As the years pass, I find myself looking more and more for kid friendly events that cater to our growing family. The more I search for things to do with my toddler, the more I find. The Grand Cities are extremely family friendly and offer lots of things to do with kids. The best part is a majority of them are free! As a stay-at-home mom, any kid event, whether it be a simple library story time or a big circus, that get us out of the house is a welcome occurrence.

So, here are just a few of the upcoming kid and family events happening in the Grand Cities this summer.

Movies in the Park (begins June 12) - The Grand Forks Park District hosts movies on an outdoor big screen at various parks around town. The kid-firendly shows are free and begin at sundown (around 9 p.m.).

• June 12 – The Muppets at University Park
• June 26 – Madagascar 2 at University Park
• July 16 – Harry Potter at Lincoln Park
• July 30 – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs at Lincoln Park
• Auguts 13 – Mary Poppins at Riverside Park

Town Square Farmer’s Market (begins June 15) - The kids may not like all the fresh veggies you will be buying, but they will definitely love the energy and excitement of the Farmer’s Market. The Farmer’s Market kicks off in Town Square on June 15th and runs every Saturday through September from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fresh produce, home-baked goods, crafts, jewelry, clothing and all sorts of unique things to find along with live musical entertainment at the bandshell. It is a great way to spend a sunny Saturday morning with the family.

Turtle Fest (June 15) - I have written before about how much my family and I enjoy Turtle River State Park, and events like Turtle Fest continue to keep us coming back. Turtle Fest is a family fun day featuring minnow racing, geocaching, a bouncy house, fishing derby, arts and crafts, bike tours and all the fun things the park has to offer. The event runs Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the vehicle entrance fee to the park will be waived during those times.

Summerthing Kids (June 26 and 27) - If you want your kiddos to burn off some energy and learn something in the process, Summerthing Kids is the event to attend. Tents full of hands-on activities, building, painting, children’s music and more. All activities and events are free all evening long from 5 to 8 p.m. at University Park.

Greater Grand Forks Fair (June 26-30) - The month culminates with the Greater Grand Forks Fair. What kid, and what adult for that matter, doesn’t like a little fair fun. Of course you will find carnival rides along with live music and dancing, exhibits, and food, food, food!

Well, that was just the month of June! You have got at least one fun kid and familiy event a week, and I didn’t even list them all. Summer in Grand Forks is shaping up to be great for families. For more events click here.

If you are looking for an afternoon outdoors, Grand Forks is a city filled with parks and activities to soak up the sunshine this spring. One of my favorites, happens to be just a short trip outside the city.

A quick 20 minute drive west on Highway 2 will take you to Turtle River State Park (TRSP). It is 784 acres of wooded quiet just north of the highway. Our family frequently visits for lunch picnics and short afternoon hikes along the Turtle River. I have also enjoyed camping, mountain biking, and snowshoeing throughout the park.

Entering the park requires a small $5 daily fee or full year pass for $25. This year pass also allows entrance into any North Dakota State Park. This fee covers access for all trails, facilities, and amenities of the park.

Turtle River State Park is an easy weekend getaway for those of us who live in the Grand Forks area and a great place to stay for visitors. It has primitive camping areas, RV campgrounds with electric hookups, and cabins for rent plus bathroom and shower faciltieis for those who plan to stay a few days.

One of the best things about the park in the spring and summer is the continual activities that go on throughout the park. Every Saturday night TRSP hosts an evening presentation in their ampitheater that combines nature education and fun. They also have a Sunday morning “Coffee with a Naturalist” program and various activities for kids on a weekly basis. And make sure to check out all the information and displays in TRSP’s new constructed Visitor Center. You can find a complete list of all activities and events on the park’s calendar.

If you want a quick day trip, one of the best things int he park to enjoy is the system of trails for hiking and mountain biking. These trailes take you down into valleys through forests of trees and up onto hilltops and plateaus for beautiful looks over the park. Every time I have spent even just 20 minutes of walking a trail, I have always come across a deer or two and many other types of wildlife. It makes for a fun little nature walk with kids, and many of the paths are wide enough to accommodate a jogging stroller capable of a little off-roading (a map of the trails can be found online).

Another fun activitiey for families is a little shore fishing. The Turtle River is stocked with rainbow trout and has many areas of flat shoreline to cast a line from. Visitors can even borrow fishing gear from the park’s Visitor Center.

With spring finally here, so many of us are anxious to soak up every bit of the outdoors we can. A short afternoon trip to Turtle River State Park, with flowers blooming and trees budding, has just the perfect amount of nature, peace and quiet, and activity to quench your thirst for the beautiful outdoors!

I love rummage sales. Especially now when turning shabby into chic is super trendy. But, I’m not the best at actually going to rummage sales. It takes a lot of time to drive from place to place all over town to try to find that one item that catches my fancy.

