Culture

‘Phantom of the Opera’ hits the big screen and orchestra pit

October 15th, 2025

By Kooper Shagena

koopershagena@gmail.com

One night, Jane Linde Capistran, associate conductor of the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, sat and drank wine with her friends: “Jennifer Tackling, the associate concertmaster, and Elise Buffett Nelson, who’s the principal cellist,” she recalls. “We thought, ‘It would be fun if the symphony could do a Halloween program to engage with the community.’”

They had done a Halloween show in the previous year with just the quartet,…

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​The enduring power of chamomile

September 16th, 2025

By Michael M. Miller

michael.miller@ndsu.edu

The Northwest Blade, from Eureka, South Dakota, published a wonderful story in August 2020. It’s called “Granddaughter keeps Grandmother’s precious chamomile seeds,” by Cindy Schumacher. Cindy wrote about the experiences of Judy Hooff. Judy grew up in Eureka, founded in 1887, once called the “Breadbasket of the World” for its many wheat elevators and the trains that transported the grain to the rest of the country.

When she was a…

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​FM Pride Week August 3-10

July 29th, 2025

By Alicia Underlee Nelson

alicia@hpr1.com

FM Pride Week returns to the Fargo-Moorhead metro August 3-10. A snapshot of events are listed below. Discover event descriptions and locations as well as volunteer opportunities online at fmpride.com/event/fargo-moorhead-pride.

Sunday, August 3

Theater B, Stage Reading: "I Never Asked for a Gofundme"

Volunteer Kick-off Party

Family Movie Night

Monday, August 4

Family Skate Night

Tuesday, August 5

Celebrating Togetherness

Rainbow Kitten Surprise…

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​At Parachigo, existence is resistance: artist collective fills Fargo’s need for the extraordinary

July 15th, 2025

By Tylar Frame

tylarframephoto@gmail.com

To the Ashtagrama community in the Karnataka region of India, “Parachigo” means “a group of little stinkers.”

Anjali Karna — local activist, artist and community organizer — learned the word from their father. When it came time for them to choose a name for downtown Fargo’s newest DIY venue, nothing felt more fitting. After all, what better word could describe a small group of people willing to do almost anything to keep local art alive…

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​Somali Heritage Celebration in Fargo July 5

July 3rd, 2025

By Alicia Underlee Nelson

alicia@hpr1.com

A free, family-friendly Somali Heritage Celebration will take place at Broadway Square (201 N. Broadway in downtown Fargo) from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 5. Attendees of any background are invited to try traditional dishes, enjoy Somali music and dance and learn about Somalia’s culture, customs and history through displays, storytelling and interactive exhibits.

Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney will present a proclamation recognizing Somali…

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Welk homestead offers insight to pioneer life

May 19th, 2025

By Michael M. Miller

michael.miller@ndsu.edu

Prairie Public Broadcasting is hosting a documentary world premiere of the “Lawrence Welk: A North Dakota Farm Boy,” on Saturday, May 31, 2 p.m. at the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck. The event is free and open to the public.

Also, on May 31 at the Heritage Center, NDSU Press will launch the limited special edition hardcover three-volume set of the new biography, “Champagne Times: Lawrence Welk and His American Century,” by…

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August 2025 Summer Events Calendar

May 12th, 2025

Back-to-school season is on the horizon, but there's still plenty of summer left. Check out our favorite August attractions and events in North Dakota and western Minnesota. 

And if if you missed them, here are a few excellent May eventsJune events and our July calendar as well. Happy planning! 

Emo Night Fargo

August 1, The Aquarium, Fargo

Cassandre 3000 brings emo and pop punk classics to the stage. Free and 21+.

aquariumfargo.com

Fargo Blues Festival

August 1-2, Newman Outdoor Field,…

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July 2025 Summer Events Calendar

May 12th, 2025

July means we're deep into summer and ready to find new ways to cool off, connect with our neighbors and have fun. Whether you want a road trip, a staycation or a way to shake yourself out of a midweek slump, these are our picks for the best events and attractions all month long. 

