Top Free (or Nearly Free!) Things to Do in Fargo, North Dakota - Tripelle (2024)

Fargo, North Dakota is a city that has worn many hats over the years. It began as a fur trading post before becoming a frontier town, the capital for a short period of time, and eventually the magnificent city it is today. While there are not a ton of tourist attractions in Fargo, ND, you will never lack for things to do in Fargo. There are even plenty of things to do near Fargo, so you can easily make a couple day trips during your vacation in Fargo.

The city of Fargo is within Cass County in North Dakota. Fargo is on the eastern side of the state, making it really close to the state of Minnesota. The location of this city is to the north of most other places in the country, and that means you are going to see things you wouldn’t see anywhere else during your travels.

The best time to visit Fargo, North Dakota is during the months of June, July, and August. It is the warmest during those months of the year, which is perfect for most people who do not like to freeze while they are on vacation. However, if you are a fan of the cold and an overabundance of snow, you may prefer the winter months in this part of the country.

Fargo, North Dakota is mostly known for its long harsh winters. Those months are filled with bitter cold temperatures, lots of wind, and a good amount of snow. It is common for the temperatures to hover around zero at that time of the year or even dip lower on the thermometer.
The summer months are warm, and you will normally see the temperatures rising into the 80s and 90s. The spring and fall are somewhere in between with the temperatures either starting to warm up or cool down, depending on the season.

1 . Go Birdwatching

As promised, birdwatching is one of the many outdoor activities you will be doing when visiting Fargo, ND. Birdwatching might not be a popular vacation activity, but in Fargo, it is one of the best Fargo, ND activities on a nice day. You can easily visit any of the natural grassland areas or wetland areas to see a large number of birds.

You may also like: 11 Reasons Dads Should Take An Annual Solo Trip

2. Visit the Sticks Garden

One of the more unusual, yet still free thing to do in Fargo, ND is visiting the Sticksgarden. You will find this unique garden in the Moorhead community. The entire garden is filled with sticks that have been designed by many of the local artists.

3. Listen to Live Music

Visiting any of the breweries or restaurants in Fargo will usually result in your listening to some live music. Most of the live music is free, but you will need to pay for your food and drink. A couple popular options for listening to live music include the Front Street Taproom, Dempsey’s Public House, and the Aquarium. You may even find a little karaoke action and open mic nights for your partying pleasure.

You may also like: Free Things to Do in Baltimore, Maryland

4.Take a Selfie with a Dilly Bar

Have you ever taken a selfie with a dilly bar? Our guess is no, but you can do just that when you are in Fargo, ND. The world’s largest dilly bar can be found outside the Dairy Queen in Moorhead and it is one of the iconic Fargo, ND points of interest. The dilly bar is sixteen feet tall, so you may actually need someone else to take your picture for you.

5. Stop by the Fargo Theatre

As you are sightseeing in Fargo, ND, you will stumble across the Fargo Theatre. This theater opened back in 1926 and it is one of the most iconic attractions in Fargo. This theater is actually an excellent place to begin your time in Fargo, so you may want to place it at the top of your list of things to do in Fargo, ND.

You may also like: Free Things to Do in Albuquerque, New Mexico

6. Count All the Painted Bison

All over Fargo, you will discover painted bison. While you can see if you can spot the more than twenty painted bison on your own, it is much easier if you pick up a map from the visitor’s center. This will ensure you do not miss any by counting one twice.

7. Explore the Plains Art Museum

The Plains Art Museum is right in Fargo, ND. It is filled with all types of works of art. While you will see many permanent exhibits on display, there are also quite a few temporary exhibits that are changed regularly.

You may also like: Best Things to Do with Family in Louisville, Kentucky

8. Visit the Rourke Art Museum

One of the best things to do near Fargo, ND is visiting the Rourke Art Museum. This may not be one of the most popular things to do in Fargo with kids, but they should be able to handle a short visit. This museum is similar to the Plains Art Museum and it is filled with works of art from both local and national artists.

9. Do a Little Window Shopping

Shopping might not be free, but window shopping in Fargo’s downtown district is. The entire downtown area is full of boutiques and other shops. We recommend beginning on Broadway and then venturing down some of the side streets to see what you can find. Just be careful, because this is one of the free things in Fargo, ND that is difficult to keep free.

You may also like: Free Things to Do in Charleston, South Carolina

10. Visit the Roger Maris Museum

The Roger Maris Museum is one of the most popular things to do in Fargo with kids, especially those kids who are baseball enthusiasts. A visit to this museum should be at the top of your list of things to do in Fargo, ND this weekend. You will find this museum over in the West Acres Mall. Inside the museum, you will find a replica of Roger’s 1961 locker, as well as his Yankee Stadium monument. There is a video room for watching all types of footage and you can spend hours looking at all the artifacts and other memorabilia on display.

