Kessie Kessie
By Amanda Frost
As I get closer to my 30s and think about the kind of parent I want to be, I’ve realized something: play isn’t just for kids.
I say this as someone who works at Folkways, a local nonprofit that creates community events designed to bring people together. I’ve learned to fully immerse myself in family-friendly fun, whether that means blowing bubbles, dressing up in clown costumes, or unapologetically skipping down the street. I’m a self-declared “certified cool aunt,” and I keep play alive in both my professional and personal life.
But lately I’ve been asking myself: why does play matter so much for adults, too?
Why Adults Need Play
As kids, play comes naturally; it’s imaginative, creative, and full of presence. We notice everything. A single summer feels endless, and even a routine trip to the grocery store with your mom still feels new.
As adults, though, play slips away when childhood ends. Our calendars fill with deadlines and commitments, and life starts to blur into routine. We look back on childhood with nostalgia, longing for the way time used to feel slower, fuller, more alive.
But here is my take: what we’re missing isn’t just youth, its presence. Play is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to bring that back. It breaks routine, sparks curiosity, and helps us notice again. And that’s not wasted time, it’s how we reclaim it.
How To Make The Most of Family-Friendly Events (at any age)
Family-friendly places in our community aren’t just for the kids, they’re for you, too. They’re spaces to connect, build traditions, and reawaken the part of yourself that once delighted in the small things.
Upcoming Folkways Events
Red River Market
Every Saturday @ Broadway Square through October 25th.
Night Bazaar
Night Bazaar Spook @ Brewhalla on October 30th.
Christkindlmarkt
Two weekends @ Fargo Civic Center November 21st-23rd and November 28th-20th.
Here are six ways to challenge yourself to play again:
Spook Night Bazaar
(Oct 30, Brewhalla)
Practice whimsy. Don’t just let the kids dress up, lean into it yourself. Each Night Bazaar that Folkways puts on has a theme, so put on a silly costume, dance to live music, and let yourself be part of the spectacle.
Christkindlmarkt
(Nov 21-23 & 28-30)
Practice noticing. Routines blur adult life. Break that by slowing down. At Christkindlmarkt, roaming performers, from elves to Cindy Lou Who to Nutcracker dancers, wander the crowd. Look closely, and let yourself delight in the details.
Red River Market
(Saturday at Broadway Square through Oct 25)
Send an invitation. As kids, making friends was easy, you’d sit next to someone new, and suddenly you had a playdate. Invite a neighbor or another parent to join you at the next market. While the kids stack blocks, sip a coffee with someone new and connect.
Rourke Art Museum
(Moorhead)
Stay curious. Curiosity is a form of play. At the Rourke, the second floor features a permanent children’s exhibition with interactive installations, while upstairs you’ll find local art and even a cozy library. Kids can explore and play, and adults can spark their own curiosity, whether by wandering the galleries or opening a book to learn something new.
Skate City
(All Year Round)
Reconnect with nostalgia. From arcade games to dice contests to the same retro carpet you remember from your childhood, Skate City is pure time travel. Skating is affordable fun and a reminder that joy doesn’t need to change with age.
Children’s Music Academy
Be embarrassingly bad at something. As kids, we were always learning new skills without worrying about failure. When was the last time you let yourself do that? At the Children’s Music Academy, parents take music classes alongside their kids. You learn, play, and laugh together, and the first class is free.
Play As Community
Play is something we have to be intentional about. It’s not gone from our adult lives, it just needs space to grow. Luckily, our community is filled with opportunities to invite imagination, silliness, and connection back in.
Parent or not, I challenge you: make room for play. Let yourself be silly. Because the truth is, play isn’t just for kids, it was always for all of us.
Folkways
Facebook | /wearefolkways
Instagram | @wearefolkways
Linkedin | /company/folkwaysco
Instagram | @campus.Fm
Tiktok | | @campus
