While you might have heard of North Dakota’s largest city, Fargo, from the Coen Brothers’ 90s hit movie Fargo or the recent television series with the same title, the Midwestern city attracts hockey enthusiasts, college football fans, and those in love with the Great Plains to the Peace Garden State. With new hotel openings, the renovation of a Radisson Blu, and the opening of a community square—all taking place within the past two years, the city is reimagining its downtown area.
Fargo is also booming in population, with the metropolitan area expected to grow by 100,000 people by 2050 (a 43 percent increase) according to Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments. Situated in the Red River Valley with a median age of 31 years old, Fargo is a young city known for its Art-Deco hotels, vibrant arts community, eclectic shopping, and classic theater entertainment that has drawn travelers to explore the Great Plains and beyond. Here’s what you should check out in the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area.
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The best things to do in Fargo
To understand the culture of the state, head to the Plains Art Museum. The free art museum is the largest accredited art museum in North Dakota with over 4,000 works including Native American art. On display until June 2024 is the exhibit “This is Not Black and White,” reflecting a diversity of place, ethnicity, culture, gender, and medium linked by the use of strong black-and-white imagery. Take a moment to learn about the state’s Scandinavian history at Hjemkomst Center to experience a full-size replica Viking ship and an exhibition celebrating the 10th anniversary of marriage equality in Minnesota.
Built-in 1926, the ‘Fargo’ marquee sign outside the Historic Fargo Theatre stands bright in the center of downtown Fargo. Its Art-Deco interior is an iconic landmark that plays independent and foreign films and is also home to the Fargo Film Festival, which takes place every March. It’s also a top venue for concerts, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior in 1982. Inside you’ll find a wood statue carved in the likeness of Marge Gunderson from the 1996 movie, Fargo.
On Saturdays in the summer, downtown Fargo hosts the Red River Farmers Market on Broadway Square, North Dakota’s largest farmers’ market representing over 90 local farmers and makers. Grab a coffee from Twenty Below, sample ciders from Wild Terra Cider, grab a Korean corn dog from K-Dawg Korean Korndogs, or a special treat for your furry companion from locally made and handcrafted Brew Chezs. If you’re staying in town for a while, grab some local produce ranging from pumpkins to artisan bread to tomatoes and sunflowers. Hop on any MATBUS fixed route and showcase a bus voucher for a free ride to and from the market.
