Six sweet summertime to-dos in Forks

Summer has officially arrived in our Forks! While there may be many more, here are a mere half dozen of my favorite seasonal activities and attractions.

GOOD BUYS UNDER GRAND SKIES

Town Square Farmers Market will fill Downtown Forks with lots of awesome vendors, every Saturday, from 9 AM to 1 PM. Some of the savory and sweet treasures and treats you'll discover include fresh produce, honey, jelly, salsa, coffee, plus the best home baked goods around! Patrons can also enjoy live music and an array of food truck fare.

NAVIGATING THE GREENWAY

Biking, inline skating or simply taking a stroll on our beautifully groomed Greenway Trail System is a perfect way to enjoy a sunny day. My favorite spot to hop on is near Sorlie Bridge because it’s easy to refuel with stops at some of the numerous restaurants and breweries doting our scenic Downtown landscape. Boathouse on the Red is also located nearby and offers weekend canoe, kayak and SUP rentals to channel the Red and Red Lake Rivers.

ARTFUL TUNES

Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and enjoy a beautiful evening in the North Dakota Museum of Art’s sculpture garden. Concerts in the Garden is a casual, outdoor event featuring musicians from across the country. In addition to great live music, guests can enjoy food hot off the grill that includes local grass-fed hamburgers, vegetable skewers, nightly specials, root beer floats, local beer and wine. Individual tickets are $15 at the gate, with free admission for children 12 and under. Scheduled artists, along with performance dates, are as follows: The Commonheart (July 18); The Cactus Blossoms (August 1); Nicotine Dolls (August 8); Joslyn & The Sweet Compression (August 15); The Dank (August 29).

VINO VIBING

Spend a relaxing weekend in Forks un’wine’ding at Grape Mill Vineyard & Winery. Let the fabulous Halverson family fill your glass with some of their grand grape libations while you sip and savor away the day. Tours are available upon request. Make sure to check their Facebook page before you go, as they occasionally feature live music and local food trucks. Grape Mill is open Friday through Sunday from 1 to 6 PM.

TEE TIME

Play a round, in our two towns, on three awesome courses. Lincoln Park Golf Course is a 9-hole course with bent grass greens and closely manicured fairways that will provide a superb golfing experience for all levels. Valley Golf Club features a scenic, challenging 18-hole layout which runs along the Red River on the Minnesota side.  Considered one of the area’s premier courses, King’s Walk is an 18-hole Arnold Palmer Signature PGA Course. The prairie links style course stretches over 7,200 yards, with four sets of tees to accommodate players of all abilities. The clubhouse includes a pro shop and first-class restaurant, Eagle's Crest. 

ROCKIN UP NORTH

If you’re a fellow music lover, definitely add Happy Harry’s Hot Valley Nights to your calendar! Hot Valley Nights is an annual multi-day country music concert festival that also includes food trucks, beer tasting, axe throwing, bull riding, games and more. It takes place August 18 & 19, behind Riverwalk Center, in East Grand Forks. This year's performers include Tracy Lawrence, Dylan Scott, Tigirlily Gold, Drake White & The Big Fire, with local openers Paint The Town and Matt Aakre & The Dirty Little Secret. 

If you’d like additional information on any of these grand goings-on, along with countless other attractions and events, please check out our website. We also invite you to follow Visit Greater Grand Forks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.