the insider blog
Home >
/ Entertainment

Category Archives: Entertainment

Value vacationing in Greater Grand Forks

October 12th 2017 | Posted by julier | 0 Comments

Email
Sept_Desktop_BigBox_Ad.jpg

During times when the exchange rate and/or economy may not be ideal, we realize how you spend your money is more important than ever.  When visiting our two towns, you’ll find a variety of top-notch lodging, dining, shopping and entertainment options at unbelievably low prices.   Should our community have the privilege of hosting you, either for a weeklong vacation or weekend getaway, the Greater Grand Forks Convention & Visitors Bureau will assist in any way possible to help find the best buys out there.  The Grand Forks App (which can be downloaded at Google Play or the App Store) and website (www.visitgrandforks.com) Deals & Discounts pages feature awesome offers at a variety of local businesses.   Below is a list of Visitors’ Top 5 Most Redeemed Offers: 20% off room rack rate at Rodeway Inn $74 Sunday-Thursday room rate at Expressway Suites Buy one, get one free on any in-store items at Northern Roots Boutique (lesser priced item will be free) $5 off a purchase of two Sunday brunch, buffet, lunch or dinners at Eagle’s Crest Grill Free admission to the North Dakota Museum of Art Make sure to stop in our Visitor Center, as well, to pick up …

Posted in: Arts & Culture, Dining, Entertainment, Lodging, Shopping, shows and concerts, Sports & Recreation, Travel & Tourism, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Harvest the fun in Greater Grand Forks

October 5th 2017 | Posted by julier | 0 Comments

Email
CornMaze

Autumn is here but no need to fear…you’re sure to fall in love with all the spooktacular happenings in Greater Grand Forks. Since Halloween is only a few weeks away, time to get pumpkin’d up and experience one a-maze-ing time with the whole family!   Located just west of Grand Forks, Nelson’s Pumpkin Patch is a mere 20-mile drive to one great time.  Some of the cool to-dos are a preschool straw maze, 11-acre corn maze, hayrides, farm animal petting zoo, Jack O’Lantern bounce house, games, concessions and much more.  And if you’re feeling brave, the Gruesome Canary Haunted House is wicked good! Nelson’s is open through October 29, from 3 to 6 PM during the week and 11 AM to 6 PM on weekends.  Their address is: 2448 20th Avenue NE, Emerado, ND.  Simply take the Grand Forks Air Force Base exit off Highway 2, then go 1½ miles north + a ¼ mile east and look for the BIG PUMPKIN.  More information may be found at www.nelsonspumpkinpatch.com.   Bring the whole family out for a day of fun ‘n’ games at Valley Corn Maize!  In addition to the 10-Acre Corn Maze and Kids Straw Maze, other attractions include a …

Posted in: Entertainment, Events, Sports & Recreation, Travel & Tourism, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

When the lights go down in our cities

September 28th 2017 | Posted by julier | 0 Comments

Email
Brick&Barley

If you’re looking for some cool nighttime to-dos, our SimplyGrand Forks are one hot ticket! With everything from live music and karaoke to bar bingo and trivia takeovers, we’ve got plenty of ways to entertain you.   Listed below is just a sampling of all the different places to play around after the sun goes down: Bar Bingo/Bargo – Up North Pizza Pub (Tuesdays at 7 PM) Karaoke – Brick & Barley (Tuesdays at 10:30 PM); Rhombus Guys Pizza (Wednesdays at 10 PM); O’Really’s Irish Pub (Wednesdays & Fridays at 10 PM); Diamond Lounge (every other Thursday, starting September 21, at 7:30 PM); El Roco Bar & Grill (Thursdays at 9 PM) Live Music – The Ember (Thursday Bluegrass Jam); Diamond Lounge (Weekends at 9 PM); Long Haul Saloon (Weekends at 9 PM); Shotgun Sally’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Saloon (Weekends at 9 PM); Southgate Bar & Grill (Weekends at 9 PM) Open Mic Night – The Ember (Fridays, October 6-December 1) Pool – El Roco Bar & Grill; The Loft; TJ’s Sports Bar Trivia – Bonzer’s (Mondays at 8 PM); The Diamond (Tuesdays at 7 PM); Ramada Dreamers Lounge (Tuesdays at 8 PM); Rhombus Guys Pizza (Tuesdays at 10 PM); …

Posted in: Entertainment, Travel & Tourism, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Play up Downtown

