Tag Archive for: fargo-moorhead

There’s always a lot to do in Fargo-Moorhead. See some of our favorites below:

  • Celebrate Midwest culture and sample hotdish from the best restaurants in town at the Fargo Hotdish Festival on February 5 at Drekker.
  • Prepare for the 13th Annual Unglued Craft Fest March 10-11 at West Acres Mall.
  • “America’s Best Small-Town Race” is back and bringing that sweet Midwestern charm for a week-long celebration of running at the Essentia Health Fargo Marathon, May 15-20. Don’t be fooled – there’s nothing small about it.
  • Celebrate North Dakota and all our state offers on 701 Day, July 1, in Broadway Square! This event showcases the many reasons we are proud to be in the 701.
  • Join us for the “10 Best Days of Summer” at the Red River Valley Fair! The family fun runs July 7-16.
  • Every year, the Downtown Fargo Street Fair welcomes hundreds of vendors and over 150,000 visitors over three days. Full of food, shopping, entertainment and more! Join us in beautiful downtown Fargo July 13-15 to stroll the streets, browse vendors from all over the country, eat food from every region, and taste local wines and beers, all while enjoying music and entertainment.

The Red River Valley Fair is known as the “10 Best Days of Summer” in Fargo. You won’t want to miss it! Photo courtesy of Visit Fargo-Moorhead

For more information on Fargo-Moorhead, visit www.VisitFargoMoorhead.org.

While there’s never a bad time to visit Fargo, we realize there are preferred times to come this far north. But even during the slower (and colder) times, there are lots of good activities and events to participate in.

There are multiple passport programs in Fargo. The first is the Crafts and Drafts Passport; this free digital passport goes straight to your mobile device so you can visit any of the 13 breweries with ease.

The Caffeine Card will get you to some off-the-beaten-path coffee stops to try their take on your favorite caffeinated drinks. Finally, grab an Adventure Passport to point you to local attractions like the Hjemkomst Center and Bonanzaville. Each of these can be redeemed at the Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center for prizes for the perfect beer, coffee or culture-buff traveler in you.

If you’re visiting in the winter in Fargo, dress for the temperatures and get outdoors. Broadway Square comes alive with ice skating and twinkly lights with ice skate rentals available. At Edgewood and Viking Ship Park, cross country ski and snowshoe rentals are available to get on the wooded trails along the river.

Bundle up and enjoy Fargo’s outdoors with ice skating, cross country skiing and snowshoeing in and around town. Photo courtesy of Visit Fargo-Moorhead

For more information on Fargo-Moorhead, visit www.VisitFargoMoorhead.org.

Cow Mural: Created by local artist @lesleydidthat, this mural is the perfect backdrop to show pride for North Dakota’s agricultural roots.

Broadway Square: No matter the season, Broadway Square is a gorgeous backdrop for photos. The city’s Christmas tree can be found here in the winter, as well as water spouts that are beautifully lit up during summer evenings.

Lights Tunnel: During winter festival Frostival, Mary’s Light Tunnel is a gorgeous space for a picturesque walk. The tunnel goes right along the Red River and is perfect for snowshoeing, hiking or cross-country skiing.

Lindenwood Park Bridge & Red River: This lift bridge crosses over the Red River and brings you from North Dakota into Minnesota. It’s a great place for a fun photo while you are in two states at once. Or hop on a kayak on the river for a different view.

Fargo Theatre Marquee: The most iconic spot in Downtown Fargo, the Fargo Theatre has fantastic performances and movie showings but also makes for a great photo op.

Created by local artist @lesleydidthat, this mural is the perfect backdrop to show pride for North Dakota’s agricultural roots. Photo courtesy of @mkennajoe

For more information on Fargo-Moorhead, visit www.VisitFargoMoorhead.org.

Frostival (January-February): Celebrate the cool of winter with outdoor events.

Unglued Craft Fest (March): Purchase wares from local makers.

St. Patrick’s Day parade & bar crawl (March): A joyful celebration of Irish heritage.

Fargo Marathon (May): Run fast, run friendly, run Fargo!

Live and Local in Downtown Fargo (throughout the summer): Local music enjoyed outdoors.

Happy Harry’s Ribfest (June): Lip-smacking ribs and awesome bands.

Volkswagens in the Valley (July): Vintage VW bugs from around the country.

Red River Valley Fair (July): The area’s largest fair.

Fargo Downtown Street Fair (July): Features artists, crafters and food vendors.

Island Park Craft Festival (August): Craft festival in Downtown Fargo’s historic park.

