20 Things To Do In Fargo Beyond The Movie References

On the banks of the Red River and the Minnesota-North Dakota state border, Fargo is the largest city in North Dakota and one of the Midwest’s fastest-growing urban areas. The city has a rich agricultural background and was at the forefront of America’s Pioneer days.

Today, the city is a modernised urban area with cultural institutions, bars, and restaurants to explore, not to mention the sprawling campus of North Dakota State University. There’s always something going on in the Peace Garden State’s largest city, with unique landmarks and attractions to uncover in Fargo and across the border in Minnesota. Here are the best things to do in Fargo.

Fargo, North Dakota

20 Things To Do In Fargo

1- Visit The Hjemkomst Center

The Hjemkomst Center is an incredibly unique cultural institution and one of Fargo’s most visited venues, despite not being located in North Dakota.

Situated in Minnesota, right on the Minnesota-North Dakota state border and minutes from Downtown Fargo, the centre details the roots and heritage of the many Scandinavian-decent residents of the region.

The centre is a fascinating venue to explore, featuring a full-scale and fully seaworthy Viking ship, a historic Stave Church, and all sorts of incredibly educative artefacts and relics.

Besides its expanding artefact collection, the centre also hosts popular annual gatherings such as the German Kulturfest and the Midwest Viking Fest, so there’s always something to see and do.

Hjemkomst Center is at 202 1st Ave N, Moorhead, MN 56560.

2- Visit Bonanzaville

Featuring over 45 historic buildings, countless priceless artefacts and the original aesthetics of a 19th-century frontier town, Bonanzaville is one of the largest attractions in North Dakota.

The open-air attraction explores the tales of the first pioneers in the state’s Red River Valley through a collection of reconstructed and relocated buildings, ranging from an old church and general store to a schoolhouse and jail.

Complete with scatterings of old horse-drawn carriages, 100-year-old steam locomotives and the equally impressive Dahl Car Museum, visiting this charming slice of Fargo is easily among the best things to do in the city.

Bonanzaville is at 1351 Main Ave W, West Fargo, ND 58078.

3- Relax At Broadway Square

The quintessential meeting space in Downtown Fargo, Broadway Square, treats visitors to all sorts of special events and attractions every season of the year.

Free to visit, the square comes to life during wintertime when the SCHEELS Skating Rink rolls into town, allowing Fargo residents access to Olympic-quality ice right in the heart of downtown.

Surrounded by some of Fargo’s best restaurants, shops and attractions, this popular public square is always worth stopping by whenever you’re in Fargo.

4- See Bison At Fargodome

With a maximum capacity of just over 19,000 screaming sports fans, the Fargodome is the city’s go-to arena for any significant sporting events or live shows and is one of the biggest venues by capacity in North Dakota.

The dome hosts North Dakota State University’s football team, the Bison, who play in the US collegiate sporting landscape FCS division.

When the Bison isn’t dominating their opponents in the climate-controlled dome, the venue doubles as a live concert space that can accommodate up to 25,000, depending on the stadium’s configuration.

First opened back in 1992, the dome is still among the liveliest venues in North Dakota during significant events and is always a fantastic attraction to visit in Fargo.

Fargodome is at 1800 N University Dr, Fargo, ND 58102.

5- Tour The Historic Comstock House

In Moorhead, Minnesota, Comstock House is a beautiful example of classic Queen Anne and Eastlake-style design located right down the road from the Hjemkomst Center.

The historic home was built between 1882 and 1883 for Solomon Comstock, one of the region’s first settlers and a prominent figure in the region’s politics and business.

Added to the National Register in 1974, the house is today a museum that visitors are welcome to tour, providing insights into the life of one of the region’s most influential people.

Comstock House is at 506 8th St S, Moorhead, MN 56560.

6- Explore The Plains Art Museum

Featuring an impressive art collection of over 3,000 individual pieces, the Plains Art Museum is one of the leading art institutions in North Dakota.

The museum is housed within the historic International Harvester Warehouse, an early 20th-century building that the museum formally moved into back in 1994.

The collection includes folk art, traditional Native American art and more contemporary works, providing visitors with a broad spectrum of mediums and genres to enjoy.

With thousands of permanent and temporary exhibits and displays to marvel at, there are few better institutions to tour than this fine Fargo art museum.

