2nd Annual Fun Run Under the Lights at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds

The exhibit saw its last cars go through on New Year's Eve; on New Year's Day, people traversed the snow on foot.

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – The staff of the Red River Valley Fair decided to bring back their Fun Run at the Fairgrounds for a second installment despite the first one not exactly being the event of the winter.

“We had 13 runners,” laughed Sophia Thompson, marketing and events coordinator.

But thanks to strong support on social media, the run did return – and the numbers skyrocketed as a result.

“We decided to do it again because people were commenting on our Facebook, ‘Are you going to have the run again? Are you going to have the run again?'” laughed Thompson. “This year we have around 90 runners.”

Those willing to brave the single-digit temperatures took off at 5:30 in the evening on January 1st, with the fastest finishing the roughly two-and-a-half-mile course under 30 minutes later.

The fifteen-dollar entry fee for the run went directly to the Red River Valley Fair Foundation, which funds agricultural education in a variety of ways.

And there were prizes for the fastest in the Fun Run – first place got a Blue Ribbon Pass for the Fair in 2026, which gives them access to all the concerts and grandstand events.

Second and third received concert tickets to Jason Derulo, who is expected to be the Fair’s feature attraction.