Tuesday, Dec. 18

A retirement celebration for Brookings County Commissioner Stephne Miller will be held from 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, in the chambers of the Brookings City & County Government Center, 530 Third St. A program is planned for 3 p.m.

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Members of the public are invited to an open house to meet new South Dakota Humanities Council Director Ann Volin at the SDHC office, 1215 Trail Ridge Road Suite A in Brookings, from 3-6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18. During the open house, SDHC will also announce its 2019 One Book South Dakota and Young Readers One Book South Dakota selections.

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The Brookings Public Library invites the community to a showing of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” and to participate in an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest, starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18. Rated PG-13, 97 minutes.

Wednesday, Dec. 19

1 Million Cups, a way for creators, artists, entrepreneurs and business owners to gather and share ideas on upcoming projects or new products, will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, at the Children’s Museum of South Dakota. Free coffee will be served.

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Dacotah Bank will host a holiday bake sale from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 1441 Sixth St. Stop by and enjoy apple cider, coffee and treats.

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Aurora Impact Church will host a crafty Christmas party on Wednesday, Dec. 19, from 5 to 7 p.m.

There will be food, games, crafts and fun. There is no charge and all are invited.

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Bingo at the Brookings VFW, 520 Main Ave., is from 6:30-10 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19. Cards are handed out at 6:30, and bingo starts at 7. Lunch will be available. For more information, call 692-6771.

Thursday, Dec. 20

If you love to paint, join the painting group that meets from noon-5 p.m. every Thursday at the Brookings Arts Council, 524 Fourth St. Come work on individual proj¬ects and collaborate on art talk and ideas. No pre-registration is needed.

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The next Third Thursday presentation at McCrory Gardens will be “Garden Glow Tour: How it was Made,” starting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, at the Education & Visitor Center, 631 22nd Ave. It will be presented by Christina Lind-Thielke.

Friday, Dec. 21

Bingo at the Brookings VFW, 520 Main Ave., is from 6:30-10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21. Cards are handed out at 6:30, and bingo starts at 7. Lunch will be available. For more information, call 692-6771.

Saturday, Dec. 22

Brookings American Legion Post No. 74 will hold a pancake, sausage and eggs breakfast from 8:30-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at the post home,1229 Western Ave.

Proceeds will be used to support the Boys State, Youth Trooper Academy, and American Legion Baseball programs. The American Legion Auxiliary will also hold a bake sale during the breakfast.

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Area teams will compete in the multi-day Swiftel Center Basketball Classic starting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at the Swiftel Center. For a full schedule of the Saturday games, log onto www.swiftelcenter.com.

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Viewing of the 32nd annual Festival of Trees at the Brookings Arts Council, 524 Fourth St., continues through Saturday, Dec. 22.

Normal council hours are 2-5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Thursdays (Dec. 20) have extended hours until 7 p.m.

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Stroll through a wonderland of lights, images and scenes of the holidays at Garden Glow, held from 5-7 p.m. every night through Dec. 31, excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for youth 6-17 years old, and free for kids 5 and younger, SDSU students and McCrory Gardens members.

Free Santa visits will also be available Sundays, Dec. 23.