11. Go on an Adventure in Any of Fargo’s Parks

There are plenty of parks in Fargo, ND and you will want to have an adventure in at least one of them. Most of the parks have trails for walking and biking. You will also find disc golf courses, playgrounds, and lots of open spaces. The winter months bring the opening of the ice-skating rinks, as well as enough snow for snowshoeing.

You may also like: 25 Things to Do in Connecticut with Kids

12. Take a Walk on the Walk of Fame

The Walk of Fame is where all the celebrities and other famous people from Fargo are honored. Many of their names and handprints can be found on this Walk of Fame. There are at least 100 names there now and you must see how many of the names you recognize when you visit. This is definitely one of the tourist attractions in Fargo, ND that you should visit when the weather is nice. That normally means the winter months are out.

13. Take a Selfie with the Woodchipper from the Movie Fargo

The original woodchipper from the movie Fargo can be found at the Fargo Visitor’s Center. You must take a selfie with it to commemorate your time in this fascinating city.

You may also like: 25 Things to Do in Portland, Maine with Kids

14. Stop at the Norwegian Stave Church

The Norwegian Stave Church in Fargo, ND is an exact replica of a Stave church over in Vik, Norway. This church is located near the Hjemkomst Center, which is near Fargo, ND. You can walk around the outside for free, but there is a small fee to enter the church.

15. Look at All the Street Art in Fargo

There is plenty of street art to be seen in Fargo and you will notice it in some strange places. The large creative murals will be obvious, but make sure you pay attention to all those electrical boxes and bike racks, because you never know when they will have been turned into works of art.

You may also like: 25 Things to Do in Boise, Idaho

16. Go on a Historic Bridge Tour in Valley City

If you are searching for things to do near Fargo, we recommend taking the historic bridge tour over in Valley City. There is a total of thirteen bridges in this city, but only eight of them are on the tour. It is best to grab information about this tour at the Rosebud Visitor Center before starting. If you forget, there is a chance that you will miss out on some incredible information along the way.

17. Drive Along the Sheyenne National Scenic Byway

The Sheyenne National Scenic Byway goes along the Sheyenne River for sixty-three miles. You will begin your drive to the north of Valley City and end down in Lisbon. The entire way, you will follow the Pioneer Wagon trails, as well as the footpaths of the Native Americans. This is one of the better things to do near Fargo this weekend.

You may also like: 50 Best Drive-In Movie Theaters Near You in Every State

18. Watch the Sunset

Okay, so watching the sunset in Fargo, North Dakota is not going to be as amazing as watching it on a beach somewhere. However, Fargo is a flat city and that makes it perfect for watching the sun go down. The locals all seem to migrate to the parking garages at the end of the day, so we recommend you join them for this magnificent event. You may discover it is one of the best things to see in Fargo, ND. Oh, and if you are not a fan of sunsets, or later nights during the summer, you can always watch the sunrise instead.

19. Visit Medicine Wheel Park

Medicine Wheel Park is a large open space that began as a class project for the local university. However, over time, it became so much more. There are two solar calendars within the park, as well as Native American Burial Grounds, scenic overlooks, and nature trails. It is easy to spend an entire day here exploring.

You may also like: Best Places to Swim with Dolphins in the US and World

20. Stop at the Rosebud Visitor Center

The Rosebud Visitor Center is over in Valley City and it is a must-stop destination if you are looking for things to do near Fargo. This is the place to learn about the history of the Sheyenne River Valley. The most popular attraction at the visitor center is the 1881 Superintendent railcar. The railcar has all its original furnishings, which makes it a one of a kind railway attraction.

There are so many things that you are going to want to know before heading out to Fargo, North Dakota for your next family vacation. Here are a couple expert tips that we know will be helpful:

Be Prepared to Spend Time Outdoors – A visit to Fargo, North Dakota will have you spending a lot of time outside in the rugged terrain. This means you will want to be prepared with the proper clothes and footwear. Flip flops are not going to cut it in Fargo unless you are only planning on visiting the pool.

Eat a Meal (or two or three) at Mezzaluna – When you are in Fargo, you are going to search high and low for some of their best food. However, let us save you all the work by telling you the best food you will eat in Fargo is at Mezzaluna. Trust us, go there! You won’t be disappointed!

Take Your Camera Everywhere – The landscape in Fargo, North Dakota is stunning, so make sure you have your camera with you everywhere. Oh, and take extra batteries or a charging pack every time you leave your hotel room. Even if you are just heading out for an hour. You will thank us later when you don’t miss that one of a kind shot when your batteries or cell phone dies.

These are the twenty free, or nearly free, things to do in Fargo, North Dakota. You may have started your journey with the question of what to do in Fargo this weekend, but by the time you leave, you will have discovered that there are so many fun things to do in Fargo, ND. You may even decide that you need to return to this majestic place again in the future to experience it all again!