People tend to get lost in the 9-5 shuffle every day. To combat this, I like to invite some friends and family out to do things that help tip that work-life balance back in the right direction. I’ve put together a few ideas of things to do in Grand Forks for after work activities to liven up an evening or weekend for you and your crew.

1. Escape Room

The goal of an escape room is to solve a fictional story with your group. If you are a puzzle person this should be right up your alley. Groups of 2-10 people are locked in a room for usually an hour. In that hour you need to solve a series of puzzles and find clues to help you escape and achieve the goal. We recently tested our wits in a room called “The Vault” where the goal was to break into a museum vault to steal some artwork. It was a good time with some fun frustration. Our group almost made it but got hung up on the last puzzle. The GF Escape room located downtown has multiple different storylines to check out. Look them up and schedule an appointment to play.

2. Dart/Pool League

Darts and pool are the quintessential bar games. They’re fun to play anytime but playing in a league enhances the experience and friendly competition just a bit more. Almost every bar in town offers both leagues at various skill levels. I’m mainly a dart player and have played in different leagues over the past few years. It’s a great way to meet new friends and relax a little during the week. If you’re interested, stop by your favorite watering hole and ask about joining or forming a team.

3. Axe Throwing

A new trend I recently watched on ESPN (it was a slow sports day) is competitive axe throwing. After watching, I had to try it for myself, so a few friends and I took ourselves to Northern Air Family Fun Center in south Grand Forks. I would recommend this to anyone looking to shake up a school night and try something new. It’s surprisingly less difficult and much safer than you think it would be. Channel your inner lumberjack and give this one a try!

4. Fishing the Red River

A bad day of fishing is always better than a good day of work. As an avid fisherman the Red River is an overlooked underrated fishing opportunity located right in our backyard. I’ve fished much of the river in our region and have caught some really nice fish from Lincoln Park to the Point Bridge and Downtown to the north end dam. With a simple setup of a big rod and some big bait you’ll have a good chance of catching a big catfish.

5. Bingo

One of my favorite ways to spend a happy hour with friends and co-workers is playing a little bingo. There are many different charitable gaming companies that offer bingo games throughout the week. The suspense of waiting for that last number to hit the big win makes for some good entertainment. Give it a shot and try your luck! If you’re looking for direction, check out galactic bingo at Southgate. Between boards, cosmic bingoers play outlandish games and trivia to win prizes. There’s even dancing and a live DJ. Jell-O shots optional.

Whether it’s heading down to the river or playing some games with friends there are many options around Grand Forks for after work activities. Hopefully this list gave you some new ideas or reminded you of some old favorites to revisit. Good luck and have some fun! Cheers!