Fargo–Moorhead area
Around Fargo–Moorhead area
Photo: P. Hughes · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Greater area · North Dakota · 290k people
Fargo–Moorhead area
Locals say Fargo-Moorhead · “Gateway to the Red River Valley”
Where the prairie meets the Red River
NDSU greenNDSU yellow
Welcome to Fargo-Moorhead! Get ready for friendly faces, hearty food, and a community that rallies around the Bison. Whether you're here for school, work, or just passing through, you'll find a warm spot in the Red River Valley.
Clubs for Fargo–Moorhead area
No clubs for Fargo–Moorhead area yet.
The room
Fargo–Moorhead area is big: its rooms are its areas'. This is Fargo–Moorhead's; the others are below.
One room for everyone around Fargo–Moorhead. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Fargo–Moorhead area. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Fargodome Home of NDSU Bison football and major concerts.
- Plains Art Museum Contemporary art in a converted warehouse.
- Fargo Theatre Historic art deco movie palace and concert venue.
- Red River Zoo Small zoo with northern species.
- Bonanzaville Living history museum of pioneer life.
- NDSU campus The big green campus with the Bison.
- Outdoors Bike or walk the Red River Trail
- Outdoors Kayak or canoe on the Red River
- With kids Visit the Red River Zoo
- With kids Explore the Plains Art Museum
- Evenings See a show at the Fargo Theatre
- Evenings Listen to live music at the Bluestem Amphitheater
- Locals love Brew pubs
- Locals love Coffee shops
Through the year
- Fargo Marathon May May marathon with races through downtown and the riverfront.
- Red River Valley Fair July Summer fair with rides, concerts, and livestock.
- Downtown Fargo Street Fair July Street fair with local vendors, food, and music.
- Fargo Blues Fest August Outdoor blues music festival at the Fargo Civic Center.
- Fargo Film Festival March Independent film screenings at the Fargo Theatre.
Fargo-Moorhead has a continental climate with long, cold winters and warm, humid summers. The best time to be out is from late spring to early fall. Best: Late spring to early fall
Talk like a local
- “Uff da”
- Expression of surprise or exhaustion
- “Hot dish”
- Casserole
- “The Cities”
- Minneapolis-St. Paul
- “Up north”
- Going to the lakes
Getaways
- Detroit Lakes Lakes and beaches for summer weekends.
- Grand Forks UND campus and the Greenway along the Red.
- Jamestown National Buffalo Museum and the World's Largest Buffalo.
- Fergus Falls Prairie art and the Otter Tail River.
Local flavour
Teams
- NDSU Bison NCAA Division I FCS
- Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks American Association (independent baseball)
- Fargo Force USHL (junior hockey)
Also rooting for Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Wild
Eat and drink
- Hotdish (tater tot hotdish) A casserole staple across the Upper Midwest
- Lefse Norwegian flatbread, often served with butter and sugar
- Knoephla soup German–Russian dumpling soup, a local comfort classic
Where people go
- Red River The river that defines the valley and the metro's eastern edge
- Prairie landscape Flat, expansive farmland and open skies
- Fargodome Indoor stadium and community landmark
- Historic downtown Fargo Includes the Fargo Theatre and early 20th-century architecture
Heritage and traditions
Fargo-Moorhead is proud of its Scandinavian and German-Russian heritage, its resilience through harsh winters and floods, and its friendly, hardworking prairie spirit.
This time of year in Fargo–Moorhead area
- Fall harvest September-October Combine harvesters work late into the night; locals celebrate with harvest dinners and church bazaars.
Say it like a local: “You bet” — You're welcome, or a friendly affirmation.
Festivals
- Hjemkomst Festival April Celebrates Scandinavian heritage with music, food, and crafts, held at the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead.
- Fargo Celtic Festival September A celebration of Celtic music, dance, and culture with local and national acts.
- Dragon Boat Festival June Teams race dragon boats on the Red River, with a lively atmosphere and food vendors.
- Winterfest January A family-friendly winter celebration with ice sculptures, sleigh rides, and hot cocoa.
- Big Iron Farm Show September A major agricultural trade show in West Fargo, showcasing the latest in farming technology.
Landmarks with a story
- Hjemkomst Center Houses a full-scale replica Viking ship that sailed to Norway in 1982, plus exhibits on Scandinavian heritage.
- St. Mary's Cathedral A Roman Catholic cathedral in Fargo, built in 1899, known for its striking architecture and stained glass.
