Welcome to Thief River Falls and Pennington County!

Upcoming Welcoming Events

Thief River Falls is a vibrant and welcoming community where newcomers are greeted with open arms. With a rich heritage and a strong sense of togetherness, we take pride in creating opportunities for everyone to feel at home. Our welcoming events are designed to help newcomers connect with one another and build meaningful relationships with long-term residents. These gatherings are perfect for making friends, deepening connections, and discovering all that our community has to offer. Whether you’re looking to learn more about our rich traditions, engage with local culture, or simply meet friendly faces, we’re excited to welcome you!

Welcoming Week is Coming to Thief River Falls, September 12-19

You Belong Here.

Welcoming Week is a community-wide celebration of the people, cultures, and connections that make Thief River Falls a great place to call home.

Held September 12–19, 2026, the week will bring residents together through music, youth storytelling, industry tours, and other activities. Whether you’ve lived here your entire life or recently arrived, Welcoming Week is an invitation to meet new people, learn from one another, celebrate the cultures and traditions within our community, and help build a place where everyone feels they belong.

Welcoming Week belongs to the entire community. We invite businesses, organization, churches, schools, neighborhoods, and civic groups to host their own welcoming activities throughout the week. Register your activity, using the form below, to be added to the Welcoming Week calendar.

Woodpicks Concert

Join us for a free outdoor concert featuring The WoodPicks, a regional bluegrass and Americana band known for lively acoustic music and rich harmonies. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy the music in the beautiful setting of Floyd B. Olson Park, along the Red Lake River. Make a day of it—Everybody’s Market will also be at the park from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome, so bring your family, invite a neighbor, meet someone new, and help us kick off Welcoming Week together!

You belong here.

John Kimball in Concert

Saturday, September 12 | 10:00-11:30 AM

John will be performing live from 10:00 -11:30 AM, providing the perfect soundtrack for your Saturday morning at the market! Grab a coffee, browse the local vendors, support small businesses, and enjoy some great live music along the way.

Everybody's Market

Experience the best of Thief River Falls by shopping local at Everybody’s Market! Join us on Saturday, September 12, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Floyd B. Olson Park for a day of shopping, live music, and community fun. Browse a variety of local vendors, play yard games, enter to win door prizes, and take advantage of citywide sales throughout Thief River Falls. Then grab a seat and enjoy a live performance by one of Minnesota’s favorite bluegrass bands, the Woodpicks, as we celebrate community and the start of an exciting Welcoming Week.

Everyone belongs. Everyone is welcome.

Footsteps Through History Walking Tour

Saturday, September 12 | 10:00 AM

𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, is a guided walking tour that brings our community’s rich history to life!

This is a 𝟲𝟬-𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 through different areas of downtown Thief River Falls where you will discover fascinating stories, historic landmarks, and the people who helped shape our community.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: September 12
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 10:00 a.m.
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: Meet at Floyd B. Olson Park
𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁: FREE and open to the public!

A special thank you to 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝘆𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗿 and 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗶𝗿 for sharing their knowledge and passion to make this experience possible.

We can’t wait for you to explore our community through their stories!

Registration is required prior to tour.

Register here.

Realtor Open House

Sunday, September 13 | 1:00–3:00 PM

Looking for a place to call home in Thief River Falls? Join us for a Realtor Open House and explore homes currently available in our community!

Whether you’re new to the area, considering a move, or just curious about local housing options, this is a great opportunity to see what Thief River Falls has to offer.

Watch the Nordin Realty Facebook page for participating homes, locations, and event updates!

Arctic Cat Tour

Tuesday, September 15 | 1:00-2:00 PM

Go behind the scenes at Arctic Cat! Stop in for a community tour on September 15 from 1:00–2:00 p.m. as part of Welcoming Week and see where Arctic Cat powersports vehicles are made. Close-toed shoes required.

601 Brooks Ave., Thief River Falls, MN

Arctic Cat Website

DigiKey Tour

Wednesday, September 16 | 4:00 PM

Get a behind-the-scenes look at DigiKey! Join us for a community tour and learn more about one of Thief River Falls’ largest employers, its operations, and the work happening right here in our community. Tour begins at 4PM!

Come explore, learn, and see DigiKey in action!

Please enter the building at 601 Barzen Ave S. Upon arrival, use the Visitor Entrance and check in at registration before beginning the tour.

Northland Community & Technical College Tour

Thursday, September 17 | 1:00–3:00 PM

Come explore Northland Community & Technical College! Stop by for a community tour to learn more about the campus, programs, resources, and opportunities available right here in Thief River Falls.

Enter through Main Entrance D.

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Welcoming Community FUNDERs and Partners

Laura Jane Musser Fund, Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Minnesota Humanities Center, Pennington County, City of Thief River Falls, DigiKey, Arctic Cat, Sanford Health Thief River Falls, Border Bank, Northern State Bank, Northland Community and Technical College, Thief River Falls Public Schools, St. Bernard’s Church, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls Chamber of Commerce, Business Development Association, and The Thief River Falls Times