Run the Fargo Marathon. You don`t Cheer on the

METRO
in the
3I Fun Things To Do
1
Run the Fargo Marathon. You don’t
have to run the entire 26.2 miles either. In
fact, you don’t have to run at all because with
several different events that welcome runners,
walkers and everything in between, you’ll be able to
find the perfect race for you. The Fargo Marathon has
also become more than just a race; it’s a community
event. Businesses support runners along the way by
sponsoring miles and supporters line the course to
cheer everyone on. Oh, and bands and DJs rock the
entire course. You’ll have so much fun participating
that you’ll want to sign up for even more GoFar events.
2
Snowshoe. Take advantage of winter by
enjoying the picturesque scenery while you
snowshoe across the open plains. Edgewood
Golf Course offers snowshoe rentals as well
as cross-country skiing and a sledding hill. An old
clubhouse offers a warming facility and snack bar.
3
Cheer on the Fargo-Moorhead
RedHawks. The metro is home to a
professional
baseball team,
which is a member of the
American Association
of Independent
Professional
Baseball. The
RedHawks play at
Newman Outdoor
Field, and the season
runs from May
until September.
The team’s mascot,
Hawkeye, loves to take
photos with fans and
keep them updated on
what he’s doing through
his Facebook page.
4
Jump on a trampoline — all year
long! Sky Zone is a new indoor trampoline
park that opened in late 2014. Kids can play
dodge ball or basketball while jumping or
catapult into a foam pit. The facility is also available
for parties and other events.
5
Take in a play.
The theatre arts scene
in the metro includes
several companies
and a range of productions in
various genres. Theatre facilities
in the area range from outdoor
amphitheaters to quaint studios
to large auditoriums. Several
local theatre companies also offer
children an opportunity to get
involved in stage acting. Check
out the Arts-Entertainment
section of the Member Directory
to see what companies are
Chamber members.
7
6
Enjoy art exhibits at Plains Art or at the Hjemkomst Center.
The Plains Art Museum is a 56,000-square-foot building that was
previously used as a warehouse for a tractor company beginning in
1904 that now houses local and national exhibits as
well as community events.
The Hjemkomst Center, which is most
famous for housing a replica
of a Viking ship (check
out number 11 on page
47), is also home to
many local and national
exhibits organized by
the Historical &
Cultural Society of
Clay County.
Shop downtown. The metro offers many retail venues for a variety of tastes and needs, and
downtown is no exception. You’ll find interesting, locally owned boutiques in downtown Fargo, many that
are tucked away. Once you
find them and their
treasures, you’ll want to shop there
over and over.
8
Take in a college football game. With three colleges
in town, three teams await your support. If you like to watch your
games in the crisp autumn air, both the Concordia College Cobbers
and Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons play in an
outdoor stadium, while the North Dakota State University Bison play in the
FARGODOME.
The NDSU Bison football team has captured three national
championships, the second team in FCS history to win three
consecutive titles. The Bison ended the 2013 season with a
perfect 15-0 record, the first undefeated FCS champion since
1996. In 2013, the Bison earned ESPN’s attention and the
channel’s premier Saturday morning show, College GameDay,
traveled to Fargo for its live broadcast. In 2014, the Bison
made history when GameDay again broadcast in front of nearly
9,000 fans descended on downtown for the show.
9
Attend an
opera or
symphony.
Both the FargoMoorhead Opera Company
and Fargo-Moorhead
Symphony Orchestra
showcase local, regional
and international artists in
their performances as well
as support education and
outreach.
10
Buy
local
produce
at farmers
markets or purchase a
Community Supported
Agriculture (CSA) share.
Enjoy locally grown fresh
fruits and vegetables all
summer by stopping
at markets to
purchase your favorite
foods.
11
Check out a Viking ship at the Hjemkomst Center.
