BROOKINGS — “Pickle Festival Gala Days 2024”: That’s the official title for this year’s celebration. To those residents and visitors coming to Aurora on Friday and Saturday, this annual celebration is simply “Pickle Days.”

Like most small-town South Dakota summer celebrations, this year’s get together brings with it a simple sameness that is liked by all who come to take part. But the themes may change a little from one year to the next.

“This year is related more to farming,” explained Pat Tingle, a member of the Aurora Events Committee. “That’s why we’re growing the future, planting and things like that for the farmer.” In a way, this year’s theme is sort of tied to 2023’s theme: building the future, which had some fundraising for a new “City Building” to replace the old one, which held the Community Center, the “Little Hall” and city offices, which was condemned and had to be razed.

“Still working on that,” Tingle said. “The street dance funds will go to that, too. This year some of the alcohol sales from the street dance will also go to that.” But before that late-Saturday-into-early-Sunday dance come two days of events.

Friday brings the citywide rummage sale. Check out the Aurora Facebook page for the when-and-where details. Meanwhile there’s music in the park with Emma Nichols, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. And if you’re looking for some victuals about that time, head on over to the K Country Cookout at City park on Broadway. It’s free until the grub’s all eaten. Sponsors are AEC, Aurora Quick Stop, and Steadfast Electric. And if you didn’t get fed or if you’re still hungry, the Mortland’s Burgers  food truck will be at the City Park.

At 5 p.m. registration begins for adult karaoke competiton at City Park on Broadway.

Day No. 1 continues and wraps up with live music at 9 p.m. at the town’s most celebrated watering hole: Lemke’s Bar and Grill.

Keep the party rolling

Saturday comes and that’s what the bulk of the celebrating is all about; it starts early and goes all day and into the night. And once again, it’s chow time: from 7 to 10 a.m. there’s a pancake feed at the fire hall.

But if you’re not into packing down the carbs, get on your running shoes for the 7:30 a.m. start of the Chuck Tiltrum 5K run, which is followed by the Kids Run. And come 9 :00 a.m., it’s time to start lining up for the parade, which is two hours away.

In those two hours, stuff is still going on: At 10 a.m., crafts, art and food vendors are in the park, and they’ll be there until 4 in the afternoon; there’ the car and motorcycle show registration at Lemke’s (the show takes place at noon); and at 10:30 a.m. there’s the Kids Bike Parade and the kids are urged to decorate with this year’s theme in mind.

Come 11 a.m., it’s show time! Tingle estimates the parade will draw 25 to 30 entries, pretty much the same as 2013.

 “We hope so.,” he added. “This year we have road construction. The parade lineup is going to be at the ball field this year. It’s kind of a different backwards route. It’s kind of the same route; but we’re kind of taking it backwards. The construction by the railroad (means) we can’t cross the south side of town. The other thing, too, everybody has to come off of Highway 14.”

Following the parade come a couple of events that are mainstays for the annual gathering: at 1 p.m. the bean bag tournament, sponsored by Lemke’s, gets under way. Meanwhile, it’s time for the contestants to register for the “Largest Cucumber and Pickling Competition.” (Change out the Aurora Events Committee Facebook page in advance or the information booth prior to the start of the event).

Plenty of  on-stage entertainment

In addition to all the goings on noted above, there’s plenty of one-stop entertainment: at the Aurora Quick Stop Stage in the park, beginning at 11 a.m. and going to 5 p.m. Included are: a mobile photo booth; face painting; 605 Ghostbusters; kid safety presentation by the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office; the Zoo Man; Kids Pedal Pull; and illusionist Max Fleet.

“He’s been doing some shows with Reza,” Tingle noted, referencing the Brookings magician and illusionist. “That’s kind of our big show this year, a local kid (Fleet) from Lake Benton.”

Then at 7 comes the start of the grand finale: the street dance on Broadway, which again this year features two bands. Playing until 9 p.m. is Highway Call. The comes a half-hour break, until 9:30, when Urbandale Lane Band takes over and plays until 1 on Sunday morning. All ages are welcome, but coolers are not. Advance admission is $20 per couple or $15 per person at the gate.

Once again, Pickle Festival logo T-shirts are now for sale, for $25, at Lemke’s and Quick Stop. T-shirts will also be available at the Information Booth on festival days. This year’s logo shows a pickle driving a tractor. Take your pick of colors: red for International, green for John Deere.

Shuttle buses from downtown Brookings will again be running this year. For more details about this and other festival events, check out the Facebook page “Aurora Events Committee." Additionally, a complete schedule of festival events can be found on page 14 of the Wednesday (July 14) edition of The Brookings Register.

Contact John Kubal at jkubal@brookingsregister.com.