BROOKINGS – The Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce kicks off the holidays with its 24th annual Festival of Lights on Saturday, Nov. 30. 

Come cozy up with family and friends in Downtown Brookings and create treasured memories of a favorite holiday tradition. This year’s theme is “Santa’s Ho Ho Hoedown.”  

“We are excited to host the 24th year of this community event,” Ashley Biggar, director of the Brookings Downtown Business District, said. “I can’t wait to see all the businesses embrace this year’s theme and deck their floats in tons of country western decorations. I am grateful for our community partners that were able to participate once again this year regardless of the date change. 

“The event is usually on a Thursday, but this year will be on Small Business Saturday due to Thanksgiving falling late this year. I hope this year’s date provides an opportunity for families, both local and visiting, to have an extraordinary evening activity after they explore our Downtown Brookings during the day,” Biggar added.

The annual parade begins at 7 p.m. and will travel south on Main Avenue between Eighth Street and Third Street. Entries are open to the public with a float registration fee of $25. To register a business, club or organization, stop by the Chamber office at 415 Eight St. S. or visit https://www.brookingschamber.org/festival-of-lights.  

The Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce collaborates with the Brookings Arts Council, Children’s Museum of South Dakota, Brookings Historic Preservation Committee, The Carrot Seed Kitchen Co., The Brookings Register and Honeycomb Gifts to provide an evening full of fun and festive events. Sponsors for the 2019 Festival of Lights are First Bank & Trust, 3M, and Papa John’s Pizza.