Planners should feel free to book any month on the calendar for a meeting in North Dakota, where regardless of season groups will find the spirit of the Wild West, plenty of attractions and activities, and top-drawer—yet affordable—meeting facilities.
Following is a starter guide outlining many fun seasonal opportunities in each of the Roughrider State’s four popular meetings-friendly destinations.
Summer
Summertime in Fargo is the time for taking a stroll or a bike ride.
“Experience North Dakota’s first bike share,” says Jill Halvorson, director of sales at the Fargo-Moorhead CVB. “It’s a great way for your group to teambuild while enjoying the fresh air and seeing the beauty on our bike trails along the Red River.”
She adds Fargo’s walkable downtown has something for everyone, including shops, restaurants, museums and grand sites like the Art Deco Fargo Theater.
According to Camie Lies, communications manager for the Bismarck-Mandan CVB, the Lewis & Clark Riverboat, which offers afternoon, evening and chartered tours from Bismarck, is a great way for groups to experience the Mighty Missouri River.
The 90-acre Bismarck-based Dakota Zoo, home to over 600 animals, is another popular option during summer.
“You can enjoy the zoo by foot and also hop aboard one of the two trains for a 30-minute tour,” Lies says. “If your group needs meeting facilities, they have you covered.”
A unique opportunity in Grand Forks at this time of year is catfishing on the Red River with a local outfitter.
“Catfishing is a fun and competitive activity that also promotes teamwork and takes people out of their comfort zone while reeling in these funny-looking creatures,” says Julie Rygg, executive director of the Greater Grand Forks CVB.
Throughout the summer, New Love Yoga hosts an outdoor yoga series for anyone who wants to join in.
“They take advantage of the beautiful parks and outdoor settings in Greater Grand Forks while teaching yoga basics,” Rygg says.
Minot is home to the North Dakota State Fair, which spans nine days annually in July.
Groups are encouraged to join in on the fun.
“Get your fill of great fair food, top-notch entertainment, the largest carnival in North Dakota and an outstanding variety of agricultural and livestock displays,” says Niki Carlson, director of marketing and communications for Visit Minot.
Another unique opportunity in Minot is a visit to Scandinavian Heritage Park, where attendees can take a nice walk to see attractions that include a Danish windmill and the 30-foot-tall Dala horse, which is a traditional Swedish symbol.
Autumn
Fall is pretty much synonymous with football throughout the country, including in Fargo, where the North Dakota State University Bison hit the gridiron.
“Could there be a better teambuilding event for your group than Bison tailgating?” Halvorson asks. “There is no need to even have a ticket, just bring your gold and green and experience a gathering like you have never seen before.”
A great host for group events in the fall is Bonanzaville Pioneer Village, which Halvorson says offers a truly unique setting for group gatherings.
“From a historic dance hall with a stage and lighting to the newly constructed pavilion, there is nothing you can’t accomplish here,” she says. “Take a break outside on Main Street and host a barbecue for lunch—your attendees will be talking about it for years to come.”
At Papa’s Pumpkin Patch in Bismarck, which runs from Sept. 13 to Oct. 24 this year, groups will find “gorgeous pumpkins and gourds,” according to Lies, as well as bale mazes, an obstacle course, ziplines, hay rides and many other activities for kids of all ages.
In Grand Forks, Rygg says autumn is a good time to visit Bright Brushes, which specializes in painting and wine parties that are a hit with groups, or to plan a team-bonding tournament at King’s Walk Golf Course, an 18-hole Arnold Palmer signature course that also accommodates pre- or post-play events.
Autumn is a lovely time to explore downtown Minot, according to Carlson. She suggests groups take a stroll through an art museum or get hands-on in the ceramic cafe at Margie’s Art Glass Studio.
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Winter
The Fargo-Moorhead Symphony performs year-round and offers a terrific winter series, according to Halvorson.
“Even for those who don’t think they like symphony, it is truly an amazing group of talented musicians,” she says. “And they are always trying out unique venues to perform in.”
On a crisp, white North Dakota day, Halvorson suggests groups visit the Edgewood Golf Course, where they can partake in many traditional winter activities, including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and horse-drawn carriage rides.
In Bismarck, two standby settings for cross-country skiing are Riverwood Golf Course and General Sibley Park.
“It’s a great activity for those gorgeous winter days,” Lies says. “And if your group is a little more adventurous with their outdoor winter skills, head 16 miles south of Mandan to go skiing and snowboarding at Huff Hills Ski Area, where group lessons are available.”
Snowy sports are also the name of the game in Grand Forks, as the Greenway is home to cross-country skiing, cardboard sled races and sleigh rides, Rygg says, adding ice skating in Town Square, which is decorated beautifully for the winter, is another fun idea.
Indoor options when it’s cold out in Minot include an outing to see the Minot State Beavers hockey team in action, or a performance by the Minot Symphony Orchestra.
“Why not grab dinner at 10 North Main in downtown Minot and then head over to Ann Nicole Nelson Hall on the campus of Minot State University for an outstanding musical performance,” Carlson says.
Spring
Springtime is the best time to view the cold climate species at Fargo’s Red River Zoo, “and you may see a baby or two,” says the Fargo-Moorhead CVB’s Halvorson, adding the zoo offers intriguing meeting facilities such as the Carousel Pavilion and Trapper's Log Cabin, from which attendees can watch grey wolves through a window during an event.
“Golfing at one of our seven local courses is the perfect spring outing for any group,” says the Bismarck-Mandan CVB’s Lies. “Rainy day? No worries. Take it inside at the Fore Seasons Golf Center.”
Grand Forks accommodates outdoorsy groups during spring with canoe, kayak and paddleboard excursions on the Red River, and group biking outings on the Greenway, according to the Greater Grand Forks CVB’s Rygg.
“The Greenway gets groups outside and promotes healthy living,” she says.
Visit Minot’s Carlson recommends a group golf outing in the spring.
“Whether you take a swing on the state-of-the-art Minot Country Club, the Vardon Golf Club or Souris Valley Golf Course, we can promise it will be a memorable experience,” she says.
Contributor Carolyn Blackburn still thinks the Coen Brothers gave Steve Buscemi’s character in Fargo a bum deal.
