WEST FARGO — Both West Fargo's annual Street Fair and Cruise Nights will have new locations this year, but they're only temporary while northern Sheyenne Street is under construction.
The first of 2021's Cruise Nights will be held from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 17, at the Lights on Sheyenne 32 and West Fargo Sports Arena area.
The West Fargo Street Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 19, on Bluestem Drive south of 31st Avenue East. The section of Bluestem Drive behind the Veterans Mall and in front of Boulevard Square will be closed to traffic from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 19.
Cruise Nights and the West Fargo Street Fair, which started in 2019, are now coordinated by West Fargo Events, the nonprofit organization that manages a number of properties for the city and West Fargo School District.
Mike Amundson, West Fargo Events executive director, said both events will be moved back to their original locations on northern Sheyenne Street, just south of Main Avenue, next year, once construction is finished in the area this fall.
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"I hope that people will be happy we were able to save the event and simply move it for a one-year hiatus from downtown Sheyenne Street," Amundson said. "Also, it's a great opportunity to showcase the Lights venue as well. We're always excited to show it off for different and unique uses than what was planned."
While the location may be new for Cruise Night, not much else has changed. Cruise Night participants will still be allowed to bring and consume alcohol. Drinks will also be sold on the city's property but will not be sold in the sports arena parking area.
Also, live music will be provided on the Essentia Health Plaza stage during Cruise Night.
Additional Cruise Nights will be held at the Lights on Sheyenne on the third Thursdays of July, August and September.
Amundson said organizers had hoped to still hold the 2021 Street Fair in The Yards area, or downtown West Fargo along northern Sheyenne Street.
"A as we come closer to the date and spoke with construction crews and the city, it's just not ready for people to be down there yet," he said.
Amundson said 2021 looks to hold the largest Street Fair to date with at least 70 vendors planning to attend.
Launched in 2019, the West Fargo Street Fair is a community event designed to celebrate the best of local artisans, crafters, vendors, food trucks and services by lining Bluestem Drive for the community to shop from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event will also feature food trucks at the former Blvd parking lot just north of Larkspur Drive.
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“The city of West Fargo and our event management partners, West Fargo Events, continue to work diligently to offer community events at temporary locations during The Yards on Sheyenne construction,” said Mark Simmons, West Fargo city commissioner and president of the West Fargo Events board of directors. “We will be back in the original location for the 2022 season.”
Parking for the street fair will be available in the WEX Health parking lot (700 26th Ave. E.), Prairie Heights Church (319 32nd Ave. E.) and Freedom Elementary School (401 26th Ave. E.). Shuttles will run between the Street Fair location and the parking lots through a collaboration with the West Fargo Public School District.
For more information and updates, visit westfargond.gov/861/West-Fargo-Street-Fair .
The city of West Fargo and West Fargo Events will release updates and an alternative plan if COVID-19 conditions prohibit the event from safely occurring.
