Area summertime celebrations pack June, July calendars

Summer’s in full swing, and that means it’s time for a variety of community celebrations to come to life in both Brandon and Valley Springs.

This Friday, Automania kicks off the trio of outdoor events in Brandon, followed by the July 7-9 Booster Days celebration in Valley Springs. The seasonal fun returns to Brandon on Saturday, July 22, for the town’s 10^th annual Hometown Day.

Automania organizer Bill Nelson estimates 500-plus autos will be displayed along Holly Boulevard. Now in its sixth year since relocating here from Sioux Falls, the Midwest’s largest free car show will be held from 1 to 11:15 p.m.

“We’ll have cars from Canada, Iowa, lllinois, Missouri and all around the Midwest. We already have just under 400 cars pre-registered,” Nelson said in mid-June. “But the majority of our registrations come in that last week.”

Nelson said the focus has been put back on the car show and the music this year.

“It’s all about classic rock-n-roll and the autos,” he said.

While hundreds of automobiles will line Holly Boulevard, the main stage has been relocated from the grounds of Brandon Lutheran Church to the driveway of Brandon Valley Middle School. Nelson said the new location will better accomodate the crowd and one of two main spectator-beer tents. This tent will be staffed by the Brandon Lions Club; the second tent will be manned by Tony’s Catering.

Taking the main stage at Automania are five live music acts: Big Red Rawkit Riot (1-3 p.m.), DNR Band (3-5 p.m.), Surfin’ Safari (5-7 p.m.), Guilty Pleasures Orchestra (7-9 p.m.), and Kory and the Fireflies (9 to 11:15 p.m.).

A variety of food vendors will be onsite, and in addition to the mouth-watering offerings, Nelson promises an assortment of auto-related vendors, including a 100-foot trailer full of neon signs.

While the focus returns to classic cars and classic rock-n-roll this year, Nelson also has some fun planned for the kiddos. On tap once again on the grounds of Brandon Elementary will be a midway of inflatables (2 p.m. to dusk) and Vault Mania, a street vault competition staged by the Brandon Valley Pole Vault Crew. Multiple divisions of vaulters will compete throughout the day, starting with the kid’s/middle school competition from 2-4 p.m., followed by the high school competition/masters (4 to 6 p.m.), and college competition (6-8 p.m.)

“We’re just trying to mix it up; we want something for everyone to do. This is the biggest celebration Brandon has and we want people to come and enjoy the biggest free car show in the Midwest,” Nelson said, “and we really appreciate the people of Brandon for supporting it.”

Valley Springs Booster Days

It wouldn’t be summer in Valley Springs without the town’s longtime tradition, Booster Days.

The fun begins on Friday evening, July 7 with a Community Picnic at Legion Community Park. East River Little League games (continues through Sunday) and fireworks at dusk add to Friday’s fun at the park..

Saturday kicks off with the ever-popular mud volleyball tournament near Cassidy Park. The muddy-fun event has been part of Booster Days fun since 1992. Other events on Broadway Avenue include a Kid's Tractor Pull, Fireman’s Water Fight, and a variety of kid’s games. The day concludes with the 7 p.m. parade.

The festivities wrap on Sunday with a community church service at Legion Community Park at 10 a.m.

Brandon Hometown Day

Brandon’s summertime celebration - Hometown Day - wraps up the trio of community fun.

The more noticeable change to the event this year is the date. Instead of its usual early August date, Hometown Day moves to July 22 this year, starting at 2:30 p.m. at McHardy Park.

Jeremy Risty, Brandon Valley Optimist Club president, said the change in date was made to avoid conflicts with the Sioux Empire Fair.

“A lot of our vendors were already committed to the Fair, and we thought this provided more opportunities to have more vendors, and we’re hoping for attendance to pick up, too,” Risty said.

Despite the change in date, much of the same family-friendly fun is back, including a midway of inflatables sponsored by Brandon Ace, several musical acts, including the Massive Brass Attack, the Zebra Show, an appearance by Burnie the Bunny, miniature train rides, horse-drawn hayrides by McCrossan Boys Ranch, Shindigs-sponsored water balloon toss, the Zoomobile and a video game truck, the Balloon Hippie, and of course, an assortment of food vendors.

 “We’re hoping to have a wide variety of events, plus the food, because who doesn’t like food,” Risty says.

At dusk (about 8:30 p.m.), the animated Disney movie, “Moana,” will be shown.

Although Hometown Days is an exclusive Optimist event, the Brandon Edge, another local youth-focused group, will hold the always-popular Duck Races for cash prizes. Ducks can be purchased at the park that day.

ABOUT BOOSTER DAYS

When: July 7-9

Where: Valley Springs

Cost: Most activities free and open to the public

To learn more: Contact Cindy Moss at 605-757-6805

Schedule of events

Friday Fun at Legion Community Park

• 6-7:30 p.m.: Supper in the Park. In case of rain it will be held at the American Legion Hall.

• TBD: East River Little League Baseball Tournament.

• Dusk: Fireworks.

Super Saturday around town

• 9 a.m.: Mud volleyball tournament. Registration fees due July 1. Call (605) 759-3193 or email jenswenson07@yahoo.com.

• 10 a.m.: Kids games on Broadway

• 10:30 a.m.: Kids Pedal Tractor Pull on Broadway

• 2 p.m.: Firemen’s water fights

• 6 p.m.: Parade line up at Valley Springs Elementary. No pre-registration or fee to participate.

• 7 p.m.: Parade

• East River Little League Baseball Tournament going on throughout the day

• Food stands available throughout the day

Serene Sunday

• 10 a.m.: Community Church Service at Legion Community Park. In case of rain it will be held at the Reformed Church.

• East River Little League Tournament

Also check your local churches and businesses for their food stands and activities throughout the weekend.