Canoe Parade (September): Dress up a vessel or watch the parade from the shores of the Red River.

NDSU Bison Football season (September through November): Awesome tailgating and a national champion football team on Saturdays.

Oktoberfest (October): Downtown Fargo is transported to Germany with amazing food and, of course, beer.

Fargo Force Hockey games (October through April): Excitement on ice!

Christkindlmarkt (November): German market in Downtown Fargo.

Downtown Holiday Lights Parade (December): Christmas spirit rolls through Downtown Fargo.

Happy Harry’s Ribfest each June is a four-day extravaganza of lip-smacking ribs and awesome bands. Photo courtesy of Visit Fargo-Moorhead

For more information on Fargo-Moorhead, visit www.VisitFargoMoorhead.org.

 

  1. Frostival: Fargo’s winter festival has fun for the whole family, including cardboard sled races, “Amazing Race”-style competitions, yoga in the snow, winter camping and more. Full schedule
  2. Tailgating: Each fall, North Dakota State University’s championship team not only has great football games fans love, it also hosts an awesome tailgate beforehand. From die-hard fans to first-time visitors, everyone is welcome to enjoy the classic food, drinks and fun you expect at a tailgate. Guide to tailgating
  3. Drekker: Housed in one of the oldest buildings in Fargo, Drekker’s Viking-themed brewery has a gorgeous interior with tall ceilings and bier hall-type tables. Drekker has tons of sour options as well as seltzers, pilsners and lagers. Learn more
  4. Woodchipper: From the infamous film “Fargo,”this iconic prop is located in the Visitor Center and makes for an awesome photo op. Check out the other movie memorabilia and even grab some one-of-a-kind movie-themed merchandise while you’re there. Learn more
  5. Bonanzaville: This pioneer village pays homage to the history of the region. Fargo’s first house, old bonanza farmhouses, a car museum and more await an up-close-and-personal tour. Learn more

Housed in one of the oldest buildings in Fargo, Drekker’s Viking-themed brewery has a gorgeous interior with tall ceilings and bier hall-type tables. Photo courtesy of Visit Fargo-Moorhead

For more information on Fargo-Moorhead, visit www.VisitFargoMoorhead.org.

A truly Midwestern meal inspired by the Nordic traditions that flow through everything we do in Fargo-Moorhead has now made it into Fargo’s local restaurant scene. The smorgasbord consist of a large selection of hot and cold items served buffet-style, and are usually found at someone’s home for a special meal to celebrate something – or just to use up what’s around the house.

The newly opened Prairie Kitchen, one of 701 Eateries’ restaurant concepts, has put the smorgasbord on the menu, and we couldn’t be more excited about trying it. Prairie Kitchen’s smorgasbord is basically a Nordic-inspired charcuterie board with assorted meats, cheeses, bread, lefse, trout dip and pickled herring.

Newly opened Prairie Kitchen in Fargo-Moorhead has put the smorgasbord on its menu, a nod to the specialty locals love. Photo courtesy of Prairie Kitchen

For more information on Fargo-Moorhead, visit www.VisitFargoMoorhead.org.

Fargo has always been a happening place, and 2021 is going to be no different. Kicking the summer off is Ribfest (June 6-11),  an event full of delicious ribs, live music and ice-cold beer at the FARGODOME.

July is bustling with the Red River Valley Fair (July 9-18) and the Downtown Fargo Street Fair (July 15-17), and Red River Market also happens throughout the summer on Saturdays starting in July. And the Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron takes to the skies to show off their skills during the Fargo AirSho (July 24-25).

The inaugural Craft Beer & Cider Festival (August 21-22) at Broadway Square will let you taste a variety of craft beverages from local favorites. The next weekend, Bluestem Amphitheater in Moorhead hosts the Sister Cities Smoke Out, where you can enjoy hot BBQ, beer and live music on the banks of the Red River (August 28-29).

This year, the Fargo Marathon (September 25) takes place in the fall with the same flat roads and 50-plus bands along the course that make it one of the best small-town races. Later into the fall,  German-style market Christkindlmarkt (November 18-21) will take place in downtown Fargo at Broadway Square.

German-style market Christkindlmarkt will take place November 18-21 in downtown Fargo at Broadway Square. Photo courtesy Visit Fargo-Moorhead

For more information on Fargo-Moorhead, visit www.VisitFargoMoorhead.org.

Prairie lands and wide-open spaces don’t have to be boring! Fargo has tons of things going on no matter the season. In January and February, Fargo hosts a six-week outdoor winter festival, Frostival, which highlights all the best parts of winter. Snow sculpture competitions, snowshoe hikes, bonfire-building workshops and more await this winter.

