MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — Wessington Springs is celebrating America’s 250th birthday in a big way, beginning on Thursday.
At 1:00 p.m., they’ll crown a rodeo queen. SDRA Rodeo action takes over the Jerauld County Fairgrounds at 7 p.m.
On Friday, things get started nice and early with a free will offering breakfast hosted by the Rural Office of Community Services (ROCS). With bellies full, riders will be back on the dirt for the rodeo slack at 9:00 a.m. The second night of SDRA rodeo activities starts at 7:00. Friday features fun outside of the fairgrounds. A Red, White, and Blue Golf Tournament tees off at 10:00 a.m. at Springs Country Club. The format is a four-person scramble. At 2 p.m., the Spring Valley Colony Farmers Market will celebrate its grand opening at City Park.
Saturday begins with a patriotic flag raising ceremony on the Courthouse Lawn at 7 a.m., thanks to American Legion Willman-Fee Post 14. The Kyle Evans Western Heritage Museum welcomes people inside with an open house and lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Food will be sold outside the Humm-Dinger gas station, also from 11-1. The Springs Inn serves up beers and burgers starting at noon.
The highlight of the afternoon is the parade at 2. This year’s theme is the country’s Founding Fathers. Sandwiched around the parade are a plethora of historical activities. The old school house will be open on the Courthouse Lawn for an hour, starting at 1 p.m. The Jerauld Pioneer Museum will be selling lemonade and bars from 1-3 p.m. Gary’s Rock Museum on Main Street is ready for guests from 1-4 p.m.
When the parade is finished, an ice cream social brings sweet treats to the Community Center. Also, the Freedom Train chugs through the Fieldhouse, sure to never go off the rails. City Park will keep the fun going into the evening. Stay cool with water balloons and a water gun obstacle course from 3-7 p.m. Burn off energy inside the bounce houses, also 3-7 p.m. A Youth Power Wheels and Mower Derby is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the skating rink, followed by the heart-stopping adrenaline of turtle races.
The Wessington Springs Area Chamber and Development organization is running a community meal and more games in the park, beginning at 5 p.m. The day is wrapped up with fireworks at dusk.
