Fargo is a lot of things, but it isn't expensive. With most major attractions (and even sporting events!) costing less than $10, it's not hard to find a cheap day out in the city.
That being said, we prefer a free day out. So, we've compiled 17 fun things to do for free in Fargo:
1. Embrace the great outdoors in Fargo's parks
Some of the locals' favorite free things are biking, rollerblading, and walking on the parks' designated trails.
Families can take advantage of the parks' large playgrounds, sports courts, disc golfing courses, and wide open green spaces, which make an ideal field for a pick-up kickball game.
In winter, dozens of outdoor ice skating rinks are open to the public (Broadway Square is open to all). You can also hit the cross-country ski trails and snowshoeing spots if you have your gear with you (if you don't, you can rent it for less than $15).
2. Take a goofy pic with the Fargo Woodchipper
Stop by Fargo's Visitors Center to take a photo with the original woodchipper prop from the movie Fargo. Make sure to tag #FargoWoodchipper when you post it!
3. Capture a memory by the Fargo Theatre
This 1926 theater in downtown Fargo is one of the city's most iconic sites... and photo backdrops.
Take a picture, and then use the theater as a jumping-off point for exploring the rest of downtown.
4. Discover Fargo's street art
Downtown has tons of photo ops, from sculpted bike racks and wrapped electrical boxes to creative murals by local artists. Downtown murals are accessible to anyone and are incredibly Instagram-friendly.
Some favorites include the #FargoMarioWall behind The Toasted Frog, the Silver Lining Creamery wing murals, and Art Alley, where artists have free reign to spray paint whatever comes to them.
5. See a Norwegian Stave Church
A replica of the Stave church outside of Vik, Norway, you can find a piece of Scandinavia in Moorhead outside the Hjemkomst Center. Walking around the park and church is free, but entry to the church and Hjemkomst Center is $8-10.
6. Learn about a baseball legend at the Roger Maris Museum
Baseball fans won't want to miss the Roger Maris Museum, which is located in the West Acres Mall.
Maris hit a Major League Baseball record 61 home runs during the 1961 season for the New York Yankees, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs in 1927... so he's kind of a big deal. The museum includes:
- A video room for watching historic footage while sitting on actual Yankee Stadium seats from the Maris era.
- A replica of Roger's Yankee Stadium monument.A replica of Roger's 1961 locker.
- Displays and artifacts from Roger's youth and Major League playing days.
7. Visit our major art museums
Time to take your art appreciation indoors at the Plains Art Museum – North Dakota's largest art museum – in Downtown Fargo or the Rourke Art Museum in Moorhead.
Both feature carefully curated local, regional, national, and 'Midwest Modern' art pieces alongside rotating exhibits.
Oh, and they have free entry. Did we mention that?
8. Go window shopping in Fargo's downtown district
While window shopping isn't an easy feat, Fargo's downtown is packed with boutiques and stores selling locally-made goods.
Zandbroz Variety and STABO sit along the main street of Broadway, and both sell Fargo and Midwest-related products and cool oddities. Local clothing boutiques and antique and thrift shops adorn the various backstreets.
Brewhalla Market is another fantastic place for window shopping and people-watching.
9. Hunt for bison... the painted kind
Painted bison dot the Fargo area. You can pick up a free map at the Visitors Center and go on a search for all 20+.
10. Farmers Market
We have the largest farmers market in North Dakota, Red River Market, not to mention plenty of others throughout the non-winter months. Without purchasing anything, you can still browse and take in the vibrant community and beautiful weather.
11. Attend a free event
Free events are constantly cropping up around Fargo, from the largest farmers' market in the state and night bazaars to music festivals and family-friendly days.
To find one happening during your stay, you can visit the Events Calendar.
12. Stroll the 'Walk of Fame'
Fargo has had its fair share of celebrities and famous faces, and this 'Walk of Fame' near the Visitors Center highlights their handprints and names.
See how many of the names you can recognize.
13. Listen to live music
Live music, karaoke, and open mic nights are usually free and tend to happen almost every night of the week.
Chances are, if you stop in at Dempsey's Public House, Sidestreet, The Aquarium, Front Street Taproom (which also serves only regionally brewed beers), and the Sons of Norway, you'll hear some rockin' live music. Not to mention any of Fargo's breweries.
14. View the world's largest Dilly Bar
At the seasonal walk-up Moorhead Dairy Queen, you can take your picture with a 16-foot-tall Dilly Bar statue... the largest in the world, in case you were wondering.
15. Appreciate a North Dakota sunset
Fargo's flat. And while that doesn't make for excellent downhill skiing or mountain climbing, it does make for incredible sunset views.
You'll also notice the city doesn't have many tall buildings. The fertile soil of the valley means it's easier to build out than up. So instead of having a traditional skyline, we like to think the #FargoSkyline is made up of incredible sunrises and sunsets.
Locals love to watch these incredible light shows anywhere they can. Find a list of great places to watch a sunset here.
16. Head to the library
Moorhead, Fargo, and West Fargo all have excellent libraries and offer summer reading programs for kids.
17. Go birding
A restoration and preservation initiative has improved the city's natural grassland and wetland areas, making them the perfect spot for birding. Find out more at the Audubon Dakota website.
Free and Fargo definitely go together... you just have to know where to look.
