Greenway Ski Day
Happening each year in February, Grand Forks’ Greenway Ski Day is a fun way to get outside, get active, and enjoy some winter fun with your friends. This free event takes place at Lincoln Drive Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities include skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, ice skating, and more. Kids will love participating in the cardboard sled race which happens at 2 p.m. You can build your own cardboard sled with materials from the Ski and Bike shop which can be picked up before the event. This shop also provided some complementary equipment for the Ski Day.
Art on the Red
A staple of Grand Forks since 2001, Art on the Red takes place on the second weekend in June. It usually takes place downtown along the Red River, but some recent years it’s been held at University Park due to ongoing construction. At Art on the Red, you can shop from 100 vendors selling all kinds of quality goods from handmade jewelry, rugs, pottery, paintings, and delicious food. It attracts the best of North Dakota’s artists, artisans, and food vendors, as well as musical acts from around the country. There are also kids’ activities making this a great day out for the whole family.
Grand Forks Downtown Street Fair
The Downtown Street Fair in Grand Forks happens on a Friday and Saturday in August. You can find everything here from fresh produce to food carts, to handmade crafts and other products. Throughout the fair there are busking musicians, live portrait artists, and kids activities, making it a fun weekend experience for the whole family. The hours on Friday are from noon to 8 p.m. for street vendors, while food vendors operate until 10 p.m. On Saturday the Street Fair starts at 9 a.m. Come early to get the best local produce and avoid the afternoon crowds.
Rydell Car Show
The Rydell Annual Benefit Car and Bike Show takes place in late September in Grand Forks at the Rydell Dealership at 2700 South Washington Street. This is a benefit show that raises money for local charities. Each year a charity is chosen by the Rydell employees, and up to $40,000 is matched, as well as all the donations going to the recipient, no expenses taken out. This event has been taking place here since 2007 and is still going strong, and in that time has raised over 700,000 in benefits for the community.
This full-day event starts with registration and coffee and rolls for participants who want to display their vehicles at 8 a.m. At 11 a.m. the car show opens to the public and goes on until 4 p.m. At the Rydell Annual Benefit Car and Bike Show, you can expect to see a range of fun and cars, trucks, and bikes, including corvettes, street rods, muscle cars, unique custom vehicles, international imports, rat rods, classic cars, and more. There’s also a silent auction of donated prizes with the proceeds going to the charity or organization that has been chosen to benefit.
North Dakota Human Rights Film Festival
The North Dakota Human Rights Film Festival and Summit happens in November and takes place at several locations in Fargo as well as at satellite screenings around the state. Now in its fifth year, you can attend the festival in person or via virtual cinemas. There will be morning seminars and educational workshops held at the Plains Art Museum, followed by afternoon film screenings and discussions at the Fargo Theatre. Films will cover important topics about local and worldwide human rights issues, showcased through the narrative as well as documentary films both feature-length and short, with awards for various categories.
Christkindlmarkt
Fargo’s popular German Christmas Market, the Christkindlmarkt, happens in late November at the Fargo Civic Center. It runs from Thursday evening through Sunday, with live music each day. Performances take place in the Bier Hall and include modern pop and rock, bluegrass and country, traditional polkas, German music, and of course, holiday favorites. There is also a ballet performance with scenes from the holiday classic “The Nutcracker,” and a holiday performance with aerial silks. Family activities include photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus and storybook readings with the West Fargo Public Library in the Entryway Lounge.
In the Christkindlmarkt you’ll find a food hall with food vendors serving up German fare that smells like Christmas should along with hot drinks to help you warm up from a cold November day in North Dakota. The Sweet Shop provides all the sweet treats you and the kids could need. When you’re fueled up head to the Vendor Village to get a start on your holiday shopping. The Winter Wonderland is where you’ll find Santa and his team, as well as the carolers where you can gather around fire pits to enjoy the festive singing.
There are so many community events throughout the year in Eastern North Dakota. Whatever the season you can find something fun to plan for that both adults and kids can look forward to. If you’re looking for some yearly activities to attend we at Rydell Outlet Center hope you have found this list helpful. Have you been to any of these events already? Drop us a line and tell us which is your favorite annual event in the Fargo or Grand Forks areas. Have we piqued your interest with any on this list?
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