Fall in Forks 101: Making the Most of the Best Time of Year in Grand Forks

Fall has arrived in Forks! This is the best time of the year, in my opinion. The weather cools down, the leaves begin to change, pumpkin spice everything and sports return! Whether you’re new to the area or a long time local, make the most of this short-lived season in Grand Forks this fall.

Nelson’s Pumpkin Patch – Located in Emerado, ND a quick 20 minute drive out of town. This long-time favorite has been in the pumpkin business since 1996! Nelson’s has something for all ages, from the favorite bee-train for the kids to the Grain Bin Bar for the 21+ crowd – yes it’s a REAL grain bin converted into a bar. Nelson’s also has quite a few events throughout the fall season for you to attend, featuring my favorite Pooches on the Patch (bring your leashed pups!). See the full list of events here or on Facebook.

Valley Corn Maize – Located in just over the river in East Grand Forks, MN is the Red River Valley’s largest Corn Maze. The 15-acre corn maze is conveniently split in two, one large and one smaller, that way if you have littles who don’t want to or cannot do the full maze they can still experience the fun! Other attractions feature two giant chairs (the perfect photo-op) & a GIANT slide. Be sure to check out their full list of events online, including a Flashlight Dash – see if you can make it through the maze in the dark!

Haunted Woods – Looking for something spooky to do this fall? The Haunted Woods – Terror on 32 in Red Lake Falls, MN is the area’s scariest attraction. They are open for select weekends throughout September and October. This attraction is more suited for older kids or teens but welcomes all ages. They have a “soft scare” from 6-7pm for those who don’t want to be totally terrified!

Cushman Classic – Looking to support the local high school football teams? This long-time rivalry game is the perfect opportunity to watch both Grand Forks teams tough it out. Dates vary from year to year but follow the athletics calendar for exact dates.

UND Athletics – Don’t forget that fall is when hockey and football really pick up at the University of North Dakota. Be sure to not only check out the athletic calendar for home games, but keep tabs on some of the most iconic UND events like the Potato Bowl and Homecoming.

Oktoberfest – check out some classic German-style food, good beer, and Polka music at the annual Oktoberfest celebration at the Alerus. There are other Oktoberfest celebrations in the area, including one at Frost Fire Park that’s worth a drive out there. Dates vary each year but typically these celebrations are held at the end of September or beginning of October.

Pub Crawls – Grand Forks knows how to put on a good pub crawl. During the fall season be sure to check out the Oktoberfest Crawl, usually mid-late September for a German-style themed crawl. In late October, join in on the Zombie Pub Crawl – Grand Forks’ newest (& spookiest) pub crawl.  Follow the Grand Forks Pub Crawls on Facebook for a full list of the upcoming bar crawls.

Fall Foliage – aka fall colors! Make a date out of chasing the beautiful color-changing leaves. Most people don’t think of trees when they think of Grand Forks, but there are quite a few locations where you can check out the foliage – including Turtle River State Park, Zavoral’s Park, and the Pembina Gorge to name a few. Remember, each year is different depending on weather but up in our neck of the woods mid-September to early-October is the best time to check out the changing leaves or plan your fall photoshoot.

Of course, be sure to enjoy the other fall favorites like a pumpkin spiced latte from one of Grand Forks local coffee shops, pumpkin carving and fall baking – try this Pumpkin Cake from local chef Molly Yeh. Some of my favorite fall activities are just enjoying the cooler weather, watching Sunday football & soaking up the most of this short season. Happy fall ya’ll!