The Brookings Festival of Lights returned for its 29th year last Friday, Dec. 6. 

Kirsten Gjesdal, the director of Downtown Brookings and the event organizer, said the parade received glowing feedback and added that she was happy with the evening’s turnout.  

“The event amassed over an estimated 5,000 people – there were about 45 vehicles that participated in the parade, representing over 35 organizations,” Gjesdal said.  

The event began at 4:30 p.m. with downtown businesses setting up for the pre-parade festivities. Some of the pre-parade’s most popular attractions included photos with Santa at Dakota Insurance and letters to Santa at the Children’s Museum of South Dakota.  

Kerrie Vilhauer, the director of marketing at the Children’s Museum, said the museum saw over 350 people the night of the festival. 

Outside of the Children’s Museum, showcased a new edition of this year’s festival, Santa’s reindeer, which received a thumbs-up from many eventgoers. The live reindeer, Mika and Stella, were brought from Red Stable Reindeer in Lynd, Minnesota. 

The owners of Red Stable Reindeer, Dan, and Kelly Pochardt said they were excited to be a part of this year’s Festival of Lights. 

“(Mika and Stella) have been going out this last year to different places,” Kelly said. “We’ve brought them to elementary schools; we’ve had day cares coming to our house to see them. It’s been fun to have little kids get excitement from seeing live reindeer.” 

Just across the street from the Children’s Museum, showcased the first ever Mayor’s Holiday Tree Lighting in Brookings. 

The lighting commemorated Brookings Mayor Opeke “Ope” Niemeyer’s granddaughter, Iris, who “represents the joy and hope of future generations,” said Kristen Zimmerman, the director of Parks, Recreation & Forestry, during her commemoration speech. 

Allen Kruse was also honored during the lighting for his 42 years of service at Parks, Recreation & Forestry in Brookings. 

Niemeyer said in a City of Brookings article, “I’m excited to start what I hope will become an annual tradition in Brookings.” 

After the early activities, the parade kicked off with the night’s announcements on top of Cubby’s rooftop. Kari “Kringle” Westlund from The Real Estate Sisters was the announcer of the evening. 

She introduced this year’s grand marshal, the family honoring Patty Kratochvil, who was a longtime business owner in downtown Brookings and died in November 2023. 

“We are honoring her spirit and the impact she had on the downtown neighborhood,” Gjesdal said. 

Over 30 floats from local businesses continued down Main Avenue lighting the streets and receiving cheers from paradegoers. 

The last float of the night featured Santa Claus himself, and Westlund thanked the businesses, sponsors and volunteers who made the event possible. 

Lauren Freml, a Brookings local, has been coming to the parade with her family for the last nine years. 

“We had a lot of fun at this year’s festival,” Freml said. “We love seeing all the interpretations of the theme. It’s just a really fun kickoff for Christmas.”