shindigs: Where any occasion is party-worthy

From hosting birthday, holiday and graduation parties to craft workshops, business meetings and family fun nights, Shindigs is a wide-open space pulsing with possibilities. 

Brandon’s first and only party planning and event center opened in April at 1517 W. Holly Blvd.  

The space, which seats 80 comfortably, can be rented for $35 an hour or you can tap the creativity of the Shindigs ladies to put together an unforgettable bash for around $100.

“We’re super stoked about this place and what we do. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s a lot of fun to help other people have fun,” said Jill Kiefer, who co-owns Shindigs with her daughter, Brittany Gerovac, and daughter-in-law, Sara Kiefer. 

As the mom and “the more elderly one in the group,” Jill Kiefer was Mrs. Claus at Shindigs’ community Christmas event earlier this month.

While some kids shy away from Santa, Mrs. Claus had a different experience. 

 “They’re more open to ‘Mrs.’ than ‘Mr.,’” Kiefer said. “They didn’t cry, and they all wanted to come sit on my lap.”

Women are nicer, she added with a laugh. 

“Sometimes Santa is built up too much. And Mrs. Claus is kind of in the background, like grandma, making cookies or something.”

Kiefer and Gerovac like to get crafty – “I’m more ‘out of the box’ crazy with decorations,” Jill said – while Sara Kiefer typically stays behind the scenes, though schedules occasionally dictate otherwise. (Pssst. It was Sara in the Easter Bunny costume this year). 

After years of party-planning for their family, the Shindigs ladies – who all live in Valley Springs – decided to share their party-planning talents with the community. 

“We just thought, you know what, there are no other places in Brandon. You’d have to go into Sioux Falls. So, we thought, ‘Let’s bring it to Brandon and see how it goes,’” Jill said. 

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, especially for a Shindigs specialty: the Nerf birthday party. 

Michael Gross arranged for Shindigs to host his son’s birthday blast.  

“We had two teams together, and then the adults did it, and by the time we were done, we were so tired and just rolling on the floor,” he said. “It was a blast. We support them totally.”

Princess parties are the second most popular, but Shindigs also has all the props and décor for under the sea, superhero and disco or dance parties.  

Shindigs also hosts baby and wedding showers, and if you’re looking for someone to officiate the “I do’s,” that’s possible, too. (Sara Kiefer is ordained). 

You can bring your own food, too, as well as beer and wine. 

Shindigs is unique not only to Brandon, Gross said, but to the entire Sioux Falls area. 

“It’s a unique concept. Anything you can think of, they can make it happen. There’s so much room for imagination,” Gross said. 

What Shindigs doesn’t do (but the ladies often have to point out) is sell stuff for parties. 

“A lot of people think we’re a party supply place. They’ll show up and say, ‘Can I get some tablecloths?’” Sara Kiefer said. 

Winter’s arrival brings several activities for kids this week and next.  

A summer slime night was a smash, so Shindigs is bringing it back Dec. 21 with a twist: kids will make three new kinds of slime, all winter-themed. 

There’s also Open Nerf Nights Dec. 27-29 for ages 7 and up and a free winter movie night Dec. 30. Kids are voting for their movie of choice on the website at shindigsparties.com.

Kiefer and daughters are taking reservations for holiday parties and planning their family’s own.

Working together can be too much family at times, they agree, but it can also be a lot of fun. 

“I think some of my favorite memories are sitting here at the end of the day and laughing at some of the things that happened and being relieved we got through it,” Sara Kiefer said. 

“Kids – it’s kids every single time. There’s always some crazy business with kids,” Jill said. “The crazy thing is when you have three birthdays in one day and they’re all different and you have to transform the place from one theme to another.” 

They’ve hosted as many as four in one day, but they always manage to pull it off.

And best of all is the feedback from families and knowing all the hard work was worth it.  

“I really enjoy the kids and hearing that this was their best party,” Jill said.