Garretson to host new Independence Day celebration

Garretson is having a new Independence Day celebration this holiday weekend.

Presented by Grow Garretson, the event Sunday, July 3, will feature different activities designed for all ages.

Events hosted during the day will include a cornhole tournament with both professional and amateur competitions. The professional tournament will cost $40 per team and the fee for the social tournament will be $20 per team. Other events include a free kid zone with inflatables and games, and a kickball tournament. The events will take place at the Jaycee Sports Complex.

Co-organizer Joey Rotert said he hopes the event will bring people from all over to celebrate, not just from Garretson.

“I think we anticipate people from all of the local small towns and hopefully even Sioux Falls coming up to join us,” Rotert said. “We’re just a quick trip up from the Sioux Falls and Brandon area, so we’re open to everybody, and we hope we have a good turnout.”

Cornhole and kickball registration will start at 3 p.m. Sunday. The kid zone will be open from 4 to 7 p.m., with food trucks serving from 4 to 8 p.m. and a beer garden.

“We thought if we did it on the day before, those that had the holiday off could come out and celebrate with us and not have to worry about getting up to go to work the next day,” Rotert said.

The night will end with a fireworks celebration.

“We have a great pyrotechnic technician in Garretson. He puts on a great show, and it’ll be second to none.”

Rotert said he hopes the event brings the community together and puts the spotlight on Garretson in a positive way.

“Economic growth and bringing people up to our community is really where this all came from,” Rotert said. “Grow Garretson is just a big part of trying to get people to not only come up to Garretson, but also maybe put roots down in Garretson.”