Festival of Lights

December 5, 2025

Celebrate the sparkle and joy of the holiday season! Downtown Brookings will be lit up and ready for your family to enjoy the 30th Annual Festival of Lights celebration. Pre-parade activities begin as early as 4 p.m. and the parade kicks-off at 7 p.m. Tune your car radios to KCountry 102.3 for Christmas music from 6:30-8 p.m.

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The Festival of Lights is one of our favorite nights of the year, and keeping it safe matters to all of us. Based on recommendations from safety partners and lessons from past events, we’re making two updates for 2025:

• Updated Parade Route: The route will run in the opposite direction this year: south on 5th Ave, west on 3rd St, and north on Main Ave.
• No Candy Along the Route: To reduce crowding in the street, floats will not hand out candy or trinkets. Instead, we encourage you to visit downtown businesses for treats and activities.

Thank you for helping us keep this much-loved community tradition safe for all!

Events & Happenings

  • Visit Santa from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Dakota Insurance - Rohl Agency

  • Meet two of Santa’s reindeer from 5-7 p.m. outside of the Children’s Museum

  • Caroling provided throughout the evening by the Brookings High School Choir

  • Free evening of play and letters to the North Pole at the Children’s Museum of South Dakota

  • Mayor’s Holiday Tree Lighting at 6 p.m. outside the Brookings Activity Center, with hot chocolate and cotton candy from the Girl Scouts

  • Extended hours for the Festival of Trees viewing at the Brookings Arts Council

  • Photos with the Grinch from 4:30-6 p.m. at Meraki, plus 15% off Christmas decor and samples of dips and hot apple cider.

  • Romance & Retail Therapy Book Event from 4-6 p.m. at Socialight Boutique with The Nook. Wine and shopping following.

  • Build your own snowman ornament at Ugly Duckling

  • Pre-Parade Polar Express Pajama Party: There will be a cozy spot set up for kids to enjoy the Polar Express with hot chocolate at Flowers on Main

  • 15% off your order + giveaways at Scoops & Loops

  • Christmas and winter tattoos for kids and 20% off purchases of $50+ at Found

Drinks & Treats

  • Cider sampling at The Carrot Seed Kitchen Co.

  • Add a shot to free hot chocolate at Bank Saloon

  • Hot cocoa at Be Still Boutique

  • Holiday drink menu + Hot Cocoa Bar at Cottonwood Coffee

  • Hot cocoa kegs and holiday drink menu at Kool Beans Coffee

  • Warm beverage sample at Pasque

  • Enjoy a beverage from the winter drink menu at Cubby’s, like a sugar cookie martini, Almond Joy cocoa, or ginger snap mule.

  • Cider all day at Graye

Wondrous Windows

While you explore Downtown Brookings at the Festival of Lights, vote for your favorite holiday window display as part of our Wondrous Window competition. Learn more here.

Event Sponsors

Thank you to our generous event sponsors!