But, Grand Forks has a cure for people like me who love to rummage but don’t have the time or energy to drive from sale to sale. The solution…the Anything Goes Sale at the Alerus Center!

The Anything Goes Sale, Flea Market and Swap Meet is just what its name implies. It is a little of everything all under one giant roof. Over two hundred vendors will fill the Alerus Center arena on Saturday, May 4th selling their no longer wanted treasures. Tables are filled with everything from clothing to jewelry, furniture to knick knacks.

My family and I have gone almost every year and always seem to find something unique and creative. Here are just a few of the cool things we have picked up at the sale…

I stumbled upon an old stained glass window that once hung in Cottonwood Community Church. It was a steal at just $10. I took it home and converted it to a picture frame! It’s a little bit of Grand Forks history and a really cool piece to hang on my wall.

My husband is a musician, and he stumbled upon an old Wurlitzer keyboard in excellent condition. He took it home for just $150, and after a bit of research, found out it was worth more than double what he paid!

And, every year I always come home with some nice, gently used clothes for my kiddo at super low prices.

So in just one stop for just an hour of my time, I can shop 200 rummage sales and find some pretty great items. I highly recommend taking a quick trip to the Anything Goes Sale. You just never know what treausure you will find.

The Anything Goes Garage Sale, Flea Market and Swap Meet is May 4, 2013, at the Alerus Center, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is just $2/person.

A new music venue has come to Downtown Grand Forks! You probably haven’t seen any big outdoor sign marking its location, actually you can’t even see the venue from the street. That’s because it is tucked away in one of Downtown’s already prominent landmarks… The Empire Arts Center.

What used to be a staging area behind the theater has be recreated into a trendy little social area the Empire is calling “The Backstage Project.”  The Empire’s website describes it as a place “designed to utilize creative, urban spaces for live music performances by local and regional artists.” I call it “pretty cool.”

Grand Forks is lucky to have the large scale concert venues such as the Alerus Center and Ralph Engelstad Arena and mid-size venues like the Empire’s and the Chester Fritz Auditorium’s stages for fairly large performances, but we have always been missing that small, intimate space where local artists can perform to an up-close and personal crowd. Until now.

The Backstage Project kicked off its first show of the series on April 5^th with music from local jazz band favorite, Jazz On Tap. Jazz On Tap performed to a group of about 60 people scattered throughout the cozy space on chairs, couches, and standing around the bar.

“I couldn’t be happier with the success of our first Backstage Project concert,” said Emily Burkland, Executive Director of the Empire Arts Center. “The concert-goers loved the relaxed, intimate feel of the space. It felt just like a bar in New York or LA. It’s the perfect place to enjoy music and conversation with friends in a venue unlike any other.”

The Backstage Project has a series of concerts lined up for the coming months featuring

Chase Burkhart on April 27 @ 8pm
Rosie Sauvageau on May 10 @ 8pm
Mike & Hanna Power followed by Black Cat Abraham on May 24 @ 8pm

More concerts are being planned throughout the summer.

The charge for the event is just $5 at the door with bar provided by Rhombus Guys.

Preview of upcoming artist Chase Burkhart

Fargo-based singer/songwriter Chase Burkhart brings a unique voice to the Grand Forks music scene. Wielding the acoustic guitar to complement a set of tenor pipes, Burkhart draws from a vast array of creative influences to inspire his musical expressions. Tapping into over 2 decades of experience with musical expression in a various genres, his music is best described as an acoustic fusion of folk, indie rock, R&B, and jazz. 

]]> http://www.visitgrandforks.com/blog/trendy-new-music-venue-opens-downtown/feed 0 http://www.visitgrandforks.com/blog/this-weekends-10th-annual-easter-egg-scramble-a-must-see-for-families http://www.visitgrandforks.com/blog/this-weekends-10th-annual-easter-egg-scramble-a-must-see-for-families#comments Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:46:14 +0000 julier http://www.visitgrandforks.com/blog/?p=1096 ]]> A football field full of easter eggs is every kids dream… and a heck of a lot of work for the Easter Bunny!  Thankfully, the Easter Bunny has some help from the Alerus Center staff to fill its 100 yards of turf with 20,000 brightly colored eggs.

This Saturday, March 30th from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM kids ages two through eight will swarm the Alerus Center arena filling their baskets at the 10th Annual Easter Egg Scramble. The kiddos won’t have to search too hard as thousands of eggs cover nearly every square inch of the arena’s main floor. Kids are divided into age groups, the youngest get first pick, and given a set amount of time to carry their baskets out onto the floor and collect their share of eggs filled with candy and small prizes.

For families staying in town for the holiday or guests traveling to Grand Forks, this is a must attend event. Can you imagine your little one’s face as they walk into the giant area and are dazzled by thousands of shining, bright eggs, all their’s for the taking? The look is priceless and the fun is totally worth the sugar buzz you will be taming on the drive home.