Don’t worry if your travel plans don’t line up with the event dates, as there are many other winter activities in which to take part all season long. Parks dot the metro area with skating rinks and trails to snowshoe, cross-country ski or fat-tire bike. The great outdoors in Fargo makes staying socially distant this winter a non-issue, so come join us!

Parks dotting the metro Fargo-Moorhead area are the perfect places to skate, snowshoe, cross-country ski or ride a fat-tire bike. Courtesy Visit Fargo-Moorhead

For more information on Fargo-Moorhead, visit www.VisitFargoMoorhead.org.

Jon Walters loves the Fargo-Moorhead community … almost as much as he loves the outdoors. Originally from a small town in Wisconsin called Kewaskum, he spent a lot of time in the wilderness to keep himself entertained. Between Boy Scout adventures, countless family outings and living in the Kettle Moraine State Forest, his life was spent in nature year-round.

After moving to Fargo in 2014, he became heavily involved in the startup community and had the opportunity to be involved with the beginnings of 1 Million Cups Fargo. In the spring of 2016, he founded Nature of the North in hopes of building a thriving outdoor community that embraces local outdoor recreation. Since then, the company has slowly expanded, hosting workshops to teach important outdoor skills that allow attendees to gain confidence in their abilities. The first brick and mortar location was opened in 2020 with the area’s first retail public climbing wall. They also provide guided tours, adventure-planning services and one-on-one training.  Learn more by following them on Facebook.

Fargo-Moorhead transplant Jon Walters hopes to build a thriving outdoor community centered on outdoor recreation. Courtesy

For more information on Fargo-Moorhead, visit www.VisitFargoMoorhead.org.

These have not been normal times, but Fargo has always prided itself in being a little bit “North of Normal”; a resilient community founded on kindness, unparalleled creativity and ingenuity. If you’re looking for a safe, off-the-beaten-path kind of adventure, consider heading north to Fargo-Moorhead.

Parks & Conservatories

The Forest River Conservation Area is covered by over 40 acres of woodlands and more than 15 acres of prairie landscape. Considered a very popular place for birding, you’ll find marbled godwits, red-wing blackbirds, Virginia rail and many other species. There are nearly 1,000 acres along the Red River of the North enrolled in a joint conservation effort called The Urban Woods and Prairie Initiative, and over 200 acres have been restored to native conditions.

Just a few miles outside of the city is Buffalo River State Park, one of the largest and highest-quality prairie remnants in Minnesota. Combined with Bluestem Prairie Scientific and Natural Area, there are more than 6,000 acres of grassland and woods to explore, 250 species of wildflowers to smell, 200 species of birds to discover, and countless potential wildlife sightings.

You may think of the prairie as just flat … what is there to see? The answer is: sky … as far as the eye can see. And sunsets more vivid than you could ever imagine.

Buffalo River State Park. Courtesy Visit Fargo-Moorhead

Lake Country

Take a day trip deeper into Minnesota just outside of Fargo to discover the beautiful lakes country! In under 45 minutes, you can discover over 100 lakes, all great for boating, swimming, fishing or just relaxing on the beach.

The Red River of the North runs through the heart of the community, dividing Fargo from Moorhead and North Dakota from Minnesota. Discover miles of hiking trails, hop on a kayak/canoe, bike or do some fishing (The Red is known for its excellent catfishing). Every year, the River Keepers host a Race the Red event that consists of a 3.5-mile fun race and 6-mile competitive races.

Red River. Courtesy Visit Fargo-Moorhead

The City

The Midwest has always been known for its lack of crowds and open countrysides. Fargo-Moorhead offers just that, along with a city booming with culture, amazing food, and the nicest darn people you’ll ever meet.

Looking for an urban outdoor adventure? Fargo-Moorhead is home to the first GeoTour in North Dakota and Minnesota. Think of it like a real-life outdoor treasure hunt! One of the largest caches in the country is just waiting to be found.

Movie fan? While the city and the locals couldn’t be more different than what you’d expect if you’re a fan of the Cohen Brothers’ “Fargo,” you can stop by to take a picture with the actual woodchipper used in the movie. Makes for a great souvenir!

And you can’t forget about the zoo! The Red River Zoo specializes in cold-climate species both native and from around the word. They care for and breed some of the world’s rarest cold-climate animals.

Red River Zoo. Courtesy Visit Fargo-Moorhead


For more information on Fargo-Moorhead, visit www.VisitFargoMoorhead.org.