The ship is a replica built by Moorhead native Robert Asp
in a local ship yard and sailed to Norway in 1982. After its
voyage, the ship was transported back to Moorhead and
donated to the city. It has been on display since 1986. The Hjemkomst
Center, named for the ship, also houses historical traveling exhibits. The
Hopperstad Stave Church, a replica of Norwegian Stave churches built
during the 1100s and 1200s, is also available for touring. The church was
carved by a local professor over the course of five years. Each summer, the
center hosts the Scandanvian Hjemkomst and Midwest Viking Festival.
12
Attend a Fargo Force game.
If football isn’t your favorite sport,
maybe hockey is. The Fargo Force is a
junior ice hockey team in the Western
Conference of the United States Hockey League. The
team plays at Scheels Arena, and the season runs from
September through April.
13
Three wineries in the area
offer an opportunity to taste
vintages made with local
fruit and a unique location for events or
parties. You can even make your own wine
with a group of friends or family!
14
15
Photo courtesy of ///MJOYPHOTOGRAPHY
Go golfing. Six area golf courses
are members of The Chamber, each
offering an interesting course for golfers
of all talent and abilities. The courses
are spread throughout the metro area, so you’re sure
to find one close to wherever you are. Don’t forget
that Golf Addiction offers an opportunity to keep up
with your golf game in the winter through a virtual
simulator.
Taste local wines.
Savor the flavor of ribs and
other treats at the annual Rib Fest.
Every June, many of the country’s best
barbecue cooks descend on the metro
for a four-day feast. Gates open in time for lunch, and
evenings are filled with live entertainment.
16
Enjoy the Holiday Parade
of Lights. It may get cold in the
winter, but that doesn’t stop us from
celebrating the season and the holidays
with an annual parade through downtown Fargo and
Moorhead. Parade floats usually celebrate the annual
theme and holiday music fills the air.
17
Relish a
hand-crafted
beer at a local
brewing company.
Fargo Brewing Company and
Drekker Brewing Company have
taprooms in or near downtown,
and offer a variety of beer for
many different palettes.
18
Shop at West Acres Mall. With more than
120 stores in approximately 950,000 square feet, you’ll
find a variety of stores to keep you busy for hours.
Stop by the food court for a meal or tasty treat, and
kids can enjoy a play area, aquarium
and movie theater (located just south of
the mall). The Roger Maris Museum,
which memorializes the Fargo native and
homerun extraordinaire, is housed within
the mall.
19
Admire old
cars during Cruisin’
Broadway or Cruise
Nights on Sheyenne
Street in West Fargo. Beautiful, historic
vehicles are parked along these two
main thoroughfares for admirers to
enjoy. Get your classic car fix during
these monthly events throughout the
summer.
In 2012, West Acres celebrated 40 years in business,
but the vision for the shopping center actually began
in 1967 when founder William Schlossman purchased
a wheat field at the crossing of Interstate 29 and 13th
Avenue South, which didn’t become a paved road until
two years after the mall opened. When the shopping
center opened in 1972, Fargo was more than a
mile away.
20
Sip on wine
while you enjoy
artwork during
Corks and Canvas in
the summer. This event is designed so
you can sample wines at participating
downtown businesses while you stroll
from business to business shopping
or watching artists at work.
22
21
Attend the Red River Valley Fair.
Summer wouldn’t be
summer without a fair,
and the Red River Valley
Fair offers it all — fun rides, delicious
foods (more than 60 of which are served
on a stick!), livestock expos, beer gardens
and excellent entertainment. The fair
typically runs for six days in July.
Check out the air museum. If you have even an ounce of interest in all things aviationrelated, you need to see this place. History, events, non-flying aircraft, library interactive exhibits,
tours — it’s all housed in a premier museum. The space is also available for events like birthday
parties, corporate parties, weddings, fundraisers, family reunions and more.
WEEKEND FOR THE FAMILY
Take the kids to supper at Space Aliens
Grill and Bar where they can dine on
martian fare and play arcade games.
