Visit - History

The Living History area of the Brookings Summer Arts Festival brings the festival full circle to its roots.  The BSAF debuted in 1972, as a community event with a pioneer theme.  Over the years, the Historic area has evolved into a colorful site of canvas tents, tipis and encampments with traders and craftsmen demonstrating and selling their wares.

Demonstrations by many of the Historic area vendors draw festival patrons back each year.  The Prairie Fiber Arts Guild dye, spin and weave yarn, as well as felt wool.  Blacksmithing and tinsmithing, along with scrimshaw demonstrations are ongoing.

Festival patrons enjoy the varied assortment of beads, jewelry, furs and clothing that are for purchase or just fun to look at.  The aroma of wild rice delicacies and a sip of homemade root beer brings back the young and older visitor.

Today, the Brookings Renegade Muzzle Loaders Club man the front gates of the festival, while the Silver Creek Maverick Gunfighters “wrangle” the west gates and the vendor parking area.  Both of these groups, in their period costume, are essential to the needs of the handicapped parking located near the festival.

Take time to walk back into America’s frontier and pioneer past at this unique, interesting, and colorful South Dakota event.