Seven Reasons You Should Visit Red River Market
Are you going to be in downtown Fargo on a Saturday? Here are my top reasons you need to check out Red River Market.
On my recent trip to Downtown Fargo, I had the opportunity to enjoy the Red River Market. The market runs on Saturdays from early July through the end of October. A mix of farmers market and food truck festival, the Red River Market is a great event for all ages.
The market was started in 2015 as a way to provide locally grown and produced food in a central location. It has grown from approximately 800 attendees a week to 8,000.
The Red River Market is so much more than just a farmer’s market. Keep reading for my top seven reasons you need to check it out.
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1. The Location of the Red River Market
Downtown Fargo is an underrated destination. I’ve traveled all over the country and world but Fargo is one of the best places I’ve been. It has a big-city vibe with a small-town heart.
The Red River Market is a perfect event to host in the area. Broadway Square, next to the Jasper Hotel, is an open green space with a performance stage in one corner and tables and chairs around the perimeter.
2. The Produce
I will start with the obvious, the produce. I’ll be shocked to find anyone who has never heard of a farmer’s market. They are, by name alone, pretty self-explanatory. But the produce here really amazed me.
Sure there were seasonal favorites like tomatoes, potatoes, and pumpkins. But they also had a ton of different kinds of mushrooms and beautiful floral bouquets. There are also local food products like hot sauces (to die for yummy), coffee, and pickles.
3. The Entertainment
Red River Market is not just about selling food, they want you to sit and stay awhile so they have various entertainment options scheduled for the main stage.
They have local musicians and cultural performers scheduled throughout the event. You can learn some cooking techniques from local chefs at the cooking demonstrations as well. They use in-season produce from that day’s market.
Cornhole games are set up around the common area and there is even a splash pad/water feature for those hot summer days. It was a cool rainy day when we were there and the kids we still running around in the water.
4. The Drinks
I’ve been to many farmers markets but this is the first I’ve been to that have local beer and wine for sale. Set up under their own tents, local breweries are there selling cans of their best beers, and wineries are selling bottles of wine.
There was even a mead maker selling various flavors of mead. What is mead? According to BatchMead.com, mead is fermented honey, water, and yeast.
What makes the Red River Market different when it comes to selling alcohol is you can enjoy adult beverages in the commons area. Yes, you can enjoy a glass of wine while listening to the live music.
If you don’t drink alcohol, no problem, they also have coffee, tea, handcrafted soda tonics, and kombucha all made locally!!!
5. The Hot Food
Mixed in with the drink booths, is a plethora of food from local restaurants. I saw everything from street tacos to Indian food, to vegan hot dogs. Yes, vegan hot dogs. We had just finished having brunch at the Jasper Hotel where we stayed so I didn’t get any food. But it all smelled wonderful!!
What intrigued me the most was the Korean corndogs. Next time I’m in Fargo, I need to try one.
6. The Baked Goods
Who does not like the smell of freshly baked bread? (sound of crickets) yea, I didn’t think so. The Red River Market has several vendors every weekend who sell bread, cookies, pies, cookies, lefse…even caramels and chocolates.
If you need a loaf of bread for dinner, you can get it here.
7. Support Local at Red River Market
What I love the most about the Red River Market is supporting local fill-in-the-blank. Local farmers, local bakeries, local artisans, local musicians, local coffee roasters, local food trucks…local everything.
These are you neighbors, your coworkers, your sister’s best friend’s brother. These are the people you pass on the street or talk to at the store. Your money supports someone’s dream, their livelihood.
You get super fresh food and help them build their small business. In a world where big box stores run almost everything you can do your part to help keep small businesses going. Shop Red River Market and you support the local economy.
Why you need to check out the Red River Market.
If these seven reasons are not enough, my final reason is because it’s fun. I didn’t buy a ton but I still had a blast. Listening to the music, watching people, and experiencing the local vibe of downtown Fargo was worth the time and I highly recommend you add this to your list of activities when you visit Fargo, ND.
Happy travels and remember the world is full of adventures all around you.
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