Plains Art Museum is at 704 1st Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102.

7- Catch A Show At Fargo Theatre

The beautiful and immensely historic Fargo Theatre is a stunning Art Deco theatre purposely designed for hosting vaudeville performances and film screenings.

The theatre is located right along Fargo’s popular Broadway thoroughfare and features a capacity of around 870 patrons on any given night.

Opened in the early 1920s, the venue has played host to everything from music concerts to magic shows and has also been the home of the annual Fargo Film Festival since 2001.

This theatre is listed on the National Register of Historic places and puts on various shows and events for guests to enjoy throughout the year, making it a great addition to any Fargo itinerary.

8- Spend An Afternoon At Thunder Road Amusement Park

The Thunder Road Amusement Park has been the go-to entertainment venue for families in Fargo since the park was established in 2001.

Open every year between May and November, the amusement park features a host of fun activities to keep visitors of all ages busy such as Laser Tag, miniature golf, go-karts and bumper cars.

Besides the park’s laundry list of things to do, Thunder Road is also filled with many concessions and amenities to keep you energised and ready to join in on the fun all day long.

Few attractions in Fargo can rival the sheer excitement and fun Thunder Road dishes, making it one of North Dakota’s must-see venues whenever you’re near Fargo.

Thunder Road Amusement Park is at 2902 Thunder Rd S, Fargo, ND 58104.

9- Go Beer Tasting At Drekker Brewing Company

Open to beer lovers for tours and beer tastings, Drekker Brewing Company is one of the most popular and successful breweries in North Dakota.

This Viking-themed venue produces its beers by hand, ensuring their passion and skill for beer brewing can be experienced through sipping craft brews on tap.

The venue is a renowned attraction and a cool bar thanks to their popular “grains to glass” tours.

The tours take visitors on a complete guide through the beer-making process led by one of the brewery’s master brewers, so visitors get the full experience from a beer-brewing pro.

When you’re done touring the brewery, check out its spacious taproom, where locals and travellers get together to enjoy good company with even better beer.

Drekker Brewing Company is at 1666 1st Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102.

10- Stroll Through The Red River Market

Established in 2015, the Red River Market has grown from a small gathering of local farmers into the state’s largest farmer’s market in less than a decade, drawing over 8,000 visitors weekly.

This weekly event takes place every year between summer and autumn and is the go-to spot in Fargo to pick up the freshest produce and tastiest homemade goods.

With more than 90 individual stalls to browse through, the market is one of Fargo’s best free-to-visit attractions and is always brimming with new things to experience and new people to meet.

Red River Market is at 201 Broadway N, Fargo, ND 58102.

11- Stop By The Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center

Conveniently situated right off the Interstate heading into Fargo, the Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center is one of the first attractions visitors pass when arriving in the city.

The centre is packed with tips and information about exciting things and places to visit in Fargo, such as the city’s best restaurants, shopping venues and bars.

The centre, housed within a building that mimics a grain elevator, is also home to several unique attractions and exhibits, such as the Fargo Celebrity Walk of Fame and Fargo’s much-beloved woodchipper, making it more than just an information venue.

Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center is at 2001 44th St S, Fargo, ND 58103.

12- Visit The North Dakota State University Campus

North of Downtown Fargo, the North Dakota State University Campus, with its 15,000 students, it’s one of the prominent landmarks in North Dakota.

The university’s campus is home to several historic buildings, such as Minard Hall, the Memorial Union, and the Fargodome.

When it comes to scenic natural beauty, the university’s Babbling Brook provides visitors with a serene public outdoor space to relax at.

Free to visit and encompassing over 258 acres (104 ha), the NDSU campus is always a fantastic Fargo landmark worth visiting.

North Dakota State University Campus is at 1340 Administration Ave, Fargo, ND 58105.

13- Explore Fargo Air Museum

The Fargo Air Museum, situated at the city’s Hector International Airport, is a wonderful and very accessible attraction where visitors get to marvel at a whole host of cool and vintage flying machines.

Over 90% of the museum’s aircraft on display are still airworthy, with highlights of the collection including a Piper J3-C65 Cub, a North American P-51D Mustang, and a full-scale replica of an early Wright Brothers aircraft.

This unique Fargo attraction is a wonderful venue for the entire family, with something interesting to see that’ll delight and educate guests of all ages.

