The Grand Forks County Historical Society grounds feature the Myra Museum, which displays the heritage of the Grand Forks area. Exhibits and displays include the Quiet Room, which contains furnishings from the 1700s; the Chapel, with its stained glass windows and objects from historic local churches; and the Lake Agasssiz display, which offers a history lesson in the ancient lake that produced the rich Red River Valley soil. The 1879 Campbell House displays furnishings of family life including a working loom, toys, and a summer kitchen. A 1917 school house, and the 1870s post office are some of the first buildings constructed in the town. The grounds are open for tours May 15 through September 15, with guided tours available every day of the week.
Grand Forks has a thriving cultural scene, with performing arts venues that include the Fire Hall Theatre, which offers a season of musicals, dramas, classics, and comedies in an intimate 114-seat setting, and the restored 1919 Empire Arts Center. The Chester Fritz Auditorium on the University of North Dakota (UND) campus presents a diversity of national, regional, and local theatrical productions and is home of the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra. The campus's Burtness Theatre is the site of excellent college dramatic productions. Community performing arts groups include the Greater Grand Forks Symphony and Youth Symphony, Grand Forks Master Chorale, Grand Forks City Band, and North Dakota Ballet Company.
The North Dakota Museum of Art, located on the UND campus, is the state's official art gallery and serves as the center of cultural life for a five-state region. The museum exhibits national and international contemporary art with shows changing every six to eight weeks. During the winter, the Museum Concert Series presents classical music concerts. The Hughes Fine Arts Center Gallery on the UND campus exhibits the works of national and regional artists as well as students. The UND Witmer Art Center displays quality works by professional artists.
February's Winterthing is a two-day indoor art festival with demonstrations and music. Guest writers and poets from across the nation come to the city in March for the Writer's Conference. April's Time Out/WACIPI, sponsored by the Native American Studies Department at UND, offers a variety of activities and entertainment focused on Native American life. During three weekends in June, July, and August, Summerthing in the Park presents Music in the Park, Kids Days, and Artfest. In June, the Greater Grand Forks Fair and Exhibition offers carnival rides, concerts, 4-H entries, and races. From June through September, an outdoor farmers market with free entertainment and concessions is held on the town square. August's Catfish Days is an event for those who love to catch or eat fish or even just enjoy watching the entertainment in the evenings. A popular summer Grand Forks U.S. Air Force Base event, Friends and Neighbors Day, brings thousands of people to watch aerial demonstrations and to peer into cockpits. Crazy Days offers bargain shopping at many local marketplaces in August, and later in the month the two-day Heritage Days Festival includes old time threshing demonstrations and antique machinery. The Potato Bowl in September features football games, a queen pageant, and a golf tournament, among other activities. Christmas in the Park, held from late November through early January, is a driving tour of holiday light displays.
The University of North Dakota is the home of the Fighting Sioux, with nationally ranked NCAA Division I ice hockey and Division II men's and women's basketball, football, and swimming programs.
The Grand Forks Park District maintains 43 parks and facilities on more than 850 acres of land. Facilities include biking and jogging lanes and paths, two golf courses (including an Arnold Palmer signature golf course), one public swimming pool, eleven outdoor skating rinks, four indoor ice arenas, and tennis and racquetball courts. The Park District's Center Court Fitness Club houses indoor tennis courts, aerobics studios, and a weight room. Two rivers provide outstanding fishing opportunities; the Red River is internationally known for its trophy-sized channel catfish. Winter offers opportunities for snowmobiling, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing.
The largest indoor mall in the region is Columbia Mall, whose stores are anchored by JCPenney, Marshall Field's, and Sears. The Grand Cities Mall, anchored by Big K-Mart, includes stores such as Grand Cities Antiques and Collectibles and Zimmerman's Furniture. The Grand Forks Marketplace, located off of Interstate 29, is home to national retailers such as Target and Lowe's. The Riverwalk Centre, in East Grand Forks, offers unique shopping opportunities in a scenic setting along the Red River. Barnes and Noble University Bookstore is the anchor for a planned "University Village" on the UND campus.
East Grand Forks, Minnesota, is home to Cabela's, featuring an extensive collection of hunting, fishing, and outdoor gear in a five-story-high store with a 35-foot high mountain with game mounts, a gigantic aquarium, and indoor firearm testing areas.
The Grand Forks area has more than 85 restaurants serving fast food to gourmet meals, including Chinese, Mexican, Bavarian, and Italian fare as well as the Midwest staple steak-and-potatoes dinner.
Visitor Information: Greater Grand Forks Convention & Visitors Bureau, 4251 Gateway Drive, Grand Forks, ND 58203; telephone (701)746-0444; toll-free (800)866-4566. Grand Forks Parks District, 1210 7th Avenue South, Grand Forks, ND 58208; telephone (701)746-2750