Brookings View
Monday, October 19, 2026 · Brookings, South Dakota
High 68°F sunny ...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM CDT SATURDAY... 3 events today Jacks vs South Dakota in 4 days

Free events

Free things to do in Brookings this week, updated daily. Limited to events at the library, parks and community centers -- the only venues where "free" is a known fact, not a guess. Looking for the full calendar? See What's happening.

Free events

Halloween Trinket Dish Craft Class

Ages 13 and up

Participants ages 13 and up make a trinket dish with Halloween-themed design, choosing between glitter or glow-in-the-dark paint to accent the piece.

Film and Fidget

All ages

Watch the 2002 film "Scooby Doo" while making Halloween-themed air dry clay figures. All ages welcome. Attendees may bring their own project to work on or watch without participating in the craft activity. No registration required.

Spice Club: Black Pepper

The Spice Club meets to explore black pepper and prepare cacio e pepe, a pasta dish featuring the spice. Kits with pepper and recipe included.

House Party Escape Room

Ages 12 and up

A group escape room for ages 12 and up at the library. Teams of up to six people work together to find clues and solve puzzles to locate missing car keys before an interview. Registration for each team member opens October 26.

Autumn Mocktail Mixology Class

Learn about seasonal mocktails and sample different recipes. Attendees take home printed recipes to recreate or adapt at home.

Always free

Libraries

  • Brookings Public Library

    Brookings Public Library carries books, DVDs, audiobooks, board games, video games, and maker kits, plus a regular lineup of community programs. It's open Monday–Thursday 9:30am–9pm, Friday–Saturday 9:30am–5:30pm, and Sunday 1pm–5pm, at 515 3rd St. The library sits one block east of downtown, right next to the Children's Museum of South Dakota, making it easy to pair a visit to both in one trip. With no admission cost and a wide range of formats and programs on hand, it's a low-pressure stop for browsing, reading, or picking up a game.

  • Hilton M. Briggs Library

    Hilton M. Briggs Library is South Dakota State University's main library, holding roughly 680,000 bound volumes, 1 million microforms, and over 600,000 government documents, along with electronic journal access. It's located at 1300 N Campus Dr in Brookings, and it's a separate building from the city's public library. No hours are listed here, so it's worth checking ahead before you visit. As a university library, it's better suited to browsing and quiet study than to an outing built around younger kids.

Parks

  • Arrowhead Park

    Arrowhead Park is a city park in Brookings, offering residents an outdoor green space within town. No hours are listed, so visitors should plan around daylight. It's located in Brookings, SD 57006. As with any city park, it's worth a stop if you're looking for a simple, no-cost place to get outside for a while.

  • Bark Park

    Bark Park is a fenced, off-leash area for dogs on 7th Ave in Brookings, sized at about 0.78 acres. On-site parking is available, and pets are allowed to run off leash within the park. No hours are listed, so check posted signage before visiting. It's a free spot for dog owners to let their pets stretch their legs rather than a general-purpose family park.

  • Camelot Park

    Camelot Park is a city park located in Brookings, SD 57006. No hours are listed in available information, so visitors should plan accordingly. As with any city park, it offers a free option for spending time outdoors without a set agenda or admission cost.

  • Dakota Nature Park

    Dakota Nature Park is a 135-acre site, once a landfill, now restored into trails, ponds, and wildlife habitat with the Larson Nature Center on the grounds. It's open daily from 6am to 11pm at 22nd Ave S and 32nd St S. Visitors can fish, canoe or kayak, hike, bike, or watch birds, with snowshoeing and cross-country skiing available in winter. With that much ground and variety of trails and water, it's an easy spot to spend a few free hours outdoors as a family.

  • Douglas Chittick Com. Gardens

    Douglas Chittick Community Gardens is a 77.2-acre park located at Medary Ave & Hwy 14 Bypass in Brookings. The grounds include modern restrooms and on-site parking, and pets are welcome on a leash. No hours are listed, so it's worth checking signage on-site before you plan a visit. With parking and restrooms available, it's an easy, no-cost stop for a family walk or a stroll with the dog.

  • Dwiggins Medary Park

    Dwiggins Medary Park is a 25.54-acre ballfields park at Medary Ave & 8th St S in Brookings, with baseball and softball diamonds, stadium seating, and concessions on site. Modern restrooms and on-site parking are available, and pets are welcome on a leash. It's a solid pick for a family afternoon watching a game without needing to plan much beyond showing up.

  • Fishback Soccer Park

    Fishback Soccer Park is a 63.88-acre park in Brookings built around soccer fields. It's free to visit, with on-site parking, modern restrooms, and pets allowed on leash. You'll find it at 20th St S & Medary Ave. With parking and restrooms right on site, it's an easy stop whether you're there to watch a match or just let the kids run around a while.

  • HillCrest Park

    HillCrest Park is a city park located in Brookings, SD 57006. No hours are listed, and specific amenities aren't detailed beyond its designation as a city park. As with any city park, it offers a free option for an outing at no cost. Check with the city if you're planning around specific features, since none are specified here.

