It’s fall, y’all! Fargo-Moorhead has plenty to do as the seasons change.
Here are eight things to enjoy this fall:
Bison football
It’s officially football season in Fargo and the Bison are back in the Fargodome. The Bison play in their regular season every Saturday through November. NDSU student tickets are free and can be claimed starting at 6 p.m. Saturday the week before the desired game.
Fall markets
Shop produce, locally made goods and crafts this fall at the Red River Market and the Market at West Acres.
Located in downtown Fargo at Broadway Square, the Red River Market is a popular destination on Saturday mornings. In addition to the regular vendor booths, the Red River Market also has a rotating schedule of cooking demonstrations and live performances. The market’s season goes through Oct. 28.
The Market at West Acres is also a great spot to find fresh produce on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays throughout October. It’s location at West Acres Mall also makes it a convenient spot to do other shopping (Target run, anyone?)
Unglued and Drekker Brewing Company present the Fall Makers Market at Brewhalla on Oct. 8. Shop 40 local vendors in Fargo-Moorhead’s newest it-spot.
Visit pumpkin patches
Prep for Halloween or find gourds for fall décor at any number of local pumpkin patches.
Lil Bitz Pumpkin Patch in Fargo has more than 25 attractions, including horse drawn wagon rides, pick your own pumpkin and a corn maze. The site is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Sept. 16 to Oct. 29.
Buffalo River Pumpkin Patch in Glyndon, Minnesota, includes a petting zoo, game area, horse drawn carriage ride, duck races and more. It’s open Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 23 to Oct. 29, with special hours on Oct. 19 and 20.
Farm in the Dell in Moorhead offers over a dozen varieties of pumpkins, squash and gourds. Their u-pick pumpkin patch is open the weeks of Sept. 25 to Sept. 29 or Oct. 2 to Oct. 6. Pre-picked pumpkins are available starting Sept. 25.
Stroll through straw mazes
The Great Straw Maze, located at West Acres Mall, features eight-foot-tall straw bale walls and intricate paths that are sure to give you a challenge. The straw maze will take on an additional creep factor as it gets closer to Halloween in October.
Explore the outdoors
Buffalo River State Park in Glyndon, Minnesota, has 12 miles of hiking trails that are open during the fall season. Take in the colorful leaves and hear the rush of the Buffalo River as you make your way around River View trail. Prairie View Trail, a 2.2-mile loop near the edge of the park, has terrific views of wildlife and is one of Minnesota’s largest prairie preserves.
Take the Wellness Center outdoors with the equipment rentals from Outdoor Adventures. You can rent tents, camping gear, canoes, kayaks, outdoor games and more. Stop by the Wellness Center or visit NDSU’s Outdoor Adventures page to learn more about renting equipment and check out the outdoor adventure guide to plan your next weekend trip.
NDSU Homecoming
Celebrate Bison Pride and general school spirit during NDSU’s Homecoming week, Sept. 25 to 30. The week kicks off with the Ice Cream Social and Pep Fest on Monday, Sept. 25, at 1 p.m. just west of the Memorial Union. Enjoy free ice cream and hear from campus leaders, including student body president and vice president Kaylee Weigel and Austin Anderson, NDSU President David Cook and athletics coaches.
The annual homecoming parade is back on NDSU’s main campus for the first time since 2012. The 2023 parade begins on the corner of University Dr. and 17th Ave. N., heading south before turning west on 12th Ave. Occurring in tandem with the parade is the Bison Bash at Churchill Field, featuring inflatables, a DJ and activities for the campus and community. Both events are on Friday evening.
Other exciting events throughout the week include Serve with the Herd on Tuesday, Bison Trivia on Wednesday and the Blue Key Homecoming Show and Coronation on Thursday.
See the full schedule of events on the NDSU Homecoming website.
Pick your own apples at local orchards
Locally, Orchard Glen Park in south Fargo offers a community orchard that is open to everyone. From late August to October, the orchard’s many apple trees are ripe and available for guests to pick.
Maple Hills Orchard in Frazee, Minnesota, is a short drive from Fargo. The orchard has many popular apple varieties, including Sweet 16 and honeycrisp, in addition to other fruits and vegetables for guests to pick. Also on-site is the orchard’s apple house and café, where guests can pursue local produce and products and eat some delicious apple treats. The orchard is open for the season from Sept. 16 to Oct. 22.
Gottenborg Apple Orchard in Audubon, Minnesota, boasts 6,500 trees on their orchard. The orchard is open weekends starting Aug. 26 for U-Pick, with pre-picked apples available all season. You can also shop their apples at the Red River Market.
Fargo Record Fair
For collectors, vintage lovers and music fans alike, the Fargo Record Fair returns Oct. 21 at the Hall at Fargo Brewing Company. Buy and sell vinyl records and other music-related items, plus enjoy a listening lounge by Arctic Audio and local business Orange Records, at this popular annual event.
Photos courtesy of Visit Fargo-Moorhead.