Fargo Air Museum is at 1609 19th Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102.

14- Unwind In The Sprawling Lindenwood Park

Sprawling Lindenwood Park is the most extensive multi-use public park in Fargo and is situated right on the banks of the Red River.

The park is home to all your typical public park favourites, such as playgrounds, baseball diamonds, bike and kayak rental facilities.

The scenic park is connected to the nearby Gooseberry Park in Moorhead via a pedestrian bridge, allowing visitors to enjoy both urban outdoor venues in one go.

Free to visit and open year-round, this fantastic urban park is among the best outdoor attractions in Fargo and is highly recommended if you’re looking to swap the city for North Dakota’s scenic natural beauty.

Lindenwood Park is at 1905 Roger Maris Dr, Fargo, ND 58103.

15- Learn About A Baseball Legend At Roger Maris Museum

The Roger Maris Museum celebrates the career of Roger Maris, an all-time great baseball player and one of Fargo’s most famous former residents.

Maris cemented his place in baseball history when he broke Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record in 1961, beating out Mickey Mantle.

Maris’ feat earned him a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame and his own museum in his hometown Fargo.

The museum displays several of Maris’ trophies, memorabilia and awards.

It is free to enter, so don’t miss this unique local attraction.

Roger Maris Museum is at 3902 13th Ave S #3717, Fargo, ND 58103.

16- Explore Red River Zoo

Situated on 33 acres (13 ha) of pristine nature, the Red River Zoo and its many rolling hills, beautiful floral displays and ponds provide the backdrop to one of Fargo’s most visited attractions.

The zoo opened in 1999 and is a sanctuary for over 300 animals from more than 75 different species.

Not only is the zoo home to exotic animals from all over the world, but the venue also provides a home to several critically endangered species native to the Red River Valley.

Red River Zoo is at 4255 23rd Ave S, Fargo, ND 58104.

17- Cheer On The Local Team At Newman Outdoor Field

Opened to the public back in 1996, the Newman Outdoor Field is a 4,500-seat baseball stadium that mainly serves as the home of the University of North Dakota State’s baseball team.

Nicknamed “The Nest”, the stadium is situated on the university’s main campus near Downtown Fargo and shares the same field dimensions as the famous Yankee Stadium in New York.

One of Fargo’s non-professional sports cathedrals, catching a live baseball game in The Nest is among the best activities Fargo offers.

Newman Outdoor Field is at 1515 15th Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102.

18- See An Opera At Fargo-Moorhead Opera

The Fargo-Moorhead Opera was first formed in 1968 and has since grown to become one of the city’s leading cultural attractions, putting on three different productions every season.

Fargo enjoys the somewhat obscure honour of being the USA’s smallest city with a year-round professional opera company, and it’s all thanks to the Fargo-Moorhead Opera, which regularly hosts sell-out shows in Downtown Fargo.

In addition to world-class opera, the company also organises special events and community programs to get more people into opera and the performing arts in general, making it a great local attraction for catching some quality live entertainment.

Fargo-Moorhead Opera is at 21 8th St S, Fargo, ND 58103.

19- Go Shopping At West Acres Shopping Center

The multi-purpose West Acres Shopping Center doubles as Fargo’s number-one shopping venue and as the current home of the Roger Maris Museum.

The mall features over 100 outlets, making it the go-to place in North Dakota to shop for your favourite international brands or buy that one-of-a-kind item.

When hunger starts ruining your shopping mood, head to the mall’s 750-seat food court to relax, grab a bite to eat, or marvel at the mall’s several public art pieces scattered throughout the centre.

Whether you’re in the mood to shop or just strolling by stores for window shopping, this is the place in Fargo for you.

West Acres is at 3902 13th Ave S, Fargo, ND 58103.

20- Discover The Rourke Art Gallery and Museum

Across the border in Minnesota, the Rourke Art Gallery and Museum is a fine arts museum housed within the historic Federal Courthouse and Post Office building, dating back to 1915.

The museum was founded by brothers James O’Rourke and Orland J. Rourke in 1960 and features a permanent collection of over 5,000 individual works of art.

With everything from West African and Islamic to Colonial Mexican and Japanese art on display, this is undoubtedly one art museum you’ll not want to skip.

Rourke Art Gallery and Museum is at 521 Main Ave, Moorhead, MN 56560.