Tag Archive for: fargo

You Can Visit the Infamous Woodchipper in Fargo

 

Fargo was absolutely put on the map by the 1996 namesake film “Fargo,” written and directed by the Coen Brothers. The dark comedy movie depicted a frozen tundra with a hilariously unprepared police department trying to solve a crime.

The “Fargo” woodchipper scene goes down as one of the most infamous murder scenes in cult classic cinema history. Although the film wasn’t actually shot in Fargo (you’ll notice it looks nothing like the movie), you can still visit this original movie prop (and its stunt double) at the Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center.

You can still visit the infamous woodchipper of cult-movie fame in Fargo, North Dakota. Photo courtesy of Visit Fargo-Moorhead

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

2023 Will Be A Busy Year in Fargo-Moorhead, North Dakota

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.

Don’t Let The Weather Keep You From Fargo-Moorhead in Winter

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.

Get your fill with a smorgasbord feast in Fargo-Moorhead

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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.

Living local is a way of life in Fargo-Moorhead

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Living local is a major theme in Fargo, North Dakota – it’s in the food, shops, and even our community efforts.

When the city isn’t frozen, you can help yourself to produce from the Little Free Garden sites scattered through the neighborhood, or score fresh fruits and veggies, gifts and street food at Red River Market, a buzzing farmers market held July through October.

If you’re looking for a place to eat, there are many local staples to choose from. Stop by Luna Fargo – an “everyday” comfort food celebration made from scratch with the finest local, organic and sustainable ingredients – or take a break at Bernbaum’s, a bagel and sandwich shop that supports local growers and ranchers whenever possible. You’ll also find local bratwurst topped with sauerkraut at Wurst Bier Hall, pizza crust made with North Dakota wheat at Blackbird Woodfire and Fargo-grown microgreens garnishing the late night happy hour nibbles at Mezzaluna.

And when you want to kick it up a notch, sample gin, vodka and whiskey from Proof Artisan Distillers, the city’s only hometown distillery. Or try a handcrafted beer made with local barley at Drekker Brewing Company. From start to finish, you can keep it local in Fargo.

Among Fargo’s eateries is Bernbaum’s, a bagel and sandwich shop that supports local growers and ranchers whenever possible. Courtesy Visit Fargo-Moorhead

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

Eat Local Favorties at Ribfest, Sister Cities Smokeout, and More in Fargo-Moorhead, North Dakota

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A lot can happen in the middle of nowhere… and a lot is just what you’ll find in Fargo in 2020.

While many have seen with the cult-classic movie, Fargo as well as the FX series, most are unfamiliar with the actual city. What visitors find, however, is that it’s absolutely nothing like what they would have expected.

Should you find yourself in the Midwest, here are a few attractions and events that are worth a stop in Fargo.

The Infamous Woodchipper

Sure, Fargo may not be anything like the movie, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t embraced it! Stop in the Visitor Center and take a pic with the actual woodchipper prop from the movie Fargo and check out other various movie props.

Credit: Fargo-Moorhead CVB

Fargo Marathon

May 4-9, 2020

Due to the flat terrain of the Red River Valley, Fargo is a runner’s dream! The Fargo Marathon incorporates music, dogs, and events for every kind of runner. From a cyclothon and Furgo Dog Run to the half and full marathon (Boston qualifier), for a whole week in May, Fargo is the picture of fun and health.

Credit: Fargo-Moorhead CVB

Ribfest

June 3-6, 2020

With a name like Ribfest, you know it’s going to be a great time. Nicknamed “the official kick-off to summer”, you can expect nationally acclaimed musical entertainment and endless ribs from the country’s best rib vendors.

Credit: Fargo-Moorhead CVB

Downtown Street Fair

July 16-18, 2020

North Dakota’s largest free outdoor event which draws over 100,000 people over the course of three days. Take a stroll through historic downtown Fargo and enjoy live entertainment, delicious fair food, and plenty of shopping from vendors, artists, and makers from around the country.

Credit: Fargo-Moorhead CVB

Sister Cities Smokeout

August 28 – 29, 2020

Back for its second year, the Sister Cities Smokeout is a celebration of our sister cities (Fargo, ND and Moorhead, MN), great music, and amazing BBQ at the beautiful outdoor Bluestem Amphitheater. Two days packed with local and nationally acclaimed musical acts, hot BBQ, and cold beer.

Credit: Fargo-Moorhead CVB

Christkindlmarkt

November 19-22, 2020

A local holiday favorite! Christkindlmarkt is a German Christmas market set in an outdoor winter wonderland. Live music, food, art demonstrations, mulled wine, and tons of activities for the kiddos. This European-inspired experience is a can’t miss.

Credit: Fargo-Moorhead CVB

So much more!

From Viking and food truck festivals to the High Plains Pow Wow and North Dakota’s largest pride week, there’s always something going on in Fargo-Moorhead. Check out the full calendar of events to see what’s happening during your next visit!

For more information on Fargo, North Dakota, visit FargoMoorhead.org.

Culturally Unique Events Draw Fans by the Thousands in North Dakota

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What makes North Dakota different from anywhere else? Is the bison? The great fishing and hunting? Biking and hikings spectacular trail? The majestic scenery? Or is the people? Judge for yourself. We think the people are every bit as important to the story of North Dakota.

