BROOKINGS Whether you love winter events that take you outside or prefer events that you can do indoors, theres a four-day event over a weekend coming to the Brookings area and it caters to both groups: Its the 10th Annual Frost Fest, from Friday through Monday. Theres a laundry list of events, beginning with the Snow Ball meal and Snow Ball at the Childrens Museum of South Dakota at 5:45 p.m. Friday and ending with the Frost Fest Curling Hat Games on Monday. And in-between?
Kate Solberg, director of marketing for Visit Brookings, joined the team in July 2023 and is taking part in her first Fest. Shes a native South Dakotan, who moved here from Sioux Falls.
Im very excited, she said. Were getting the last push at marketing. The Fest is offering events both warm and wintry, indoors and outdoors, to include on Saturday a farmers market, featuring 28 vendors indoors at the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum; a Frost Fest Art Market, at the Brookings Arts Council, with works of all kinds, many by local artists; and a Winter Prairie Play for the kids, hosted by the Childrens Museum of South Dakota, to play also on Sunday.
Getting a nod as Solberg favorites are: Doggy Date Night, on Friday, from 5 to 9 p.m. at McCrory Gardens This can be a family event that can include dogs for a buck per canine. So mom, dad and kiddies, get out Fidos sweater and leash and take him for stroll through Garden Glow, the Gardens annual light-up-the night extravaganza.
Next on her favorites list is the Chocolate Crawl, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., hosted by Downtown Brookings. Different organizations are having either chocolate samples or something to do with chocolate, Solberg said. Its just another way to get people out and about and to visit places downtown.
Then top off the day with Tropical Santa Night, 5 to 9 p.m., also at McCrory Gardens. Therell be a cash bar set up in the Educational and Visitor Center. This event is for all ages, family-friendly open to everyone.
On Monday, the Brookings Curling Club and the Brookings Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department are offering a Frost Fest Learn to Curl session from 1 to 2:15 p.m. at the Larson Ice Center. And the newly-taught curlers can try their skills in the Frost Fest Curling Games, from 2:15 to 3:45 p.m.
The idea, when it was first brought up, is that winter is not always nice and fun, Solberg explained, looking back to the genesis of Frost Fest. People are sometimes cooped up and can get cabin favor. What are some ways to get out and about? How do you bring a community together when its dark and cold? How do you embrace winter?
The answer is short and simple: Frost Fest, held annually on the third weekend in February.
We actually dont put on any of the events, Solberg added. All the events are hosted by the attractions or members of the community. We just compile all the activities for the weekend and we share that out.
The annual February festival comes together via a partnership that includes: Brookings Arts Council; South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum; Brookings Farmers Market; Childrens Museum Of South Dakota; South Dakota Art Museum; McCrory Gardens; Brookings Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department; Brookings Curling Club; Teed Off Golf Simulators; and Visit Brookings.
Check out a full schedule of Frost Fest happenings on the Visit Brookings website at http://www.visitbrookingssd.com/frostfest.
Visit Brookings South Dakota contributed to this report.
Contact John Kubal at [email protected].
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