• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content

Discover Grand Forks

Your source for information about Grand Forks activities, events, shopping, dining, & accommodation.

  • Local Activities
  • Events
  • Accommodations
  • Dining
  • Shopping
  • Services
  • Invest
  • Contact
  • Local Activities
  • Events
  • Accommodations
  • Dining
  • Shopping
  • Services
  • Invest
  • Contact

Downtown

A Peek into Market on Market

August 18, 2021

Discover Grand Forks had a booth on July 24 and August 14, 2021, at Market on Market. This was an exciting time to talk to locals and travellers alike about our area, trails, recommendation and more! We had so much fun and took the chance to photograph the day.

Thank you to all the amazing vendors that allowed us to take photos, shop and chat!

Though the vendors often rotate, the photos below give anyone a great idea of what to expect, and what to find on Market Ave Friday and Saturday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. We hope to see you there!

July 24 – 2021

Photo Credit by Charnley v.Wyk

August 14 – 2021

Photo Credit – Charnley .Wyk

Filed Under: Downtown, News

History Through Food – Doukhobor Cuisine

August 17, 2021

Grand Forks is a mixture of unique cultures, from First Nations to pioneers, prospectors to farmers, and the unique Doukhobors, there is always something special to explore. 

After the great copper boom of the late 20th century, the Doukhobors arrived from Russia. They introduced their communal way of living with flourishing farms around the city. The Doukhobors are heavily pacifist and extend their anti-violence values to not eating meat, however, they make up for this by eating very rich foods with butter and creams. Many of their family recipes are still around today and have made their way into commercial kitchens in town.

To learn more about their storied past visit the former Fructova Schoolhouse, now known as the Boundary Museum & Interpretive Centre. This fantastic museum captures the vibrant history of the Boundary area, from the ghost town of Phoenix to Christina Lake and everything in between. The building has re-opened on Tuesday, Aug 17 for 2021. Be sure to stop by! 

Borscht is the most common menu item, and while most associate borscht with the Ukrainian beet base, traditional Doukhobor borscht is based heavily on cabbage and tomatoes, giving the soup an orange colour. Check out The Borscht Bowl on Market Avenue for a hot bowl served with fresh bread, as well as traditional crafts and delicious desserts.

Another great dish is Pyrahi. These are Russian tarts with vegetarian fillings like peas, beans, sauerkraut, and dry cottage cheese. They are best eaten hot (freshly baked or baked from frozen) with melted butter or sour cream. Don’t mix up your “Pyrahi” and “Pirozhki”; Pirozhki is a sweeter dough filled with fruit and often the top is left a bit open to reveal the sweet filling.

These great eats are perfect for adding a bit of culture to the weekend. Whatever your taste buds, you’re sure to find something yummy! To try Doukhobor food out yourself, visit our dining directory at discovergrandforks.ca/directory/dining.

Image from boundarymuseum.com
Photo Credit by Charnley v.Wyk

Filed Under: Downtown, News

Grand Forks’ Local Art Culture

August 11, 2021

Grand Forks has attracted many artists over the years with its stunning mountain-scapes and creative energy. Some of our local artists share their wares at markets so if you’re looking for a handmade craft with your afternoon walk, that’s the place to go!

Visit the Tuesday and Friday Farmers Market, from 8:00 am – 1:00 pm in Gryo Park. There you will find colourful stone and sterling pendants, macrame plant hangers, or artistic cards for any occasion. Or go to the Market on Market on Fridays and Saturdays, from 9:00 am-2:00 pm on Market Ave. On any other day, you can always find artwork on display at our various cafes, like the Wooden Spoon where there is a regular rotation of local paintings and photography. 

Enjoy the sunshine and take a walk through downtown and see the many stunning murals painted by Victoria artist, Archer. The murals have a variety of themes, some representing our city’s heritage or simply the businesses they decorate. They make great backdrops for Instagram photoshoots!

If you want the full art experience, head to Gallery 2!

Located right on Highway 3 at the west end of downtown Grand Forks is a stunning 1911 heritage courthouse building. Gallery 2 has been in this building since 2008, yet has operated as the Grand Forks Art Gallery since 1984 when it was located in the basement of the library. This historic building served as a courthouse up to the 2000’s, but is now thriving as the centre for contemporary visual arts and culture programming for locals and visitors alike.

Explore engaging exhibitions upstairs that provoke conversation. Or meander through the main floor Gift Shop where you will find a collection of local and regional crafts, like our flora and fauna in original pencil crayon drawings on pine boards by artist Peni Campbell. 

There will always be a hidden gem to spark interest and alight the inner creative, in all those that chose to take a closer look at our stunning city. For more information, to search our directory or view upcoming Arts and Culture events, be sure to visit discovergrandforks.ca. 

Photo Credit: Charnley v. Wyk

Filed Under: Downtown, News Tagged With: art, gallery, market

The Markets of Grand Forks

July 22, 2020

For locals and visitors alike, the different Markets of Grand Forks offer a vibrant sense of community.