Planning ahead? Check out our August 2025 Events Calendar too. (And here are our May events and our June calendar, if you missed them!)

The Unchosen Ones Exhibit Opening

July 1, Hjemkomst Center, Moorhead

R.J.…

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June 2025 Summer Events Calendar

May 12th, 2025

This summer is action-packed, so High Plains Reader is making it easy to maximize those long summer days. Check out some of our favorite June events below and review our May 2025 Summer Events Calendar to find events you might have missed.

And we're just getting started. We share lots of great events happening this July and August also.

Tuesdays in the Park

June 3-August 26, Detroit Lakes City Park

It’s a new summer tradition! Catch a free, all-ages concert in the park every Tuesday…

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May 2025 Summer Events Calendar

May 12th, 2025

From concerts and car shows to Japanese art and Juneteenth celebrations, there's so much going on around the region this summer. This year's High Plains Reader Summer Events Calendar is back and bigger than ever. It's packed with everything you need to make this the best summer yet. 

Check out the May events below and mark your calendars with all the great June events on tap. We'll bring you July events and the August event calendar in our June print issue, but you can read them all…

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Summer is a tough time for families who depend on free or reduced-price school meals, so YMCA of the Northern Sky will provide nutritious, no-cost meals to kids 18 and under through August 26. Breakfast and lunch are available…

By Jeff Armstrong Despite a history dating back many centuries and a reputation as fierce resistance fighters, the Kurds remain the largest stateless nation in the world. Divided by colonial post-WWI borders and subsumed into four…

June 6-7StatewideYou grab a line and I’ll grab a pole — and if you’re a North Dakota resident, you can head on down to your favorite fishing hole, no license needed (for this weekend, anyway). All other rules still apply…

By John Strand It took us over 30 years for us to reach out and ask for your help. The High Plains Reader has always been subscription free and paywall free. Our content has — and always will be — free to access for all of our…

By Ed RaymondCongratulations! A world record held by Trumplican Party and NRA!During the Minnesota Legislature’s discussion of gun controls, Republican State Senator Drew Roach of Farmington said he would never ban assault…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

July 8th, 5:30-8 p.m.Viking Ship Park, 202 1st Ave. N., Moorhead We’re celebrating America’s 250th birthday, Minnesota style. Moorhead Parks and Recreation and HCSCC are hosting the ultimate potluck. Whether you’re bringing…

Tuesday, June 30, 7 p.m.Parachigo, 14 8th St. S., Fargo Inspired by folk and rock influences, Bielanski's upbeat catchy tunes have gone worldwide — literally. He’s played 2,500 shows, 311 of which were performed last year alone.…

By Greg Carlson The feature directorial debut of established internet phenomenon and entertainment hyphenate Hayley Kiyoko — known unironically to her fans as “Lesbian Jesus” — carries with it a curious backstory becoming more…

By Jacinta Zens I recently sat down for a chat with ceramicist Louie Albertson, Clay and Studio Program Manager at the Plains Art Museum. Before the interview, I had the pleasure of getting to know him a bit as a colleague when I…

Saturday, January 31, 6:30-9 p.m.Transfiguration Fitness, 764 34th St. N., Unit P, FargoAn enchanting evening celebrating movement and creativity in a staff-student showcase. This is a family-friendly event showcasing pole, aerial…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

By Eli Liverani It was in the mid-90s when I heard of homeopathy for the first time. I was at university, and it was through word of mouth. Some friends were seeking homeopathy to solve minor health issues, such as weight gain,…

January 31, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.Viking Ship Park, 202 1st Ave. N., Moorhead2026 marks 10 years of frosty fun! Enjoy sauna sessions with Log the Sauna, try Snowga (yoga in the snow), take a guided snowshoe nature hike, listen to live…

Chris M. Stoner I was recently dismissed from my role as drag show director and emcee for Dakota OutRight, a role I had been fulfilling for more than two decades. The reason given? My political commentary during shows, while…