September 25th 2017 | Posted by julier | 0 Comments

Email
FireHall

Besides being one of the most charming buildings in Greater Grand Forks, the historic Fire Hall Theatre has become a downtown hot spot for great live performing art. Home to the Greater Grand Forks Community Theatre Company (GGFCT), this talented troop’s 70th Season of shows is nothing less than stellar! With everything from youthful musicals to ageless dramas, their upcoming productions will have you laughing, crying and up on your feet, giving a standing ovation.   As proof of its diversity, peruse the GGFCT 2017-18 schedule: September 28-30, 2017 – “The Charitable Sisterhood of the Second Trinity Victory Church” –> Thelma & Louise meets the Church Basement Ladies in Bo Wilson’s popular comedic play. November 3-5 & 10-12, 2017 – “Disney’s High School Musical” –> This story of teen angst has been artfully adapted from the popular television movie. December 7-10, 2017 – “A Christmas Carol: The Radio Play” –> One of the most iconic holiday films ever gets performed in its original format. February 1-4, 8-11 & 15-17, 2018 – “Over the River and Through the Woods” –> When a single, Italian-American son/grandson from New Jersey decides to pursue his dream job out of state, the news doesn’t sit so well with his family. …

Posted in: Arts & Culture, Dining, Entertainment, Events, shows and concerts, Travel & Tourism, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Stop, rock and get rolling on The Greenway

September 14th 2017 | Posted by julier | 0 Comments

Email
GreenwayTakeoverFest_Square

BREAKING NEWS: The Greenway of Greater Grand Forks is going to be overtaken!   No worries, though; it’ll be one SimplyGraND kind of invasion.  The Convention & Visitors Bureau is excited to announce that the 1st Annual Greenway Takeover Festival (GTF) will rock our two towns September 21-24, 2017! This multi-day music festival is set to take place Downtown, on The Greenway, just north of Sorlie Memorial Bridge. Each day you can expect top-notch local, regional and headlining music, plus a food truck alley, beer sales, picnic area and games for both kids and adults.  One of the best parts about this family-friendly celebration is that it was organized, in large part, to showcase the awesome community spirit that makes Grand Forks/East Grand Forks a great place to live and visit!   Here’s how the Takeover works. HB Sound & Light will be setting up a massive stage, sound system and light show on the green space next to our Red River of the North.  Headlining bands have been booked for each day.  Four local arts groups are charged with taking over a day in the festival and creating a unique sound and atmosphere for their respective day.  That means …

Posted in: Arts & Culture, Entertainment, Events, shows and concerts, Travel & Tourism, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Forksful of weekend fun

September 7th 2017 | Posted by julier | 0 Comments

Email
UffDaMudRun

Sadly, summer is coming to an end but in these two towns, we plan on sending that season out with a bang!  This weekend alone, here are just five of many SimplyGrand to-dos:   GET BOWLED OVER.  One of our region’s most popular festivals celebrating one of our most popular staple crops, Potato Bowl Week USA offers up a spudtacular time for all September 5-9! Some of the highlights include the World’s Largest French Fry Feed & Fireworks Display on Thursday and Get Wet & Run Wild! Kids Fun Run on Friday.  The week culminates Saturday with a Potato Pancake Breakfast (7:30 AM to 1 PM at Sons of Norway), Parade (10 AM down University Avenue), Tailgate Party (beginning at 8 AM in Alerus Center parking lot) and the 52nd Annual Potato Bowl Football Game featuring our UND Fighting Hawks taking on Missouri State (4 PM kick-off at Alerus Center).   STOP, SHOP & ROCK.  September 8 and 9, from 11 AM to 6 PM on Friday and 9 AM to 6 PM on Saturday, DeMers & 3rd will be hoppin’ during the 2nd Annual Downtown Street Fair!  Dozens of food trucks will be on hand, as well as a …

Posted in: Arts & Culture, Dining, Entertainment, Events, Sports & Recreation, Travel & Tourism, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tater time fun for tots and adults

September 4th 2017 | Posted by julier | 0 Comments

Email
FrenchFryFeed

This year marks the 52nd Anniversary of a SimplyGrand tradition known as Potato Bowl USA. The week of September 5-9, 2017, will be filled with entertaining events centering on our region’s most popular staple crop. There will be tons of tasty food including a potato pancake breakfast, baked potato bars and of course, the World’s Largest French Fry Feed & Fireworks display. Friday offers up a great time for the little ones at the Get Wet & Run Wild! Kids Fun Run…and a rockin’ time for adults later that night during JLG’s Rock the Streets Dance. The festivities culminate on Saturday with a parade, tailgate party and University of North Dakota football game. Make sure to bring the whole family out to one of North Dakota’s best and tastiest celebrations…it’s sure to be a spudtacular time for all!   Potato Bowl USA Week Highlights Tuesday, September 5 Potato Bowl PLINKO Contest begins – Register at any local Hugo’s Family Marketplace Wednesday, September 6 Potato Bowl Golf Scramble – 11 AM at Valley Golf Course Thursday, September 7 Baked Potato Bar – 11 AM to 1:30 PM at all local Hugo’s locations World’s Largest French Fry Feed (free fries courtesy of …