The mainstay being the Grand Forks Farmers Market. Taking place every Tuesday and Friday, you will find farm fresh food that was picked that morning, handmade crafts, coffee, beauty products, spirits, the occasional food truck, and even live music. The market also includes some regional vendors from throughout the Kootenays. Taking place at Gyro Park, right along HWY 3, downtown Grand Forks, this market is hard to miss. Spring right through Fall, you will find it running twice a week, from 8am until 1pm.

The summer of 2020 now also features Market on Market. Every second Saturday our local artisans are setting up right on the road downtown, creating a large open pedestrian friendly market place. Artisans mixed in among our brick and mortar store fronts with some fresh popped kettle corn and mini donuts. A wonderful combination of the best Grand Forks has to offer. This market will be running July and August of 2020.

Market Ave

Last but not least – Market Ave. Essentially, this is downtown Grand Forks’ “Main Street”. It’s vibrant tree lined design and pedestrian friendly walkway make it a great place to relax and grab a coffee. The cafe’s and eatery’s are entirely one of a kind. From the Boardroom Cafe (where you can play hundreds of different boardgames while you eat) to the Borscht Bowl (who offers the most authentic Russian cuisine you will find in Canada) there is truly something for everyone. Market Ave is also home to some awesome retail shopping including: bike and sport, gifts, wellness, health foods, ice cream, cannabis, clothing, comics, electronics and much more.

While the options are endless, a day on Market Ave might just look like this… A breakfast “Sandy” with local produce from the Wooden Spoon. Followed by shopping for some new swimwear at Work n’ Play. Then some time running through the spray park with family to cool off, or perhaps a quick float down the river. After that, over to Jogas for some of the best coffee around, with a smoked salmon bagel and some homemade borscht for lunch. Wrapping up just in time for an afternoon movie at the GEM (arguably one of the most unique independent movie theatres in BC). All capped off with dinner and drink at Clydes Pub (family friendly).

Amidst the revitalization of downtown Grand Forks – all things “Market” are thriving, and are of the truest small town summer experiences.

Filed Under: Downtown, News

A Bounty of Biking

June 26, 2020

If you can balance yourself on two wheels, then Grand Forks has some treats for you. Tucked away in what some people call “The Sunshine Valley”, Grand Fork’s long cycle season offers more than you’ll find in most Canadian cities, including:

  • Easy family friendly rail-grade (aka flat) trail rides, with countless panoramic views
  • An enthusiastic BMX community
  • Road cycling ride loops with minimal traffic
  • And top tier mountain biking

Mountain Biking

While Grand Forks itself is host some spectacular trail riding, it would be foolish to ignore the world class trails surrounding the area. Christina Lake, about 10 minutes down HWY 3, has a vast network of trails, and some of the best pure downhill biking you will find. Coming in from west, you’ll find long rail-grade networks that can take you… well pretty much as far are you willing to go. 

That said, those of us lucky enough to live right in Grand Forks know full well that some of the best rides are found right out our front door.

Harpold and Saddle mountain are two of the single-track trail rides that will challenge even the most experienced of riders. But the payoff is always worth it, with multiple views of the entire city – and with a climate like this one, you are going to see people riding these trails 6 months a year, or more.

Trails like Fisherman’s Creek and White Arrow are diverse enough for beginners to ride, while entertaining and challenging enough to keep our local pros coming back for more. 

A blog really isn’t the place to do these trails, and all of the others justice… if you have read this far, all you need to know is… bring your bike, there is a lot of trail to ride! Check out this TRAILFORKS link for a bit of an overview!

Family Friendly Biking

While it must be mentioned that many of the mountain biking trails, like White Arrow, are definitely family friendly – Grand Forks offers some purely recreational trail riding that simply cannot be found in most other places.

The City is lucky to have the Trans-Canada Trail cut right through the heart of Grand Forks. The great thing about this trail, and numerous other rail-grade trails in Grand Forks is that the riding is simple. On a rail-grade trail, you are not going to face steep climbs or descents, nor any other dangers – it is as family friendly as trail riding gets! The Trans-Canada Trail is also largely paved in Grand Forks, and follows the Kettle river – which is a good thing on those 35-degree days.

Downtown Grand Forks also hosts a number bike racks, so stopping in for a drink to cool down at the Boardroom Cafe or Wooden Spoon is always another great option on those hot summer days.

Check Today’s Weather >

If you hop onto the TRAILFORKS link provided, and keep your eyes to the “green & blue trails” you will find a number of family friendly trail segments. All well maintained, with wide-open space, spectacular views, and high reward for taking your time to make the adventure. 

Long Story Short – Bring Your Bike!

Photo credit to Bob Stanhope and Peter Kalasz

Filed Under: Downtown, News Tagged With: Biking, family friendly, grand forks

Site Footer

Discover Grand Forks
  • Facebook

Copyright © 2023 Discover Grand Forks · All Rights Reserved · Contact Us · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Photos From peterkalaszphotography.com