Eggs are not the only thing that will fill the area. Kids games, face painting, prizes, and an appearance by the Easter Bunny are just a few of the many activities families can enjoy while at the Egg Scramble.

This year the Egg Scramble is especially appealing as the snow and cool weather will likely keep families from having outdoor Easter egg hunts of their own. It’s a nice way to still honor your family tradition of an easter egg hunt without having kids, cousins, and friends overturning lamps and furniture to find eggs hidden in your living room!

Saturday isn’t the only day of fun for kids at the Alerus Center. Families can also drop in Friday, March 29th from Noon to 8:00 PM to enjoy games and prizes of all kinds.

On Saturday, games and activities will be held throughout the day from 9AM-1PM with the following specific times dedicated to egg collecting for each age group:
Ages 2-3 @ 9:30 AM
Ages 4-5 @ 10:30 AM
Ages 6-8 @ 11:30 AM

Tickets are $5 for kids. Adults are and children age two and under are free.

Fresh off its biggest concert in the arena’s history, the Alerus Center brings yet another big name in country music to Grand Forks.

Jason Aldean will fill the Alerus with chart topping tunes on March 23rd at 7:00 PM. He brings with him country star Jake Owen and new-comer Thomas Rhett.

Now, I’ll be honest, I like country music and have definitely heard of Jason Aldean, but if you asked me to name a song he sang, I couldn’t.  So, I googled him.

As I went down my google search list of Aldean’s songs, I quickly realized found myself saying “Oh, I love that song! I didn’t know Jason Aldean sang that!” Here are just a few of his many hits that you’ve likely heard and probably had stuck in your head a time or two. (Click the link to hear the song)

• Hicktown
• Amarillo Sky
• Big Green Tractor
• Tattoos on This Town
• Fly Over States
• Take a Little Ride with Me

Nine of Aldean’s singles have reached number one on the country charts and 16 have made it to the top 10. Aldean only released his first album in 2005, so that means he is just getting started!

As I saw just how many great songs Jason Aldean has to his name, I got more and more excited for this concert coming to Grand Forks. This will definitely be a concert the entire audience will be singing along with.

Now, if you are not yet anxious enough to get to this concert, maybe a few more toe tapping hits from Aldean’s opening acts will get you buying tickets.

Jake Owen joins Aldean on stage adding the country music hits of “Startin’ With Me, Eight Second Ride, and Barefoot, Blue Jean Night” to the music lineup. And, Thomas Rhett, a newcomer to the country music scene whose dad just happens to be country legend Rhett Akins, will get the night started with a few of his new, chart climbing singles like “Something to do with My Hands” and “Beer with Jesus.”

Will any concert beat the record George Straight and Martina McBride currently hold as the Alerus Center’s top ticket selling concert? I’m not sure. But, if I’d have to guess, I’d say Jason Aldean may just do it.

Jason Aldean: 2013 Night Train Tour

With special guests Jake Owen and Thomas Rhett

Saturday, March 23^rd

7:00 PM

Tickets: $54.75 & $28.75

Big Green Tractor Pre-Party presented by True North Equipment

Performance by the Silverado

Saturday, March 23^rd

5:00 PM

Tickets:  $10

The Hockey Academy, in conjunction with the Ralph Engelstad Arena is hosting Grand Forks’ first-ever summer ball hockey tournament, the REA Ball Hockey Classic. The tournament, which will run from May 31^st to June 2^nd, will feature teams from North Dakota, Minnesota, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Much like its on-ice counterpart, the rules of ball hockey should be pretty familiar to the local community. Playing a 3-on-3 co-ed format (with a goalie), games will be held on both the REA Main arena and Olympic surfaces and will feature two 15-minute halves.  Teams can have between 5 and 8 players and registration is $225.00/team.

Extremely popular in Winnipeg and other Canadian cities, ball hockey can be fun for everyone from seasoned hockey players to novices. No hockey playing experience is required, and the tournament will feature both open and elite divisions so that you can play against people of the same skill level. Each ice surface at the REA will be converted to hold 3 ball hockey floors, with games running “cross-ice”. The rules allow for a wide-open playing experience to emphasize scoring and offensive play. With an eye on safety, participants will be required to wear certain hockey equipment (helmets, gloves, shin-pads, etc.) and goalies will have to provide their own equipment.

Hockey Academy Director Karl Goehring notes with enthusiasm that “The Hockey Academy is very pleased to be able to bring an event like this to the REA, as it provides a fun experience for kids and adults alike.” In addition to the hockey, an all-ages concert is also being planned to provide some after-hockey entertainment.

Interested teams can sign up via the Hockey Academy website (www.reachockeyacademy.com) or contact the Hockey Academy at 701-777-6637.