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FM Scoop: A Helping Hand Powered by Students

A Cozy Christmas for Local Kids, HOPE, Inc’s First Pageant, Santa’s Snowfari

December 09, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

Weather Forecast

Tuesday, September 17, 2025
❄️ 34°F | Snow | High: 34°F, Low: 11°F

Wednesday, September 18, 2025
☁️ 20°F | Cloudy | High: 20°F, Low: 2°F

Thursday, September 19, 2025
❄️15°F | Sunny | High: 15°F, Low: -2°F

Good morning, Fargo-Moorhead! It’s Tuesday and winter is making its presence known! With snow falling and temps dropping, it’s the perfect time to cozy up and catch up on everything happening around town. Here’s all the local buzz to warm up your week!

In today’s FM Scoop:

  • A Cozy Christmas for Local Kids

  • HOPE, Inc’s First Pageant

  • Santa’s Snowfari

"Let’s unwrap the scoop!"

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Scoops of the Day

A Cozy Christmas for Local Kids 🎄

Slumberland’s long-running Home for the Holidays program brought a bit of warmth and comfort to area families this season by giving away 63 free twin beds to children in need. With support from The Salvation Army, the store distributed mattresses and frames, while community partners added thoughtful touches like quilts, sheets, and even stuffed toys. It’s the kind of effort that shows how many hands can come together to support something as simple and important as a good night’s sleep.

Slumberland’s Ryan Olin emphasized how having a personal sleep space can boost a child’s confidence, independence, and even school performance. After 31 years in Fargo, the program continues to quietly change lives one bed at a time. For more details, read the full article here.

Spotlight for Every Kid ✨

HOPE, Inc. hosted its very first inclusive pageant, designed especially for children with mobility challenges or those who aren’t used to being in the spotlight. Instead of traditional pageant pressure, this event focused on celebrating each child’s individuality. Participants were interviewed, encouraged to share their talents, and welcomed onstage with cheers that made the experience feel both empowering and fun.

Eighteen kids took part, and while some walked away with crowns and sashes, organizers say everyone gained something meaningful. Executive director Bill Grommesh noted that even those who didn’t receive a title left feeling proud of themselves, which was the whole point of the event. Next year’s pageant is already expected to draw an even larger crowd, with this year’s winners returning as judges. For more details, read the full article here.

Santa’s Snowfari Delivers Wild Winter Fun 🦌

Santa made a festive pit stop at the Red River Zoo for this year’s Snowfari, giving families a chance to celebrate the season while spoiling the zoo’s cold-loving animals. Kids could meet Santa, warm up with hot chocolate and s’mores, and enjoy sledding before rolling up their sleeves to wrap enrichment “gifts” for the animals. Staff made sure everything was safe and snack-friendly, filling the packages with items from each animal’s diet so they could forage and enjoy a little holiday surprise.

The event is designed to be accessible for everyone, which is why Snowfari runs across multiple weekends each December. If you missed the first outing, there’s another chance to join the fun on December 13 at 11 a.m. For more details, read the full article here.

The stories featured in FM Scoop are summarized with the assistance of AI and reviewed for accuracy. We do not claim credit for the original reporting. Our goal is to keep you informed about the latest happenings in the Fargo-Moorhead area while respecting the work of local journalists. For the full articles and details, please follow the provided links.

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A Swirl of Events

(Concerts, Community Events, Local Markets, Etc.)

Tuesday

Holiday Open House at The Memory Cafe 🍪 - Celebrate the season at the last Holiday Open House at the Linger, Laugh & Learn Center. Enjoy hot cider, tasty treats, and the chance to connect with others in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. All are invited to join the festive fun, with parking available on 12th Street North.

Blue Christmas Service🕯️ - A peaceful gathering hosted by Sanford Hospice for anyone navigating grief or hardship during the holiday season. This gentle service offers space for reflection, comfort and hope, inviting you to come as you are and honor the memories or challenges that may make this time of year feel heavy.