- Temple Beth El The oldest synagogue in North Dakota, serving the Jewish community since the early 1900s.
- First Lutheran Church A historic Lutheran church in Fargo, reflecting the strong Scandinavian religious heritage.
- Comstock House A Victorian-era home in Moorhead, preserved as a museum, showcasing life in the late 1800s.
- Cass County Courthouse A historic courthouse in Fargo, built in 1904, with a distinctive Beaux-Arts style.
Food traditions
- Kuchen A German-Russian dessert, a sweet yeast cake with fruit or custard, often served at church gatherings and family dinners.
- Krumkake A Norwegian thin waffle cookie, often rolled and filled with whipped cream, a Christmas tradition.
- Lutefisk A Norwegian dish of dried whitefish soaked in lye, traditionally eaten at Christmas with butter and lefse—locals either love it or joke about it.
- Borscht A beet soup brought by German-Russian immigrants, often served with sour cream and dill.
- Chokecherry jam Made from wild chokecherries that grow along the Red River, a sweet-tart spread for toast or lefse.
Music and arts
- Scandinavian folk music Fiddle tunes and songs from Norway and Sweden are kept alive at festivals and cultural events.
- German-Russian polka Accordion-driven polka music, a staple at weddings and community dances.
- Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra A professional orchestra performing classical and pops concerts.
- Plains Art Museum The largest art museum in North Dakota, with a strong collection of regional and contemporary art.
A little history
- 1871 Fargo was founded in 1871 as a railroad town, named after William Fargo of Wells Fargo.
- late 1800s The Great Northern Railway fueled growth, bringing Scandinavian and German-Russian immigrants to farm the fertile Red River Valley.
- 1997 The Red River Flood of 1997 caused massive damage and led to a major community effort to sandbag and rebuild.
- 1890 North Dakota State University was established as a land-grant university, becoming a major agricultural research hub.
- 1871 The area's name 'Fargo' was chosen to honor William Fargo, co-founder of Wells Fargo, though he never visited.
Rivalries
- NDSU Bison vs UND Fighting Hawks College football rivalry with a long history.
- Fargo North vs Fargo South High school football rivalry that splits the city.
- RedHawks vs Winnipeg Goldeyes Baseball rivalry with a Canadian flavor.
- Fargo Force vs Sioux City Musketeers Hockey rivalry in the USHL.
- Game day NDSU Bison tailgating
- Game day The FargoDome for football
- Outdoors Ice fishing on the Red River
- Outdoors Snowmobiling
- With kids Hjemkomst Center
- With kids Fargo Air Museum
People in Fargo-Moorhead speak with a distinct Upper Midwestern accent, influenced by Scandinavian and German roots. The 'Fargo' accent is often exaggerated in movies, but locals do say 'you bet' and 'uff da' naturally, and they call soda 'pop.'
Only here
- The Hjemkomst Viking ship actually sailed from Duluth to Norway in 1982—now it's in the Hjemkomst Center.
- The Red River is one of the few rivers in the US that flows north.
- There's a wood chipper statue at the Fargo-Moorhead Visitor Center, a nod to the movie 'Fargo'.
- The land is so flat that you can see for miles—locals joke you can watch your dog run away for three days.
New here? A few tips
- Dress in layers: winters are brutally cold, but indoor heating is everywhere, so you'll peel off and on.
- Be careful on icy roads—black ice is common. Invest in good winter tires and keep a winter emergency kit in your car.
- Embrace the flatness: the Red River Valley is pancake-flat, which makes for easy biking and walking, but also strong winds.
- Try local foods: knoephla soup, lefse, and hotdish are comfort staples. Don't be afraid to ask for recommendations.
- Learn to love the cold: ice fishing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing are popular ways to enjoy winter.
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Areas in Fargo–Moorhead area
Nearby
Every areaFergus FallsMinnesotaWhere every lake has a storyMahnomenMinnesotaWhere the prairie winds meet the pinesDetroit LakesMinnesotaWhere the lakes meet the pines, every season feels like home.LisbonNorth DakotaWhere the prairie meets the riverValley CityNorth DakotaWhere the prairie meets the river and neighbors are family.MorrisMinnesotaPrairie skies, glacial lakes, and small-town heart.AlexandriaMinnesotaWhere every day is a lake day.Grand ForksNorth DakotaWhere the prairie meets the river.
Fargo-Wahpeton, ND-MN CSA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.