Brookings police will once again close a section of Main Avenue during Hobo Day, focusing on safety as community members and visitors as they gather downtown following the parade and football game.
Chief of Police Michael Drake said Main Avenue, between Third and Fifth Street, will close Saturday evening and remain closed overnight. The hard closure is expected to begin around 6 p.m., but the exact timing could change depending on the size of the crowd.
“There’s a lot of different variables that we could watch public-safety wise,” Drake said. “We’ll watch the cameras. We’ll be down there on foot patrol all day when the pedestrian traffic starts to build. It might be 4 p.m. if there’s a lot of traffic after the game, but we’re going to try to look around 6 p.m.”
He said the closure is similar to last year’s, but adjusted after hearing from the community and downtown businesses.
“What we heard from some of the citizens and businesses was that it kind of may have impacted their businesses during the game,” Drake said. “We listened to the community and the businesses, and we re-evaluated what we did.”
Last year, Main Avenue remained closed after the parade and through the night, but this year’s approach is meant to provide more flexibility. Once the parade wraps up, traffic will reopen before closing again later in the evening. Drake said that change was a direct result of business feedback and real-time observation from officers downtown.
Feedback was gathered through formal meetings and casual conversations, and the department plans to do the same after this year’s event. The goal, he said, is to balance public safety with supporting local businesses.
He also noted that the closure won’t completely restrict access to vehicles already downtown.
“We’re not locking anyone in,” Drake said. “If someone lives or works downtown, they’ll still be able to get to their place. We just want to keep general vehicle traffic out once the crowds start moving through.”
The police department begins planning for Hobo Day months in advance, often holding internal meetings in January before finalizing details with other city departments later in the summer. Drake said this allows them to adjust road closures, communication plans and officer schedules based on what worked in previous years. He said it’s a citywide effort that involves coordination with the fire department, street department and other agencies.
Executive Director of Downtown Brookings, Kirsten Gjesdal, said she appreciates the city’s willingness to collaborate.
“We have a productive partnership with the city, working together to improve safety and the overall experience downtown with better lighting, crosswalks, and security cameras,” she said.
Gjesdal said Hobo Day is one of the busiest weekends of the year for nightlife venues, while retail businesses tend to have a slower day.
“We’d love to see more people linger downtown this year. There’s so much to explore, from local shops and coffee shops to unique public art and great food, especially between the parade and evening revelry,” she said.
As Hobo Day approaches, Drake said the focus remains the same every year.
“We want people to have fun, but most importantly, look out for one another,” he said. “We can have fun and still be safe about it.”
