How to Do a Pub Crawl in Fargo

Inspired by Fargo's Second Annual Oktoberfest Pub Crawl, I decided to try a Fargo pub crawl of my own in downtown Fargo. The official Fargo pub crawl is offered every year as part of the Oktoberfest celebration, but a Fargo pub crawl can be done any day of the year. The Fargo pub crawl does not require any official mug, so the best way to start is to decide on a starting point and how many pubs and bars you plan to visit.

Preparing for a Fargo Pub Crawl

The most important thing to do before starting a Fargo pub crawl is to make a transportation plan ahead of time. Taxis in Fargo offer student discounts. Driving and pub crawls are a bad idea, so unless you have a designated driver chaperoning or ready for a pick up at the end of the night, group together and share a taxi.

The other key element for a successful pub crawl in Fargo is to plan to eat along the way, starting with a good lunch or dinner at the first pub. Old Broadway is a great choice, and Dempsey's has cheap pub food during happy hour every day.

A list of the bars and pubs you plan to visit can be printed out ahead of time so you can keep track and check them off along the pub crawl.

Where to Pub Crawl in Fargo

The best concentration of bars in Fargo for pub crawling is in the downtown area. The entire pub crawl can be done within about a four block radius. Old Broadway is a great starting point. This Fargo bar offers great food and a great atmosphere to start the pub crawl. Draft and bottled beer are offered here, with a variety for every taste. Sports Bar is a good choice for the second bar, located near Old Broadway.

A stroll down North Broadway, after the Sports Bar stop will lead you to Rooters. There were some interesting draft beer choices here, and they have Absinthe at this bar, with a sign explaining the new legality of this wormwood inspired drink. The VFW, across the street, and around the corner is a popular daytime hangout. The pull tabs at the VFW can be addicting so be prepared. This is a good fourth stop on the pub crawl.

Montes was an official pub crawl spot for Oktoberfest, but it is a better choice for a nice dinner and glass of wine than pub crawling. We did a brief stop and a shot here instead of a draft. Dempsey's is just down the street and one of the favorite pub crawl places on our tour. The cheap appetizers, friendly bartenders, and drafts are all reasons to visit Dempsey's on your pub crawl. Dempsey's had a laidback, Irish pub feel to the bar, perfect for enjoying at least one draft and a snack here.

If you make it down North Broadway to Empire Tavern, you are doing great. This is the seventh stop on the pub crawl. Empire Tavern is casual enough to be a stop on the pub crawl. The final stop on the pub crawl is down 3rd Avenue to Sidestreet Grille and Pub. As the last stop on the pub crawl, this is a good place to hang out for the remainder of the night. Drink specials are reasonable and they draw a good crowd on a Saturday night for socializing.

The Fargo pub crawl can be done in about 5-6 hours, though ours ended up being 8 because we stayed longer at our favorite bars. Drink responsibly and try to limit your drinks to a draft per bar, or substitute a shot for a beer to avoid that too-full beer belly feeling. Happy pub crawling!