Happy Crafty Hour at Brewhalla 🎨 - Swing by Brewhalla with a drink in hand and drop into the Unglued Craftatorium for a relaxed Tuesday night crafting session. This week’s project lets you make two adorable mini gifts for just five dollars, with all supplies provided and a helpful craftender ready to guide you. Adults can pop in anytime between 5 and 7 pm, with 6:45 pm as the last chance to start the project, or simply bring your own DIY stash and hang out while you get creative.

Fill Santa’s Sleigh Toy Drive 🎁 - Bring a new toy to EagleRidge Plaza and enjoy a free photo with Santa in his sleigh while supporting a wonderful cause. All donated toys will be delivered to Sanford Children’s to brighten the holidays for kids in the hospital. Warm up with hot cocoa, enjoy the festive spirit and look forward to downloading your professional photos from Kara Lee Creative Co. afterward.

Wednesday

FRIENDS Trivia Night 🍟 - Grab a babysitter, round up your friends, and put your knowledge of one of TV’s all-time favorite shows to the test! Remember, Joey doesn’t share food, so make sure to order your own fries while enjoying a fun night of laughs, nostalgia, and friendly competition.

Holiday Candle Making at Brewhalla🕯️ - Get into the festive spirit with an evening of crafting, charcuterie, and drinks at Brewhalla! Guests will create their own scented soy candle in a custom concrete vessel while enjoying a delicious spread by Mangata and a beverage from Drekker. Perfect for friends, family, or anyone looking for a hands-on holiday experience, attendees will leave with a unique handmade candle and new skills to show off at home.

Puzzle Showdown 🧩 - Test your skills at the Fargo Air Museum during a fast paced 500 piece puzzle competition. Join solo or bring up to 3 friends as you race to finish your puzzle while enjoying pizza and a pitcher of your choice. Prizes are up for grabs and every team gets a puzzle, pizza, and pitcher included in the $100 entry fee. Extra drinks can be purchased on site. Learn more and register at fargoairmuseum.org.

Thursday

Norwegian Waffle Night 🧇 - Enjoy warm Norwegian waffles loaded with your choice of tasty toppings at the Sons of Norway for a free will donation. The Troll Lounge opens at 4:30 pm with refreshing beverages, and the Valley Ukes will be playing to set the perfect mood. Everyone is welcome to stop by and savor the fun.

Santa Stop at Fargo SCHEELS 🎅 - Enjoy a magical evening as Santa and Mrs. Claus visit Fargo SCHEELS for a free family celebration filled with festive fun. Kids can snap photos with Santa, write letters on special holiday stationery and enjoy cheerful activities throughout the store. It’s a warm and cozy way to dive into the season while also getting a head start on holiday shopping.

For all the details on these events, be sure to click the hyperlinked event titles.

Rest assured, nothing in this section is sponsored. We'll always be transparent and let you know when something is.

The Heroic Scoop

A Helping Hand, Powered by Students 🤖

Moorhead’s Spudnik robotics team turned compassion into innovation by creating a simple but life-changing device for 1st grader Amarah Ramirez. Unable to raise her hand in class, Amarah can now tap a small button with her head to activate an LED display that signals she wants to participate. The project began when her teachers reached out for help, and four high school students stepped up to design, code, and build the prototype. What started as a technical challenge quickly became a meaningful mission, showing how robotics can solve real everyday barriers.

The students and their coach say the project reflects what community collaboration can look like when everyone brings their strengths to the table. The team is already refining a second version that will be smaller and even easier for Amarah to use. Stories like this highlight how student-driven creativity can open doors, boost confidence, and make classrooms more inclusive for everyone. For more details, read the full article here.

The stories featured in FM Scoop are summarized with the assistance of AI and reviewed for accuracy. We do not claim credit for the original reporting. Our goal is to keep you informed about the latest happenings in the Fargo-Moorhead area while respecting the work of local journalists. For the full articles and details, please follow the provided links.

The Evening Delights

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

For the latest updates and any last-minute changes, click the event links hyperlinked in the titles.

Rest assured, nothing in this section is sponsored. We'll always be transparent and let you know when something is.

 Thank You!

Thanks for catching up with us on another edition of FM Scoop. We hope you found today’s stories engaging and informative. Share the scoop with those who might enjoy it, and keep an eye out for more updates!