  • Indian Hills Park

    Indian Hills Park is a city park located in Brookings, at 57006. No hours are listed, so visitors can plan around daylight and typical park use. Being a public city park, it's free to stop by anytime for residents looking for an outdoor spot without a set schedule to work around.

  • Larson Park

    Larson Park is a city park in Brookings, offering an open, no-cost spot to spend time outdoors. No hours are listed, so check posted signage on site for access times. It's located in Brookings, SD 57006. As with any city park, it's worth a look if you're nearby and want a free, low-key place to let kids run around or just get outside for a bit.

  • Lions Park

    Lions Park is a 2.36-acre park at Medary Ave & 12th Ave, with a playground, baseball and softball fields, modern restrooms, and on-site parking. There's no listed hours, so it's likely open standard daylight park hours. With a playground on site plus parking and restrooms, it's a straightforward, low-hassle stop for families with young kids. Dogs are welcome too, as long as they're on a leash.

  • McClemans Park

    McClemans Park is a city park located in Brookings, SD 57006. No specific hours are listed, and no particular amenities or programs are noted beyond its status as a park. As with any free outing here, it's worth checking current conditions before heading over since details on features aren't specified. It's a straightforward, no-cost option for residents looking to spend time outdoors close to home.

  • McCrory Gardens

    McCrory Gardens is South Dakota State University's public garden and arboretum, part of the South Dakota Arboretum, located at 631 22nd Ave in Brookings. It's a place to walk through cultivated garden grounds and arboretum plantings at no cost. No hours are listed here, so it's worth confirming timing before you head over. As a garden and arboretum setting, it makes for an easy, low-key outing for visitors who enjoy being outdoors among plants and trees.

  • Moriarty Park

    Moriarty Park is a 10-acre park at 17th Ave & Pebble Beach Dr, offering a playground, basketball court, baseball field, volleyball court, gazebo, and modern restrooms. No hours are listed, so check signage on site before planning a visit. With a playground on the grounds, it's an easy stop for families with young kids, and restrooms are on-site for longer visits. Leashed pets are welcome, so it works for a dog walk too.

  • Pioneer Park

    Pioneer Park is a 16.63-acre park in Brookings offering a playground, basketball and volleyball space, a band shell, and modern restrooms. It's located at 6th St & 1st Ave, with on-site parking available. Pets are welcome on leash, so it works for a family outing or a walk with the dog. With a playground on site, it's a solid option for families with young kids looking for a free way to spend some time outdoors.

  • Prairie Park

    Prairie Park is a 19.02-acre park in Brookings, located at W 44th St. & 470th Ave. No hours are listed for this park. Pets are welcome on a leash, so it's a spot dog owners can factor in when planning a free outing with the family. As with any park, it costs nothing to visit and makes for a simple, no-plans-needed stop.

  • Rotary Park

    Rotary Park is a city park located in Brookings, SD 57006. No hours are listed in available information, so visitors should plan accordingly. Beyond its address, specific amenities aren't detailed, so it's worth a quick look before heading over if you're planning around particular features. As with any city park, it's a no-cost option for spending time outdoors in Brookings.

  • Sarah Renee Park

    Sarah Renee Park is a city park located in Brookings, SD 57006. No specific hours are listed in city records, so visitors should check current signage before planning a trip. It's a straightforward option for families looking for an outdoor spot to visit without any cost, and being a city park, it offers an easy, low-key place to let kids stretch their legs.

  • Sexauer Park

    Sexauer Park is a 19.42-acre park in Brookings offering camping along with a playground, volleyball, modern restrooms, and on-site parking. It's located at Western Ave & W 10th St. Pets are welcome on leash. With a playground and parking right on site, it's an easy, no-cost stop for families with young kids.

  • SouthBrook Park

    SouthBrook Park is a 24.92-acre park on 22nd Ave in Brookings built around its ballfields, with baseball and softball as the main draw. On-site parking and modern restrooms are available, which makes it easier to settle in for a game without a lot of extra planning. Pets aren't allowed, so keep that in mind before you head over. It's a straightforward, no-cost option for families who want to watch or play a game rather than wander a general green space.

  • Southside Park

    Southside Park is a city park in Brookings offering open outdoor space for residents to enjoy. No hours are listed for this location, so visitors can check locally before planning a visit. It's located in Brookings, SD 57006. As with any city park, it makes for a simple, no-cost stop if you're looking to get outside for a while.

  • Valley View Park

    Valley View Park is a city park in Brookings, offering outdoor green space for residents to visit at no cost. It's located in Brookings, SD 57006. No hours are listed, so check with the city if you're planning a visit outside typical daylight hours. As with any city park, it's a simple, no-cost option for an outing whenever you have free time to fill.

  • Veterans Memorial Park

    Veterans Memorial Park is a city park located in Brookings. No hours are listed, and it's free to visit any time. It's found at Brookings, SD 57006. As with any city park, it offers a simple, no-cost option for an outdoor break with the family.