SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A holiday lights display in Sioux Falls is giving back to the community in more ways than one.
“We’ve had thousands of cars come by, there’s just a constant, steady stream every night,” Sioux Falls resident Raine Jerke said.
Brande Park Circle in south Sioux Falls comes to life every night during the holiday season.
“Bright Brothers Lighting has decorated the entire cul-de-sac and we’ve got everybody tied in,” Jerke said.
Raine Jerke is co-owner of Bright Brothers Lighting, but started this illuminating project long before the business.
“We started doing this about eight or nine years ago and it just became a yearly thing where we picked a different charity in town and just created this incredible light show,” Jerke said.
The lights shine nightly, but the next two Fridays Santa Claus will step into the spotlight, posing for pictures for a free will donation.
“We’ll have free hot chocolate, we’ve got candy canes, we’ve got marshmallows, we’ve got the Grinch running around causing chaos in the neighborhood, so it’s just a whole lot of fun, it’s really something for the whole family,” Jerke said.
The money raised during this year’s display will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire.
“They service over 1,500 kids a day, and so just all of that money, all those donations going right here directly, locally is just a great charity to support,” Jerke said.
“We’ve known Raine for some time but we’re incredibly grateful that he’s doing this for us again this year, because it’s really supporting our kids and our families and everybody that we serve,” Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire CEO Stacy Jones said.
CEO Stacy Jones says the Boys & Girls Clubs serves children ranging in age from four weeks to 18 years, so every donation counts.
“It directly impacts everything we do here at the Boys & Girls Clubs, whether it’s helping to support our staff wages or provide nutritious meals or help provide some of that comprehensive programming that all of our kids get to experience here at the Boys & Girls Clubs. It really supports a lot of different areas of our organization,” Jones said.
And while the holiday lights benefit a different nonprofit every year, it’s a tradition that won’t end anytime soon.
“It’s really something special that we can do and give back to the community every year,” Jerke said.
The light show is up and running nightly from 5:00 to 10:00 on South Brande Park Circle in Sioux Falls. You can get a picture with Santa and enjoy the holiday festivities this Friday between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m.
