It isn’t uncommon for those that call the Midwest home to be considered a bit abnormal. Only in the North will you find residents donning shorts on a “hot” 30-degree day. When an inch or two of snow in the South leads to closed roads and school cancellations, people in the Midwest scoff and recall the last time they opened their front door to six inches of snow – and still made it to work on time. People may call us crazy, but nobody celebrates all things winter better than we do. If other areas of the country are considered “normal,” we proudly embrace the title of “north of normal.”
Few events seem more appropriate than the upcoming North of Normal Frostival. From January 29-31, the Red River Valley will be transformed into a true celebration of winter. With events ranging from snow kickball and disk golf to cardboard sled races and a winter rocks skating event, the Frostival truly offers someone for everyone. Whether you are one of the “crazies” that frequently break out your summer clothes before the snow has melted or a reluctant winter warrior, the event is sure to help you remember the things that make our winters so special.
The North of Normal Frostival began as the brainchild of the Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and its President/CEO Charley Johnson. “It started as an idea we had for the ‘North of Normal Winter Games,’ and begin to take more shape in my mind as I participated in the Workforce Collaborative over the last year. During the research our 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,” Johnson explained. “At that point I began serious discussions with our CVB and F-M Athletic Commission (a subsidiary of the CVB) staff about how it could work. I handed it off to FMAC Director Kali Mork and Sports &Events Manager Stephonie Broughton, and they ran with it.”
The goal of the Frostival is to give residents of the greater F/M area an opportunity to celebrate all that is great about both the Red River Valley and winter. It hopes to motivate those that typically give in to the temptation to hibernate away from the snowy cold to fight those urges and join others living “north of normal.” “No matter how much we complain about winter, we all find some ways to enjoy it,” Johnson said. “We wanted to set up a weekend to celebrate that part of our culture, and to give people in the whole metro area the chance to get together for some winter fun.”
The “North of Normal” tagline has already become part of the CVB’s identity. The organization has been using the new logo and moniker, which resulted from a yearlong rebranding exercise. “The research we did during the (rebranding) process pointed out that most of us who live here take some pride in the fact that we really do embrace all four seasons of our climate, and that we're certainly not afraid of a little snow and cold weather,” Johnson explained. “We're an independent people, even to the point of what some from elsewhere might call ‘quirky’.”
It is that “quirkiness” combined with a stellar work ethic and a dose of “Minnesota/North Dakota nice” that really make Midwesterners stand out from the rest of the country. “In spite of what people from warmer climates might see as the obstacle of the occasionally long winter, our economy is diverse and thriving, even in the face of downturns in the agricultural and energy sectors,” Johnson said. “I’d add that we know that life entails hard work, but that work should be rewarding and enjoyable. We also know that life isn't worth much without family and friends, and virtually everyone who comes here remarks about how open and friendly we are.”
The North of Normal Frostival kicks off on Friday, January 29 at 6:00pm at the U.S. Bank Plaza in Fargo. Events on Saturday run from 8:00am to 9:00pm; a complete listing of activities can be found at www.frostival.com. Festivities end on Sunday at 1:30pm with a B-B-BRRR Winter Classic Bike Race at the Fargo Community Gardens at Lower Terrace. Those not interested in participating can still enjoy the Frostival. According to CVB Sports and Events Manager Stephonie Broughton, there is still a need for volunteers to assist with the Opening Kickoff on Friday. Interested individuals can sign up on the website’s “get involved” section.
Whether you are interested in participating, volunteering, or just watching, the Frostival is an event like no other. Only in the Red River Valley can we take pride in living “north of normal.”
See you all there.
