FFA Breakfast, giveaways, shopping specials, samples, games and live podcast highlight Main Street celebration
A new Opening Day tradition will take shape on Main Street in Wessington Springs Saturday, Oct. 17, as the community rolls out the orange carpet to welcome hunters and invite local residents to join the celebration.
Main Street will be blocked off from 7-9 a.m., with downtown businesses opening their doors early and offering food, samples, shopping specials and huntingday essentials.
The event coincides with Pheasants Forever’s visit to Wessington Springs to film its national “Opening Day” series. Bob St. Pierre, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chief marketing and communications officer and host of the “On the Wing” podcast, will also record a podcast and roundtable discussion downtown.
The first 100 people to cross the carpet will receive a souvenir koozie courtesy of Wessington Springs Area Chamber and Development. Each koozie will contain a number for two prize drawings to be held after the podcast.
Wenzel’s Pheasant Hills Lodge is sponsoring $250 in Springs Bonus Bucks for one drawing, while WSACD and area businesses are putting together a Hometown Basket filled with items showcasing local businesses for the second.
Organizers hope the morning becomes more than a onetime event tied to the national spotlight. The goal is to create a community Opening Day tradition, welcoming the hunters who come to the Wessington Springs area each fall, while giving local residents a reason to gather downtown and share in one of South Dakota’s biggest weekends.
The Wessington Springs FFA will serve an Opening Day breakfast, while Main Street businesses roll out a variety of specials, samples and hunting-day essentials. See the accompanying “Rolling Out the Deals!” guide for a complete rundown.
After the Main Street event, head to the Wessington Springs Elementary School for the 37th annual Springs Area Council of the Arts (SACOTA) Craft Fair from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. The longtime pheasant opener tradition features crafters, artists and hobbyists, with goodies and gifts to browse. The Wessington Springs Methodist Church will serve food, with lunch and treats available for purchase throughout the day. Admission is free.
And while blaze orange may be the unofficial dress code, attendees don’t need a hunting license to join the fun. Locals are encouraged to make their way downtown, shop local and help launch a new Opening Day tradition.