BROOKINGS – The city’s last summer extravaganza, Brookings Bonanza, is set to run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday with exercise, history and food.
Morning events are set on the Brookings County Courthouse green and its vicinity, and the afternoon events will be in Pioneer Park.
The day kicks off at 9 a.m. with the Farmers Market and Earth Day Take 2. There will be a number of different booths this week, said Shari Thornes, city clerk.
Family yoga will run from 9-10 a.m.
The first Guided Walk & Roll Tour will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will go through the commercial historic district, said Angie Boersma, chair of the Brookings Historic Preservation Commission. A member of the HPC will lead the tour, giving the history of the district, significant buildings, architectural features, and details and materials “that make our downtown district really unique,” Boersma said.
She will lead the second tour at 10:30 a.m., which will include the central residential historic district, and everyone on foot, rollerblade, stroller, scooter or similar methods of wheeled transportation is welcome, she said.
“We’ll kind of walk and talk about the development of the central residential historic district, significant historical architectural details, construction methods and materials and why those are significant and important as historic components in the Brookings district,” Boersma said.
The tours are free, and no tickets are necessary.
“We’ll leave from the courthouse lawn,” Boersma said.
Those wanting to participate should meet at the informational booth at the Farmers Market. The booth will have a run-down of the day’s activities and be staffed by volunteers.
Those wanting to go on both tours should be able to, Boersma said.
“The downtown tour is going to be a little bit shorter route. The one that’s a little bit longer (in the residential area) is the trolley ride route that we take at Christmas,” she said. It will head over to Medary and loop back to the courthouse.
There will be printed hand-outs and brochures. They are working on a walking tour app for the historic districts, too, she said.
“If folks can’t go on one of the tours, we’re gonna provide information that they can certainly pick up … so they can do self-guided walking tours with some of the similar information to what will be provided on the walking tour and we would encourage people to participate in that way as well,” Boersma said.
At 11:30 a.m., the Brookings Committee for People who have Disabilities will be drawing for kids bicycle helmets and composting bins. Chuck Bennis created an art wrap for one of the compost bins, Thornes said. The committee will be soliciting medical equipment to be donated.
A 10-mile bike ride kicks off at noon from the Farmers Market, loops around South Brookings and back up to Pioneer Park.
“There is no need to sign up – all ages and skill levels are encouraged to ride, and helmets are also encouraged,” said Emily Braun, with the Brookings Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“We’ll have bike leaders and followers to help assist, and the route will be marked with arrows pointing the right direction. We assume the group will be segmented and folks will need to know where they’re going without a leader,” Braun added.
The afternoon is set aside for the Pigs Roast BBQ Contest with a free-will donation to the Brookings Police Foundation. There will be music, kids activities, inflatables, yard games, adult beverage and the Kiss the Pig contest.
Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.
Register photo: Bikers take part in a previous Mayor’s Ride. Bicyclists will get a workout during a 10-mile ride around Brookings Saturday as part of Brookings Bonanza.
