AGP Executive Report

Live Music: CPKC’s Holiday Train will make six North Dakota stops Dec. 18-19, with performances by Shawnee Kish and Jamie Fine; donations collected at each stop support local food banks. Creative Learning: Pianist and composer David Snyder returned to Wyndmere Public School with an interactive program that let young students explore music and create an original piece together. Public Art: Hazen will honor hometown-born speed-record holder Al Joersz with a large SR-71 Blackbird sculpture, unveiled Oct. 23. North Dakota Artists: Tigirlily Gold is set to return home to celebrate its new album, “Country & Midwestern,” with a fan signing in Fargo.

Music: North Dakota country duo Tigirlily Gold returned home with their new album, Country & Midwestern, and a Fargo fan-signing. AJ McLean is also bringing his first solo tour to the state, while troubadour John Craigie recently played The Sound House. On Stage: Theatre B’s Frankenstein asks who the real monster is, and singers from Wyndmere and Lidgerwood joined NDSU’s Choral Festival. Arts & Events: The Pride of Dakota Showcase returns to Minot Oct. 23–24, featuring nearly 100 North Dakota businesses with art, books, jewelry and crafts. An October arts calendar also highlights local events, and a profile revisits photographer Murray Lemley’s influence on North Dakota imagery. On Screen: The documentary Jesus Camp, filmed at a North Dakota children’s program, is back in discussion nearly 20 years after its Oscar-nominated debut.

North Dakota Music: Homegrown duo Tigirlily Gold returned to North Dakota to celebrate new album Country & Midwestern, with a fan signing also announced at Fargo’s Walmart on 52nd Avenue. AJ McLean is bringing his first solo tour to the state, while ND Country Fest has begun announcing its 2027 lineup. Arts & Culture: Theatre B’s Frankenstein asks who the real monster is, and a new profile spotlights photographer Murray Lemley’s European-influenced style in North Dakota. Things to Do: Minot’s Pride of Dakota Showcase returns Oct. 23–24 with nearly 100 North Dakota businesses, including makers of pottery, jewelry, photography and framed art; admission is free. An arts calendar also lists events running Oct. 14 through Nov. 1.

On Screen: Netflix released Free Leonard Peltier on Oct. 12, bringing the Turtle Mountain Chippewa activist’s decades-long fight for freedom to a global audience. Live Music: Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean is bringing his first solo tour to Prairie Knights Casino on Jan. 23, 2027, with songs from his debut solo album. North Dakota Music: Tigirlily Gold is celebrating new album Country & Midwestern with a homecoming release and a Fargo fan-signing. Young Voices: Seventeen students from Wyndmere and Lidgerwood joined singers from across the region at NDSU’s annual choral festival. Local Arts: Theatre B’s Frankenstein takes on the question of who—or what—the real monster is. Remembering an Artist: Photographer Murray Lemley, whose work helped shape Fargo-Moorhead’s art scene, died in Fargo at 75.

Live Music: AJ McLean brings his first solo tour to Prairie Knights Casino on Jan. 23, 2027, with songs from his debut album. Fargo duo Tigirlily Gold also celebrated their new album, Country & Midwestern, with a hometown release and fan signing. Choral Arts: Seventeen Wyndmere and Lidgerwood students joined hundreds of singers at NDSU’s annual choral festival, performing in choirs selected by grade and voice. Fargo Arts: Photographer Murray Lemley, whose work helped shape the region’s art scene, died Sept. 27 at 75; the Plains Art Museum held a retrospective of his photography in 2025. Film & Theatre: Netflix released Free Leonard Peltier, a documentary about the Turtle Mountain Chippewa activist, on Oct. 12. Theatre B’s Frankenstein also puts a classic monster story onstage.

