Granted s’more space, crowds in downtown Fargo break world record – InForum

FARGO — Metro residents just topped the charts in the sweetest way possible.

Thousands of people packed into Broadway Square to eat a tasty s’more and break a world record during the Night Bazaar: Circus on Thursday, July 21.

Preliminary estimates count more than 1,500 people eating a s’more at the same time.

Before the countdown for the big bite, attendees were asked to register for the record before being handed a plastic bag filled with two cubed chunks of marshmallow, two graham crackers, a mini wrapped chocolate bar and a wooden skewer.

There were nowhere near enough volunteers with blowtorches to toast every marshmallow for the large crowd, leaving many to bite into their s’more uncooked. However the heat of the day after a sudden torrent of rain earlier that afternoon was sufficient to melt the chocolate.

People were still registering after the countdown ended.

In addition to a free tasty treat, large crowds flocked to Thursday’s gathering to attend the

official TEDx Fargo afterparty.

The event was spearheaded by the team at Folkways, a local nonprofit that organizes events downtown like the Red River Market and Christkindlmarkt.

Last year,

a judge from Guinness World Records awarded North Dakota’s Fort Stevenson State Park

the record for simultaneous s’mores-making after over 1,150 people gathered near Garrison, N.D. to roast and eat s’mores together on May 18, 2024.

Thursday’s event nearly didn’t go forward as planned, but a last minute 180 from elected officials gave organizers the go-ahead to close down a portion of Broadway from Second to Third Avenue North.

In addition to Broadway, the event’s road closures encompassed Second Avenue North from Broadway to Fifth Street as well as a portion of Fifth Street just south of Second Avenue.

In February, Folkways came to the city of Fargo and asked to close down roads, including a portion of Broadway, for three separate events: a combination Vintage Car Show and the Red River Sunday Market on July 20; the Night Bazaar: Circus on Thursday, July 24; and another Night Bazaar on Thursday, Sept. 18.

City staff objected — citing the impact on local businesses, demand on staff’s time and a newfound plan to limit closures on Broadway — and the matter came before the Fargo City Commission on July 8.

Joe Burgum, executive director of Folkways, appealed the decision and asked commissioners to approve a road closure on Broadway solely for the July 24 event,

noting that the extra space was necessary to safely cram in enough people to break the record.

Commissioners unanimously sided with staff

but, on July 21, reconsidered that decision and granted a road closure permit for Broadway to Folkways for the event.

In addition, commissioners asked city staff to reevaluate Fargo’s street closure process and clarify, with haste, which organizations can expect to have their closure requests granted going forward.

Reporter working the night shift 👻. I cover Fargo city government, Cass County government and underserved populations in the area.