BROOKINGS – Celebrate the season and embrace the chill with numerous winter activities throughout Brookings this weekend.
The Brookings Convention & Visitors Bureau, along with local area attractions, present the fourth annual Frost Fest this Friday through Sunday. This year, three new events were added to the three-day weekend festival.
Every third weekend in February, area attractions come together as part of Frost Fest to showcase indoor and outdoor activities and things to do in the winter months. Three new events added include a photo booth with Elsa and Olaf in downtown Brookings, a chili feed hosted by the Midwest Maidens at the downtown Armory and W.H. Stables & Petting Zoo.
The 2018 schedule of events includes:
Friday
• Snow Ball Dance, 6:30 - 8 p.m. at the Children’s Museum of South Dakota: Dress up and get down with music, activities, a photo booth and more. Parents and guardians, enjoy a fun date night out with your kiddos. Admission is $5.
Saturday
• Plein Air Paint In, 9 a.m.-noon at Larson Nature Center, facilitated by the Brookings Arts Council: Bring your paints and get inspired sitting next to a crackling fire while gazing at the serene setting of Dakota Nature Park. Artists are encouraged to bring their own supplies and expected to show off their works for a quick show as families flock to DNP for various other activities. (Free)
• Ice fishing derby, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Dakota Nature Park: Bring your family and your best fisherman to participate in the ice fishing derby. Basic fishing supplies will be offered if needed, and staff will be on site for assistance. As weather permits, snowshoes, cross-country skiing, sledding, and other snowy activities will be available. (Free)
• The World Cup: A Tasting of International Hot Drinks, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum: Sip and slurp a sampling of warm beverages from around the world, including teas, coffee, mulled wine and more. (Free)
• Petting zoo and hay rides, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. at W.H. Stables & Petting Zoo: Feel free to drop by anytime at the only petting zoo in Brookings. Mingle with all the great musicians (aka animals), Ozzy, Johnny, Willie, Dolly and more while enjoying hay rides and hot cocoa. Admission to the petting zoo is free, and hay rides cost $3 for kids 10 and under and $5 for adults.
• Chili feed, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Downtown Armory, hosted by the Midwest Maidens Roller Derby: Warm up with hot chili and all the fixings, plus a helping of cornbread for a free will donation. Lunch is served!
• Elsa and Olaf photobooth, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at 314 Main Ave. (Grunewaldt Building): Score a photo and a hug from your favorite characters of “Frozen” and then feel free to shop around our local boutiques or grab a coffee as you head to the next adventure.
• Yeti Hunt at the Brookings County Outdoor Adventure Center: Experience a Yeti-themed archery experience and photobooth (for children 5 and older). Both ranges will feature Yeti-themed targets, and participants will receive a 10 percent discount on both ranges for an admission of $9 for the archery range and $13.50 for the firearms range. Equipment will be available for rental.
• Brrring out the Animals, 1-3 p.m. at the McCrory Gardens Education & Visitor Center: Learn all about cold weather animals, birds and their tracks in the snow. Make and take pine cone bird feeders, participate in a scavenger hunt through the formal gardens and enjoy hot chocolate with Puppet Fred. Visitors are also welcome to wander through the arboretum on a self-guided tour with their pets on a leash.
Sunday
• Movie matinee plus one canned good item for donation at Brookings Cinema 8 movie theatre: Take in a matinee movie with the family and share your kindness with the Brookings County Food Pantry. The theatre will offer $5 admission with the donation of a canned good item as part of Frost Fest. Don’t forget to grab some popcorn and snacks at the concession.
