Fargo-Moorhead Concerts at The Lights
Check out what’s coming up at The Lights and hear from the folks who bring the shows to town!
Epic Events, The Lights
When The Lights was still a blueprint, an Epic employee, Lance, saw its potential to become a core part of the city’s cultural makeup. His passion for bringing a varying lineup to this outdoor venue has turned it into a summer staple, despite the challenges posed by weather and competing local events.
The challenge and charm work hand in hand, promoting concerts at The Lights involves navigation, like battling with the busy weekend lake-goers during the short northern summer. The philosophy for booking at The Lights is community-centric—highlighting sounds that will resonate with the local tastes. In West Fargo, this means a steady cadence of country and classic rock concerts, genres that consistently draw in excited crowds.
The Lights, still a young events center, has begun to understand its broad demographic.
Lineup
July 25
Brothers Osborne
August 30
Ice Cube
September 13
Teddy Swims
The Essential Health Plaza at the Lights was voted the No. 1 live entertainment spot in the Red River Valley in 2021!
What To Know
The Essentia Health Plaza at the Lights has popped off since its launch in 2020, but, there’s some important stuff to know about the venue and its offerings before you check it out.
- Free parking can be found in the City of West Fargo’s parking ramp (accessible from 5th St W) with 400+ stalls. From there, you can use the stairway or elevator to access the venue!
- The Essentia Plaza is mostly standing room only, and is usually a party atmosphere!
- During events, extra bathrooms are brought in, in addition to the community room restrooms in the southeast corner of the plaza.
- During your events, make sure your purses or bags are no larger than 5 in x 7 in, and make sure you skip on any food or drink (and… pets, umbrellas, chairs, flash photography, and firearms).
- Rain or shine, the concert goes on! Grab your poncho or rain jacket, but leave the umbrellas at home.
- If you’re planning a preshow dinner, drinks, or snacks, there are tons of great options around and at the Lights, including Lundy’s Ice Cream, Tati’s Mediterranean Saveur, Bar Down, and Dive Bar West Fargo within the complex, and Hooligans, Mas Tequila, Randy’s Diner Too, Dairy Queen, and Tradition’s Restaurant & Bar close by!
Ticketed concerts at The Lights are sold through Ticketmaster—the official and sole ticket distributor of EPIC Events promoted concerts on MIDCO Stage at Essentia Health Plaza at The Lights. Get your ticket online here, or you can grab tickets at the door (unless the show is sold out)!
Best Mems!
Sawyer Brown
During a Sawyer Brown concert last year, the country music band’s manager found the venue’s promoter and asked if the band could play longer than planned, saying they were “loving this crowd!”
A Classic Is A Classic
The classics are cool again, and The Lights has seen that firsthand. This trend of the rebirth of bands like New Kids on the Block, Weezer, and Creed is proof that these rock stars’ careers aren’t over yet.
As Tom Delonge Once Said
It’s all the small things that stick with promoters—a true calling of someone meant to be in the business of making moments happen.
“Seeing a smile from one of our staff when an artist walks by them, seeing parents with kids on their shoulders, or watching a couple sing lyrics to each other during a show. I have seen hundreds of these moments, they are the best and most memorable for me,” Lance said.
As most promoters will tell you (and music lovers in general), explore and engage with your local live music scene! No matter the venue, when an artist is looking at coming to the metro and there’s a history of community support—they’re more likely to come. So, come to a show!
Published June 12, 2024