Summer rodeos draw fans by the thousands to arenas all across North Dakota

The largest of these are held around the Fourth of July, a time commonly referred to as “Cowboy Christmas.” Click here for more on these events and others like them in North Dakota. Or for some truly unique activities, try these:

  • United Tribes International Powwow: Sept. 11-13, 2020, in Bismarck: This is not the only powwow in the state, but it is the largest and attractions dancers, drummers and spectators for all across the country.
  • Roughrider Days, **2020 event cancelled due to COVID-19** (next year’s dates: June 23-July 4, 2021) This annual event pays homage to all the events commonly associated with an Independence Day celebration, complete with music, a pro rodeo, parade and, of course, fireworks.
  • Big Iron Farm Show, Sept. 15-17, West Fargo: The immense farm equipment show draws people and displays from around the world. More than 900 booths and 70,000 attendees will file through the Red River Valley Fairgrounds for the celebration or rural living.

Powwows and rodeos are two of the more culturally unique events in North Dakota.

Credit North Dakota Tourism

Native American powwows are celebrations of culture and you are invited to take part. Some of the larger events include United Tribes International Powwow in Bismarck, the Mandaree Powwow, Twin Buttes Powwow and FM Crossroads Powwow in Fargo.

Rodeos take fans back to the bronc-busting and calf-roping days on the ranch. The performers might be professionals or neighbors from the ranch over there. Some things never change: Eight seconds is eight seconds, horses are fast, bulls are mean and the action is nonstop. North Dakota’s largest powwows include the Mandan Rodeo, Killdeer Mountain Roundup Rodeo, the Champions Ride. Click here for a list of rodeos and powwows in North Dakota in 2020.

In the Badlands, deer and horses and bison actively herald a new season. Wildlife viewing is great at any time in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Lodging, fuel and food can be found outside the park in Medora or Watford City.

Learn more about the storied history of North Dakota at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum in Bismarck, the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Medora, the Plains Art Museum in Fargo and the Badlands Dinosaur Museum in Dickinson.

Places to Stay

Woodland Resort (below) is an all-inclusive resort on Devils Lake, one of the nation’s top fisheries.

  • Black Leg Ranch. High-end, full-service ranch accommodations. Honeymoon suites, cabins, etc. No glamping yet.
  • Yurting in North Dakota State Parks. Bring you own bedding, food and sense of adventure. Three state parks feature yurts as part of their lodging packages.
  • Hotel Donaldson. In downtown Fargo, boutique style property where all 17 suites are designed around the work of a different regional artist – sculptors, painters, photographers, modern artists…
  • Woodland Resort. Devils Lake full-service resort with a restaurant, cabins, motel, campground, bait shop and boat rental.
  • Coteau des Prairie. Full-service lodge in souitheast North Dakota. Perched on the northernmost ridge of the Coteau des Prairies, where the breathtaking view is second to none. Prairie farms and fields unfold from below like a patchwork quilt.
  • Lady on the Lake B&B. Located on the north shore of Lake Elsie. A truly romantic respite steeped in history and comfort. Has five acres and 463 feet of private shoreline.
  • Enchanted Castle. On the Enchanted Highway in Regent. A 19-room hotel in the old Regent School has lounge and restaurant.
  • Riverdale High Lodge. Full hotel and restaurant in the old school in Riverdale on the shore above Lake Sakakawea.

Credit North Dakota Tourism

Find more accommodations at “Places to Stay.“

For more information on the Great American West state of North Dakota, visit NDTourism.com.

Add Fargo’s Frostival event to your ‘must-experience’ list

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Fargo’s Red River Valley & Frostival

Fargo, North Dakota may not have mountains for skiing or snowboarding, but it’s a city that embraces the cool of winter like none other. The endless horizons of the Red River Valley are a perfect stage to present the beauty of winter.

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From January 15, 2020 through February 22nd, winter events and activities are held every weekend during a celebration called Frostival. The festival is all about celebrating the “cool” of winter with outdoor events and family-friendly activities across our North of Normal city, Fargo, and its sister cities West Fargo and Moorhead.

Cardboard sled racing, winter kickball and disc golf, snow sculpture and beard competitions, and an undie run are just a few things to expect during the weeks of Frostival.

The festival was created to give locals and visitors alike more ways to get out and experience the winter season. It’s no secret that the cold months start to wear on people after a while. Why not make cold, cool?

It will be the cities’ 5th winter celebration. A few things have changed, however. Typically held over just one weekend, the dates have been extended to allow for much more snow-filled fun throughout the coldest months of the year.

Frostival isn’t the only reason to check out Fargo during the chilly season. Businesses and locals always find creative and beautiful ways to dress up the snow, such as:

  • Pop-up snowman building events in the parks
  • Glowing ice bars on the patios of local pubs
  • Fat-tire biking on the frozen Red River
  • Candlelight snowshoeing through state parks
  • So much more

Grab your friends, bring your spirit of adventure (and maybe some mittens) and join Fargo, ND in making cold, cool.

Learn more at: Fargomoorhead.org

Photos: Visit Fargo-Moorhead