Fort Pierre’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Is Friday, November 29th –
Chili/Soup Cook-Off, Wagon Rides & More!
FORT PIERRE, SD – Fort Pierre Development Corporation is holding Fort Pierre’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Contest again the day after Thanksgiving, to coordinate with the City’s street decorating schedule.
Wagon rides and chili tasting will occur simultaneously from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. People will be able to eat while they are waiting for a ride or vice versa. A free will donation is taken at the cook-off to assist with residential heating bills.
Christmas caroling will take place at 6:00. Area youth are invited to participate. Dakota Cruiser will play music during the wagon rides and Santa will appear. The switch to light the tree will be thrown at 6:30 p.m.
The Fort Pierre tree lighting began some time in the 1950s or ‘60s, sponsored by the fire department. It died down for a while, but was resurrected in the 1980s. The event began around 75 years ago. The Fort Pierre Development Corporation took over the tree lighting in 2005.
According to long-time resident, Pat Duffy, now in her 90s, the first Christmas trees were brought from the Black Hills by the Fort Pierre Fire Department who attached wires from the top of the tree to nearby buildings to keep it upright in the center of Main Avenue and Deadwood Street intersection. On more than one occasion a wind would blow the tree down and it would have to be raised again. Finally, the City of Fort Pierre created a manhole just for the tree in the center of the intersection.
This year’s tree was donated by Jim and Kathy Peitz of Pierre. Dave Bonde, FPDC Executive Director, usually begins looking for the tree mid-summer. Because of the Missouri River Bridge construction, last year’s tree was found in Fort Pierre. FPDC usually gets calls from people who have trees that they want removed. The tree has to be accessible and in good shape.
The City cuts the tree down the Monday before Thanksgiving, A-G-E Corporation moves it to Fort Pierre and the City sets it in place and decorates it.
The deadline for chili and soup entries is Monday, November 25st. 2023 winners Shad Ludemann and Reg Nelson will be defending their respective titles this year. Please call the FPDC Office at 605-223-7603 or email fpdc@fortPierre.com with chili and/or soup entries.
The deadline for residential and commercial lighting decorations is Friday, December 13th. Please send a photo of your nomination for residential lighting winner to fpdc@fortpierre.com. The winner will be selected from the photos and given a $25 gift certificate to Lynn’s Dakotamart in Fort Pierre. Business Lighting Decorations will be judged by the FPDC Board of Directors and the winner receives a half membership.
Sponsors for this year’s Christmas Tree Lighting & Cowboy Christmas are: Jim & Kathy Pietz, Community Youth Involved, Lynn’s Dakotamart, A-G-E Construction, City Employees, Dakota Radio Group, Santa Larry Johnson and wagon masters Joe Thorne, Beth Carr Briggs, Sam Seymour, Tim Nemec, and Luke Dowling.