During the day on Saturday, you can
make a stop at Thunder Road of Fargo,
Inc., for mini-golf, go carts, lazer tag,
batting practice and more. You might
also check out the Red River Zoo and
its famous wolf den before ending the
evening with a movie in the park.
A NIGHT ON THE TOWN
If you want to enjoy all that the Fargo Moorhead
West Fargo metro has to offer when it comes to a
night on the town, here’s an example of how you
could spend your evening.
Start your evening with a cocktail and maybe an
appetizer at Max Lounge. With its lux yet relaxed
vibe, this hotspot is a great place to enjoy delicious
drinks and tasty tapas.
Have dinner at The Boiler Room. One of the newest
restaurants in downtown Fargo, The Boiler Room is
below street level and above level when it comes to
the menu and atmosphere.
Take in a show at Courtney’s Comedy Club. As a
premier comedy club, Courtney’s brings nationally
recognized comedians for five shows each week,
beginning in September and running through May.
End the evening with a nightcap on the roof of the
Hotel Donaldson as you overlook the bustling city.
23
Step into history at
Bonanzaville. You don’t
need to be a history buff to
appreciate the pioneer village
in West Fargo, complete with museums,
rotating exhibits and gift shop. The village itself
includes 43 authentic buildings that will leave
you wondering what life was like on the prairie
when settlers first arrived here.
24
25
26
Take a hike. Many parks
in the area offer beautiful trails
and hiking paths that allow you
to enjoy the beauty of nature
and the local scenery.
Take a cooking class.
Many businesses offer cooking
classes for all types of cooks —
from beginners to advanced,
bakers to food enthusiasts.
Watch a flick during
the Fargo Film Festival. Since
2000, movie makers, educators
and film aficionados began
offering an opportunity for filmmakers to show
their work on the big screen in the restored
and historic Fargo
Theatre, one of the
area’s most beloved
landmarks. Awards
are given in several
categories, including
animation,
documentary
feature, narrative
short and student.
The event takes
place in March
each year.
Don’t Know What to Do?
Call the Fargo-Moorhead
Convention & Visitors Bureau
to schedule a tour, and their
knowledgeable staff members will
help show you the sights.
27
Shop at the Downtown Street Fair or
Alley Fair. Each summer, local artists and vendors
28
Watch the night
sky at the planetarium at
30
Pamper
yourself.
gather to sell their goods. For the street fair, several blocks
of Broadway are shut down while the Alley Fair happens
just there — in the alleys downtown. You’ll find a variety of crafts, jewelry,
home goods, food, beauty products and more at both fairs.
MSUM. This simulation
of the night sky uses a
state-of-the-art digital projector to create a
multimedia presentation to awe, entertain
and educate a variety of different viewers.
The planetarium also offers regularly
scheduled public shows throughout the year.
If you’re
looking to
indulge in some relaxation, a
variety of spas in town offer
the latest in skin care, massage
therapy, waxing, hair care,
manicures, pedicures and
more. Check out page
153 of the Member
Directory to see which
Chamber members offer
these services.
29
Celebrate winter!
Whether you attend
Winter Days, the
Santa Village,
Hockeyfest, the Polar Party, Family
Winter-ific Day, the Figure Skating
Classic or other wintertime
events, you will
appreciate the beauty
and fun of the season.
31
Hear world-class performers at the
FARGODOME. In addition to serving as the home of
NDSU football, this 19,000-seat facility has hosted many
of the biggest names in music. In the last year alone, P!NK,
Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry and Paul McCartney have entertained fans with
interactive and exciting concerts.
Country Music Fan? Be sure to check out WE Fest, one of the
nation’s biggest country music events. The name stands for
Western Entertainment Festival, which was founded in 1983.
Every August, fans descend on Soo Pass Ranch, located
approximately 50 miles away from the metro, near Detroit
Lakes, Minnesota.