BROOKINGS Pickle Festival Gala Days 2024: Thats the official title for this years 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 years 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. Thats why were growing the future, planting and things like that for the farmer. In a way, this years theme is sort of tied to 2023s 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 theres music in the park with Emma Nichols, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. And if youre looking for some victuals about that time, head on over to the K Country Cookout at City park on Broadway. Its free until the grubs all eaten. Sponsors are AEC, Aurora Quick Stop, and Steadfast Electric. And if you didnt get fed or if youre still hungry, the Mortlands 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 towns most celebrated watering hole: Lemkes Bar and Grill.
Keep the party rolling
Saturday comes and thats what the bulk of the celebrating is all about; it starts early and goes all day and into the night. And once again, its chow time: from 7 to 10 a.m. theres a pancake feed at the fire hall.
But if youre 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., its 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 theyll be there until 4 in the afternoon; there the car and motorcycle show registration at Lemkes (the show takes place at noon); and at 10:30 a.m. theres the Kids Bike Parade and the kids are urged to decorate with this years theme in mind.
Come 11 a.m., its 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. Its kind of a different backwards route. Its kind of the same route; but were kind of taking it backwards. The construction by the railroad (means) we cant 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 Lemkes, gets under way. Meanwhile, its 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, theres 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 Sheriffs Office; the Zoo Man; Kids Pedal Pull; and illusionist Max Fleet.
Hes been doing some shows with Reza, Tingle noted, referencing the Brookings magician and illusionist. Thats 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 Lemkes and Quick Stop. T-shirts will also be available at the Information Booth on festival days. This years 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 [email protected].
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