In the Fargo-Moorhead region, history can occasionally get loud. The area is rich with Viking heritage since the railroad brought many Nordic and German settlers to the area in the late 1800s.
Their influence is palpable around the region, and with the popularity of Vikings in television and movies, it makes for some unusually fun free-time options for groups meeting in the area.
1. Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County
At the Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County, groups can see the Hjemkomst Viking ship, a craft modeled after a 9th-century Viking vessel.
Hjemkomst Viking Ship at the Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County
It was built by locals in the 1970s who sailed it to Norway to reclaim their seafaring ways.
The trip was a success, and the historically accurate, detailed ship is now a point of pride in the museum. Groups can tour Hjemkomst Center to see the ship and a variety of artifacts.
The center also offers several meeting and event spaces, including the breathtaking Hopperstad Stave Church, a replica of a nearly 900-year-old church in Norway.
2. Drekker Brewing Company
Beer is the word at Drekker Brewing Company, a Viking-themed brewery whose name comes from the Norse word “drekka” meaning “to drink.”
Its taproom, known as Brewhalla—a play on the Viking term “Valhalla”—is a great hall detailed in Norse mythology and highlights the Viking way of life with its décor and, of course, beer.
Brewhalla Taproom at Drekker Brewing Company
The brewery features private rooms for large groups and the entire venue can be rented for special events. For attendees who want to get in touch with their inner Viking, Drekker also features Viking Yoga monthly, with lots of loud music, yelling, cheering and high-fives.
3. Sons of Norway Club
Planners can follow up Brewhalla with traditional Scandinavian food at the Sons of Norway club located a mile down the road, which serves lunch daily.
Sons of Norway Kringen Lodge
The club is dedicated to preserving Nordic heritage, and offers traditional fare such as lutefisk, potato-based lefsa and knoephla soup, a rich, hearty dumpling-based soup that will warm any Viking’s heart and stomach.
The Sons of Norway club's main dining room capacity is 135, and there’s also a ballroom onsite that can host up to 250.
Fargo-Moorhead CVB Contact Information
Visit Fargo-Moorhead
701.282.3653
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