What began as a handful of four-wheelers lighting up Main Street has grown into one of Wessington’s biggest and brightest holiday traditions.
Thirteen years ago, Karen Clarke dreamed up what would become the Wessington Parade of Lights. In its earliest days, the parade included just two or three entries, but the idea quickly caught on.
“It started as four wheelers, just four wheelers, and then it kind of got into some competition with the farmers, and then it got big,” Clarke said. “It started out only about two or three entries, and then it just kept growing and growing.”
Today, the Parade of Lights is a large-scale community event featuring elaborate floats, lighted pickups, four-wheelers and some of the biggest equipment around. Semi trucks, combines and sprayers roll down Main Street dotted with fire pits, all decked out in lights and decorations, drawing crowds from not only Wessington but also many surrounding communities.
This year’s parade carries a unified theme: Santa’s Workshop, with all entries encouraged to decorate in keeping with the festive concept.
“It takes everybody to do it,” Clarke said. “That’s what makes it work.”
One of the unique aspects of the parade is its unpredictability. There’s no set number of entries, and participants don’t always call ahead.
“They’re supposed to call, but you never really know,” Clarke said. “It depends on the weather, and sometimes people just decide at the last minute.”
Clarke and the Wessington Book Club — a group of longtime friends who have volunteered together for decades — are once again decorating a float, fully embracing the Santa’s Workshop theme.
“We really do read books,” Clarke said with a laugh, “but we also do a lot of volunteering.”
The group started years ago as the Jaycee-ettes, later became Women of Wessington, and eventually evolved into the Book Club. In addition to participating in the parade, they quietly support numerous community efforts throughout the year.
Ahead of Saturday’s festivities, the Book Club will prepare 250 sandwiches for the community meal, which begins at 3:30 p.m. at the community center. Activities will also be held there starting at 3:30 p.m.
“We’ll make the sandwiches, then we’ll leave, and someone else will come in and serve them,” said Sharon Wuestewald. “We do a lot of behind-the-scenes work; the community meal for Parade of Lights, the CIA supper during pheasant season and other little things throughout the year.”
The Wessington Parade of Lights is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13. Parade entries should line up at the south end of Main Street at 5:30 p.m., with the parade kicking off at 6 p.m. Karaoke at the community center will follow the parade.