​What’s cooler than being cool? Frostival!

It’s a popularly held assumption that residents of the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo area have no choice but to suffer through an annual affliction: severe winter. However, locals here know that this is hardly the whole truth, and it’s high time to show that we embrace the cold rather than hide from it. And now, we have that opportunity.

This January marks the first-ever North of Normal Frostival, a multi-city-wide festival of outdoors activities and games, proving that here the season is just another excuse to have some fun.

Frostival encompasses the weekend of Jan. 29-31, beginning with an official kick-off event on Friday evening at the U.S. Bank Plaza in downtown Fargo.

The North of Normal Games commence on Saturday, which will include types of wintry competitions such as cardboard sledding, cross country skiing and “snowga” (snow yoga). Frostville, a special area hosting family friendly activities, will include snow mural painting, a create-your-own Dipping Dots station and a Winter Rocks Skating event at the downtown skating rink.

On Sunday, the sixth annual B-B-BRRR bike race will culminate the weekend’s events. The Border Battle Bike Race on the Red River starts at 1:30 p.m.

Putting together Frostival required a huge effort, and many people in the F-M area are responsible for making this event a reality. Stephonie Broughton, sports and events manager for the Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau, handled the director duties for the inaugural Frostival. High Plains Reader caught up with Stephonie to see what’s in store for those willing to brave a little cold to have a good time.

HPR: Where did the idea for Frostival come from? How long has this event been in the works?

Stephonie Broughton: The idea of Frostival came about before I even started with the Fargo-Moorhead CVB at the end of June. As the story goes it all started with an idea Executive Director Charley Johnson had for the “North of Normal Games,” and it began to take shape more as he participated in the Workforce Collaborative over the last year. During the research their consultants said they had observed that people who had lived here the longest seemed to complain the most about the winter weather, and that -- in that way, at least -- we were our "own worst enemies" when it came to recruiting new families to the community. At that point he began serious discussions with our CVB and F-M Athletic Commission (a subsidiary of the CVB) staff about how it could work … and (we) ran with it.

HPR: What are you most excited about at Frostival?

SB: I am excited for everything, but then I suppose I am biased because I have been working on it night and day for the last six months! We have 13 events planned over the course of three days. For those with an athletic inclination and those without, there truly is something for everyone to do: an almost-3k race, “snowga,” disc golf, golf, cardboard sled races and the list goes on (a full list of activities can be found at www.frostival.com). It doesn’t matter what they do as long as they are getting outside the house and having fun with us at any or all of our events.

We want to show those outside of our community (and even some within) that hibernation during the winter is not a requirement for living here. We can get outside and play at any time of year … and ENJOY it too!

HPR: What can attendees expect at the kick-off event?

SB: FUN and lots of activities! We wanted to kick off the weekend of events with an exciting evening for the community to celebrate and to give people in the whole metro area the chance to get together for some winter fun. Live music from the Front Fenders, carriage rides through downtown, s’more stations, a cocoa cook-off, food, libations and fun. There will be something for everyone to enjoy on Friday night. Also multiple downtown businesses have extended their hours and are offering discounts in their stores (as well as a place to warm up for a bit).

HPR: Will the events mostly be happening in downtown Fargo?

SB: No, Frostival is a community event with organizing committee members from all three cities. The collaborative effort of the group allowed us to host events in all three cities. The Opening Kickoff and Frostville will be hosted in downtown Fargo this year and the competitions will be spread throughout the community.

HPR: I understand there will be a Polar Plunge – that’s interesting. Where will it take place?

SB: We partnered with the Special Olympics of North Dakota for the Polar Plunge. As of Jan. 22 they had 25 plungers signed up and they have room for more! This year’s plunge will take place at the Ramada Plaza and Suites.

HPR: Is it correct that most of the events are free?

SB: A lot of the events are free and open to the public. It’s mostly the competitions that have any sort of participation fees associated with them.

HPR: Overall, what are your hopes for the inaugural North of Normal Frostival?

SB: For the community to embrace the cold with us and celebrate! What we hope is that the events will give people a chance to get outside, in a community-wide setting, and enjoy the good things that winter has to offer. No matter how much we complain about winter, we all find some ways to enjoy it, and I hope Frostival will be one of those ways every year.

IF YOU GO:

North of Normal Frostival

Fri, Jan. 29 through Sun, Jan. 31

Opening Kick-off at U.S. Bank Plaza, Downtown Fargo

For a schedule of the events, a map, and cost information, visit frostival.com.