Local Books: Three books by North Dakota authors are nominated to represent the state at the 2027 Library of Congress National Book Festival; voting is open through year-end. Regional readers can also meet “The Birth of Loud” author Ian S. Port at an Oct. 22 community event. Live Music: Tigirlily Gold is coming home to Fargo to celebrate its new album, “Country & Midwestern,” with a fan signing. North Dakota concert news also includes a 2027 Country Fest announcement and a show featuring Staind, Seether, Hoobastank and Hinder. Theatre & Dance: Theatre B’s “Frankenstein” takes on the question of who the real monster is. A look back at Fargo schools’ 1980 dance program recalls how professional performers brought dance into classrooms. Visual Arts: VCSU senior Jagger Dickman’s exhibition opens Oct. 12, while a UND graduate is drawing inspiration from the wild for a new body of artwork.

Local Books: Fargo siblings Daniel and Julia Wolfe’s Sofia’s Monster is among three North Dakota titles nominated to represent the state at the 2027 Library of Congress National Book Festival. Public voting is open through year-end, and regional libraries will host events for this year’s One Book, One Community pick, The Birth of Loud. North Dakota Music: Country duo Tigirlily Gold celebrated new album Country & Midwestern with a Fargo signing and pop-up show, bringing the sisters’ release day home. Badlands Culture: Nearly 300 visitors gathered in Medora for the first TeddyCon, a three-day convention featuring history talks, tours and musical performances. Theatre: Theatre B’s Frankenstein takes on the question of who—or what—is the real monster.

North Dakota Music: Hazen-raised country duo Tigirlily Gold celebrated their new album, Country & Midwestern, with a Fargo signing and pop-up show, bringing the release home to fans. Community Theatre: New Rockford groups say they have about $673,000 in donations, insurance funds and pledges toward restoring the Rockford Theatre, and will hold an open house Oct. 18 to discuss plans to bring movies back. North Dakota Artist: UND graduate Chuck Black, an award-winning wildlife painter, returned to Grand Forks to receive the Young Alumni Award and speak with students about his work. Stage: Theatre B’s Frankenstein takes on the question of who the real monster is. Badlands Opera Project is also bringing The Pirates of Penzance to Dickinson State University.

North Dakota Music: Hazen-raised country duo Tigirlily Gold celebrated their new album, Country & Midwestern, with a Fargo signing and pop-up show, drawing a long line of hometown fans. History & Culture: Nearly 300 people gathered in Medora for the first TeddyCon, a three-day convention at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library featuring talks, tours and musical performances. Local Theatre: New Rockford groups exploring a partnership to bring movies back to the Rockford Theatre say they have $521,835 in donations and insurance funds; residents can tour the space and discuss plans at an Oct. 18 open house. Visual Arts: UND graduate Chuck Black, known for wildlife paintings including a Federal Duck Stamp winner, returned to Grand Forks to receive a Young Alumni Award and speak with students. Fall Creativity: Cavalier’s Scarecrow Alley turns storefronts into imaginative Halloween displays, drawing visitors from neighboring towns.

UND Hockey: Fourth-ranked UND opened its season with a 3-2 win over Bemidji State, powered by Cole Reschny’s two goals, including the late game-winner. Country Music: Fargo sisters Tigirlily Gold met fans at a Friday album signing at Walmart, celebrating the chance to see their record in stores. Live Music: Staind, Seether, Hoobastank and Hinder are heading to North Dakota, while ND Country Fest has begun announcing its 2027 lineup. Arts & Culture: Badlands Opera Project will stage The Pirates of Penzance at Dickinson State, and a new Jagger Dickman exhibition opens at VCSU on Oct. 12. Fall Fun: A new Bismarck hay maze built with 800 bales offers a seasonal outing.

Country Music: Fargo sisters Tigirlily Gold met fans at a Walmart album signing Friday, sharing their new record, Country & Midwestern, and taking photos. Live Shows: Staind, Seether, Hoobastank and Hinder are headed to North Dakota, while North Dakota Country Fest has begun revealing its 2027 lineup. Arts: VCSU’s gallery opens Jagger Dickman’s senior exhibition Oct. 12, and the Badlands Opera Project is set to perform The Pirates of Penzance at DSU. Fall Outings: A new 800-bale hay maze has opened in Bismarck, and the Chateau de Mores is among the region’s featured haunted spots.

