BROOKINGS – The Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce Downtown Brookings Business District Committee has announced this year’s Festival of Lights parade grand marshal as Joy Mills.

Mills is known as a regular supporter of small businesses throughout the Brookings community through her patronage, mentorship and positivity.

Laci Thompson, chair of the committee, said, “Joy is a frequent visitor to Downtown Brookings. She spreads positivity and community spirit everywhere she goes. We invited Joy to serve as grand marshal as a thank you for her years of support of our neighborhood.”

Mills will open the Festival of Lights parade which will take place at 7 p.m. Friday on Main Avenue in Brookings. The parade will travel south on Main Avenue, to Third Street, and up Fifth Avenue to Eighth Street. Announcements will be made from Cubby’s rooftop by Kari Westlund of Best Choice Real Estate.

Prior to the parade, a variety of activities will be taking place in the downtown district including Central Residential Historic District Trolley Rides from 5 to 7 p.m. hosted by the Brookings Historic Preservation Commission. The trolley rides will start in front of the Children’s Museum and proceed clockwise through the Central Residential Historic District.

Participants will be led by horse and trolley provided by the McCrossan Boys Ranch of Sioux Falls, with narration and commentary by BHPC commissioners. Trolley rides will run continuously with departures every 20-30 minutes.

For a complete list of activities happening in Brookings on Friday, visit brookingschamber.org or check out the Downtown Brookings Business District page on Facebook.