What a difference a year or two makes. After performing at Scheels Arena in the fall of 2022, comedian Nate Bargatze returns to town and takes the big stage at the Fargodome on Sunday night.
Sunday
The comedian has had a big run in 2023, starting with the release of his streaming special “Hello World,” a show that began with a story about a visit to a Scheels sporting goods store. This spring, he broke Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena attendance record, drawing 19,365 to his hometown show. This October, he played to his largest live audience while hosting “Saturday Night Live.” At each stop, he showcased his everyman appeal and dry, self-deprecating humor that takes clean comedy to new levels. The laughs begin at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $22 to $76.75, plus fees. fargodome.com .
Friday & Saturday
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
The potato is a humble but extremely useful vegetable, and Barnesville, Minnesota, honors the plant in a big way with its annual Potato Days. In addition to the typical features of small town festivals — parade, street dancing, etc. — this potato festival features a lefse cooking contest, mashed potato wrestling, potato quiz, a Miss Tator Tot contest, a French fry and potato pancake catering, potato car races, potato picking, potato peeling and mashed potato eating contests. The fun continues all day Friday and Saturday. potatodays.com .
Saturday and Sunday
Alyssa Goelzer/The Forum
Step back in time and see what life was like in this area 100 years ago and more. Bonanzaville’s Pioneer Days opens the West Fargo grounds to visitors who want to see demonstrations of wheat threshing, blacksmithing, rosemaling, quilting, lefse making and more. Take a ride on a covered wagon, miniature railroad or barrel railroad, or try your hand at a kid’s craft. Myron Sommerfeld will play old-time music from 2 to 4 p.m. both days, while Zach Thomas and the Sons of Norway Accordion Band play each Sunday afternoon. The historic fun runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets range from $5 for children to $10 for adults, or $25 for families. bonanzaville.org .
Saturday & Sunday
Article / Fargo Park District
If you like the street fair in Downtown Fargo but don’t like standing on hot concrete, you can cool off under the trees this weekend at the Island Park Show. The annual event is a scaled-down version of the larger July event but still includes more than 100 arts and crafts vendors. The Island Park Show is also one of your last chances to enjoy summer fare like corn dogs and cheese curds or sample the products of the soon-to-open Moorhead bakery Sifted & Sweet Baking Co. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. fargoparks.com .
Saturday
Contribution
Fans of contemporary Christian music will throw their hands in the air this Saturday at Bluestem. Thrivefest will take the stage for a day of worship music and prayer. The day will begin with a worship service at 1 p.m., followed by singer Cade Thompson at 2 p.m., Jason Gray at 3:15 p.m., The Afters at 4:45 p.m., Leeland at 6:30 p.m. and Casting Crowns at 8:30 p.m. Also performing will be comedian Daren Streblow and Hope Lutheran Church pastors Paul Nynas and John Bedore. Tickets range from $45 to $60 plus fees. Proceeds will benefit the Rising Hope Foundation, which helps victims of human trafficking. thrivefestnorth.org .
Saturday
Brandon Johnson
After years of writing and performing, Kristine Flaherty, better known as K. Flay, scored hits in 2016 with the pop-rock gems “High Enough” and “Blood in the Cut,” the latter of which was nominated for a Grammy. An even bigger blow came in 2022, when she announced she had experienced hearing loss and eventually became deaf in her right ear. She returned in 2023 with the album “Mono” and the singles “Raw Raw,” “Shy” and “Irish Goodbye.” The singer will bring the beats to the Hall at Fargo Brewing on Saturday. Frances Forever will open the ID-only show at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 plus fees. jadepresents.com .