Local Music: Fargo-born country duo Tigirlily Gold will meet fans and sign copies of their album at the Walmart on 52nd Avenue Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., staying longer if fans are still waiting. Festival News: ND Country Fest has announced more acts for its 2027 lineup, including Lee Brice, Joe Nichols, Phil Vassar and Neal McCoy, alongside previously announced performers Old Dominion and Hudson Westbrook. Fall Outings: Bismarck’s “Schmidt Happens” hay maze is open daily through the season, with more than 800 bales to navigate. Fargo Events: A new downtown convention center is planned to open in 2029, adding flexible space for meetings and events.

Country Fest 2027: ND Country Fest has added Lee Brice, Joe Nichols, Phil Vassar, Neal McCoy and Tigirlily Gold to its 10th-anniversary lineup in New Salem, joining previously announced headliners Hudson Westbrook and Old Dominion. Bismarck Fall Fun: The “Schmidt Happens” hay maze is open daily on River Road, with more than 800 bales and admission from $5. Medora Haunts: A new Halloween feature explores ghost stories and the history of the Chateau de Morès, now a state historic site. Live Music: Staind, Seether, Hoobastank and Hinder are also set to perform in North Dakota. Opera: The Badlands Opera Project plans a performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance” at DSU.

Live Music: Staind, Seether, Hoobastank and Hinder will bring their “Break the Cycle 25th Anniversary Tour” to Fargo’s Fargodome on April 7, 2027; general ticket sales start Friday. Campus Arts: Valley City State’s 23rd annual Ployhar Honor Band brings nearly 90 high school musicians together Oct. 22, with a free concert Oct. 23. Gallery: VCSU’s Jagger Dickman senior exhibition opens Oct. 12. Dance: Dickinson instructor Nikki St. John reflects on 20 years of teaching. North Dakota Stage: Badlands Opera Project plans a performance of “The Pirates of Penzance” at Dickinson State. Country Music: Fargo duo Tigirlily Gold will host a record-signing event at Walmart.

Live Music: Staind, Seether, Hoobastank and Hinder are bringing their “Break the Cycle 25th Anniversary Tour” to Fargo’s Fargodome on April 7, 2027. General ticket sales begin Friday, Oct. 9. Student Arts: Nearly 90 high school musicians will gather at Valley City State for the 23rd Ployhar Honor Band, with a free concert Oct. 23. Photography: VCSU student Jagger Dickman’s “Life Through the Lens” opens Oct. 12 at the Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts Gallery; a reception and artist talk are set for Oct. 20. Dance: Dickinson instructor Nikki St. John is reflecting on two decades of teaching and performances with DFy Dance Project, which closed this year. Onstage: Badlands Opera Project plans a DSU production of “The Pirates of Penzance.” Local Art: A new Fargo gallery is putting Native artists in the spotlight.

Halloween & Local Culture: Haunted-house season is ramping up across the Upper Midwest, with Duluth’s Glensheen Lantern Tours, Superior’s Fairlawn Mansion flashlight and paranormal investigation events, and North Dakota’s own spooky stops in the mix. Environmental Policy: Residents near Missouri’s Labadie Energy Center say they can “see the pollution,” but federal mercury rules were loosened and then repealed under Trump-era EPA changes, pushing compliance out to 2029 before making it permanent. North Dakota Sports Spotlight: South Dakota State jumped to No. 1 in both major FCS polls after beating Illinois State, with North Dakota among the ranked teams. Summit League Basketball Buzz: NDSU and SDSU dominate preseason expectations—Avery Koenen and Joe Sayler named preseason players of the year, and both NDSU men’s and women’s teams picked to repeat as regular-season champs. Community & Business: SCORE Dakotas forms from three regional chapters to mentor 600+ clients and support small businesses across the Dakotas. Fashion & Dickinson Business: Saucy Blonde Boutique keeps growing from an online start to a Dickinson storefront serving southwest North Dakota and beyond.