What to do this Summer in Fargo

Summer in Fargo is warm and sunny – a drastic difference from winter. Despite the freezing temperatures in the winter, Fargo is fairly humid, which can make the heat a little more bearable. However, Fargo is a bit of a smaller town compared to places like Minneapolis. This makes activities harder to find.
One option is going swimming. Fargo has multiple options, ranging from public pools to places like the YMCA. The three high schools in FPS have outdoor pools that will be open this summer, but the Island Park pool is unfortunately closed for renovations this year. Swimming is a great way to escape from the heat of the sun while having fun.
While it’s not in Fargo, going to a lake house is another option for swimming. Having a lake house or going to lakes in Minnesota is a popular thing here in North Dakota. One option is Lake Cormorant, a lake that is fairly close, open to the public, and fun to swim in. Searching “Middle Cormorant Beach” will give you directions about 40 minutes east of Fargo.
Learning a new outside hobby can provide a fulfilling experience and get you out in the sun. Biking, skateboarding, and rollerblading are both great ways to do this, and it can be a fun activity for family and friends alike. Fargo has many bike paths around town, and all of them are beautiful. Some of these are the Trollwood Trail, Brunsdale Park bike path, and the bike path down by the river in the downtown area.
You can bike through parks and by the Red River, providing beautiful greenery and views. There are also mountain biking trails, including in Lindenwood park, if you’re looking for a more strenuous activity. To find bike maps in Fargo Moorhead, a great site is fmmetrocog.org/fmbikemap.
Fargo has a few events that transpire in the summer, things like fairs and markets. The Red River Market is a farmer’s market downtown, on Saturdays from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. from July to October. It has produce, art and household goods, and is a great way to shop local farmers and artists.
The Red River Valley fair is from July 7-16, and is a great way to try new rides and eat new foods. This year, they have artists like Dan and Shay, Flo Rida, and Broadway stars – performing Disney Princess songs – performing. There is also Ribfest, from June 7-10. This has live music as well, and food vendors, including award-winning rib vendors. This year, the artists playing are Parmalee, Jimmie Allen, Fuel, and Lit. All concerts are $5.
There is also a street fair in Downtown Fargo from July 13-15. This has a lot of local vendors and food trucks, and it makes finding local things a lot easier and more fun.
Another popular event is the Renaissance Fair, by Bonanzaville. This is a way for people to dress up and experience the medieval ages without the Black Plague. They have dates from Aug. 12-27.
Along with fairs, Downtown Fargo has many other opportunities for fun. Simply walking around and window shopping can be a great way to have fun in the summer. Downtown has many amazing stores, like coffee shops and boutiques.
One of these coffee shops is Black Coffee and Waffle Bar, which is in the heart of downtown, right by the RDO building. In the summer, the shop opens up its garage-like windows to let in the sun, and it can be a great place to go after a day of shopping.
Other great places downtown are the local ice cream shops, which can be perfect to cool down. Silver Lining Creamery makes all their own ice cream, and is right by BWCB. Other shops are Tea and Crepe, which is Thai rolled ice cream and located further down Broadway towards Island Park, and Scoop N’ Dough, which is ice cream and cookie dough together, located in Roberts Alley.
There are also miscellaneous events downtown, some things like comedy events and plays that are posted in shops around downtown. They have movies at the square and yoga at the square, usually happening weekly, or twice a week for yoga.
There is also Music at the Square every Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. in the summer, which is live concerts from local artists, like Dan Brekke, the Cropdusters, and the Gina Powers Band.
Island Park is a beautiful park with expansive grass and places to sit and picnic or read. It also has a great playground for kids and tennis courts. Overall, downtown is a great place to spend your summer days.
Summer in Fargo can be an amazing experience, whether that experience is specific to Fargo, or just fun activities. Have fun in the sun and enjoy your months free from school.