Posted in: Entertainment, Events, shows and concerts, Sports & Recreation, Travel & Tourism, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Scoring and soaring to new heights

August 28th 2017 | Posted by julier | 0 Comments

Email
9803580584_e2a4d3613a_z

The whole crowd will be up cheering after every Fighting Hawks touchdown and with some of the best athletes in the country on the field, don’t expect to spend very much time in your seat! 2016 Big Sky Coach of the Year, Bubba Schweigert, has developed quite a pattern in his four years at UND: every season the team produces more positive results than the season before. Along with talented senior quarterback Keaton Studsrud and top running back John Santiago, they hope to lead the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks to another championship season. Undefeated in 2016 conference play, UND is picked to finish atop the Big Sky once again in 2017!   You’ll also be able to enjoy all of the Alerus Center’s indoor comforts and jumbotron screens that capture every play you missed or just have to see one more time. A few of this season’s enhancements include a brand new sound system, top-of-the-line LED sports lighting and free public access Wi-Fi. Feeling hungry? Make sure to check out the large concession area with a variety of delicious food and beverages, including a new featured Panini of the Game, The Grand Hot Dog and Coach Bubba Burger: …

Posted in: Entertainment, Events, Sports & Recreation, Travel & Tourism, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Find SimplyGraND buys under Fair skies

August 20th 2017 | Posted by julier | 0 Comments

Email
36280487402_71e8cec750_z

Put pen to planner (or stylus to mobile device) right now and mark off September 8 & 9. Why? Because that’s when the Downtown Development Association will host the 2017 Downtown Street Fair. From DeMers to Third, our Downtown District streets will be filled with great shopping, entertainment, food and fun galore. With Greater Grand Forks Convention & Visitors Bureau as presenting sponsor, the Street Fair is free and open to the public!   This excellent event will feature talented artisans and vendors from around the United States and Canada. Here’s a sampling of the many already booked: Dakota Sun Gardens Winery; Happy Magnets; Grain Designs; Hippy Feet; Hello Lucy; Raki Lifestyle and The Little Apiary. If you’re a fair food fan like me, I’m happy to report there is going to be a “Taste of the Fair” food experience! Just some of the delicious offerings will include samosas, steak on a stick, pulled turkey sandwiches, fresh-cut fries, mini donuts and kettle korn.   And the good times don’t end when the merchandise vendors shut down. Friday night is highlighted by the “JLG Rocks the Streets” concert, in Town Square, featuring two awesome acts: The Fabulous Armadillos and Wicked Bees. Food truck fare and beverages …

Posted in: Arts & Culture, Entertainment, Events, Shopping, shows and concerts, Travel & Tourism, Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Super Saturday in the City

August 14th 2017 | Posted by julier | 0 Comments

Email
Paolas

Travel writer Shel Zolkewich puts together an action-packed itinerary to make the most of your summer Saturday in Grand Forks.   Start your day with a little exercise! The indoor pool at the newly remodeled Ramada Inn is big, bright and beautiful. Plus the adjoining hot tub means the pool is always pleasantly warm—no need to shiver during your dip. This classic hotel boasts a restaurant and bar onsite along with all the amenities you need including a fitness center and pet-friendly rooms.   Make your first stop Bully Brew Coffee, a made-in-Grand Forks success story, now with four bustling locations, including one in Fargo. Treat yourself to the White Chocolate Mocha—espresso, sweet white chocolate powder and steamed milk—and you’ll soon see why it’s the shop’s bestseller.   To market! To market! It’s a feast of color and creativity at The Town Square Farmers’ Market every Saturday from 9am to 1:30 pm at the corner of 3rd Street and Demers Avenue. Handmade goods, local vegetables and fresh baking are piled high as shoppers stroll the riverside market. The hot ticket seems to be The Bakers Wagon, where there’s an unending line-up of folks, no doubt stocking up on fried pies, …

Posted in: Dining, Entertainment, Lodging, Shopping, Sports & Recreation, Travel & Tourism
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,