nd its festivities last week in Brookings, but the scene remained “a tame weekend,” according to Brookings Police.
Hobo Day ranks as one of the most anticipated events at SDSU each year and the big crowds that flock to the parade and the football game on Saturday, mixed with alcohol, puts law enforcement on alert. However, compared to last year, Hobo Day 2023 had 42 fewer arrests than the previous year, according to the Brookings County Detention Center.
This year’s Hobo Week marked the 111th annual celebration and ran from Oct. 9-14.
The week started with Bum-A-Meal on Monday, Oct. 9, where students dressed up in their hobo attire for a free meal by host families in the Brookings community.
According to Matilyn Kerr, the adviser for Hobo Day and other university events, the turnout was like last year’s Bum-A-Meal. This year, though, Bum-A-Meal was on the same day as the Native American holiday.
“It’s always kind of interesting when we have like a Monday holiday to see where things are at,” said Kerr. “So, I can with some certainty say that there were over 620 students that participated in Bum-A-Meal.”
Bum Over and the Mulligan Stew Cookoff took place on Tuesday. Bum Over was held in the Volstorff Ballroom in the Student Union and students built shanties out of cardboard. The Mulligan Stew Cookoff happened right after Bum Over.
On Wednesday, Rally at the Rails was in downtown Brookings where games, food trucks and a live band called Maiden Dixie performed. President Barry Dunn was seen at the event as well.
“We were able to bring in a bigger band from Minneapolis, Maiden Dixie, and they knew how to put on a show, which was good,” said Marissa Vogt, this year’s Grand Pooba. “I want to say we had over 1,000 people go to that as well.”
Thursday’s event brought back BumFire, where students gathered near the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex to watch a fire and drink hot chocolate. Because of rainy weather, the event was moved to the Volstroff Ballroom. Instead of a fire, games and activities were held. Another band that was student-led, The Smokin’ Jacks, performed at BumFire as well.
“Obviously, it wasn’t the turnout that we were expecting just because of the weather, but I think for the most part it turned out pretty well,” said Vogt. “We were able to adapt well and to get the word out as fast as possible, and hopefully people got the message.”
Friday night brought Jacks Got Talent; an event hosted by the University Program Council at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center. The event showcased a contest of students who performed their talents for gift cards and cash prizes.
Hobo Day on Saturday began at 9:30 a.m. with the mile-long parade. The Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band performed, and the celebration included 50 floats that were student entries, one less float than last Hobo Day.
Victoria Hansen, the security coordinator in the Hobo Day Committee for the parade, said that the parade went well security-wise.
“I don’t think security was breached,” said Hansen. “The volunteers held their own, they were pretty good.”
Vogt has said that the parade is her favorite event.
“Being able to see all the community’s hard work pay off and to see them at the end of the parade walking down Medary [Avenue], Sixth Street and Main Street and just enjoying that moment for them too,” said Vogt. “That was super heart-warming especially.”
Hansen said it was her first year being on the committee and would like to be in a leadership position again if she was given the opportunity.
On Saturday afternoon, the Jackrabbit football team won 41-6 against Northern Iowa. The game was sold out and the Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium held over 19,000 people.
Although Hobo Week has come to a close for 2023, it isn’t the end for the Hobo Day Committee. There is a countdown inside the Hobo Day Office for Hobo Day 2024 due to all the planning that takes place for putting on the events.
“For Hobo Day 2023, I was announced as Grand Pooba right before Thanksgiving,” Vogt said. “After Thanksgiving break, I started all the planning and then slowly started adding in my assistants, and in early February the entire committee was selected. So, we’ve been planning this for a full year. A lot of people don’t think of it like that, they just think that it’s just a fall commitment, but no, it’s a full, one-year commitment.”
Next year, Hobo Day will be held on October 12, 2024.
