Carls Out on the Town
There’s a lot to do on Carleton’s campus. From club events to guest speakers or even varsity athletics, there really is something for everyone. Still, a common question we get in admissions is whether there’s anything to do in Northfield itself. It’s easy to point out all the stuff downtown. We have so many different cafes, restaurants, and shops that students can frequent, but that doesn’t cover the full story. When students aren’t hanging out on our campus, there are plenty of events in town to keep them occupied. This week, I wanted to highlight not only the places in Northfield where students can go off-campus, but also the things and events going on in those places that our students can enjoy.
Wednesday Night Trivia at Reunion
Reunion is a staple downtown. As a more upscale spot, it will most often be enjoyed by Carleton students when their parents are visiting and willing to treat them. That being said, every Wednesday Reunion hosts free trivia in their upstairs lounge! Sometimes my friends and I will split some appetizers while we play, but it is absolutely not a requirement. All you need is yourself and a group and you’re set to play. There are usually 8 rounds all with different themes. Third place usually wins some sort of Reunion merch, 2nd receives a $20 gift card, and 1st leaves with a $30 one. I’ve been going regularly on Wednesdays for almost a year and there’s always a great mix of Carleton students, faculty, and Northfield residents. You may even catch some Oles and their professors there as well!
Thursday Night Music at The Grand
The Grand is a great music and event venue only a block away from our campus. They host weddings and corporate events, but many students will attend some kind of live music here at least once. One of my friends started going to their Songwriting in the Round event and now I’m hooked as well! For one Thursday each month, The Grand will host an open circle of songwriters from the community who play original music and share the stories behind their selected pieces. It’s a great way to hear great original music, and also connect to the off-campus Northfield music scene at the same time. There’s usually at least one other live music event each week.
Friday Afternoon Open Mic at Raven’s Nest
The Raven’s Nest is one of my favorite spots downtown. They make fantastic crepes and their coffees are good too. Beyond the great food, on certain Fridays each month they host an open mic. Each participant gets 10 minutes where they can tell jokes, read poems, play music, or share anything else they want. Plenty of students attend, but this is another great way to plug into the Northfield arts, comedy, and music scenes.
Saturday Morning Farmer’s Market at Bridge Square
Northfield is a very quaint town. It was even in a Hallmark movie (Love Always Santa). And no quaint midwestern town would be complete without its quaint farmer’s market. The Northfield Farmer’s Market happens every Saturday during our Fall and Spring terms and it’s a great place to pick up organic fruits and veggies or artisanal crafts. If you’re like me, it can also be an awesome spot to browse different stalls without actually buying anything. A major plus is that Northfield residents will bring their dogs!
Saturday Night Carleton Band at the Cow
The Contented Cow is a great venue in Northfield that pays homage to the town’s motto “Cows, Colleges, and Contentment.” One of the primary ways they support the ‘colleges’ part of the motto is by hosting student bands. Many touring acts come through as well, but the most packed I’ve ever seen The Cow is when student acts are booked and the colleges come out to support them. This is a great spot to not only catch live music, then, but to also go out and support your friends as they play to a larger audience.
Sunday Cultural Event at Central Park
Northfield’s Central Park may not be as big or famous as the one in New York, but it has a lot of charm. Throughout the year, many different events happen here. At the start of the school year, there is a Hispanic Heritage Festival. At the end of the year, the park hosts a Northfield LGBTQ+ pride event. In between, there are countless other events and celebrations. A major plus is that the park, while not technically a part of our campus, is still immediately adjoining our Weitz Center for Creativity. You only have to take a couple steps off campus to enjoy an event at Central Park!
Sunday Game Night at Imminent Brewing
Imminent is one of several breweries in Northfield, but even if that isn’t typically your scene, it has a lot to offer. They’re always hosting different food trucks out front, and they are open to everyone, not just patrons. It’s a great way to get a greater variety of food than you might otherwise see in a town like Northfield. Beyond the food, there are different game nights throughout each month. One of my favorites is their bilingual loteria event. Loteria is a Spanish game very similar to bingo. Playing here is low stakes and tons of fun! It’s free to play and easy to pick up. We even got to take a picture with Quetzalcoatl, a feathered serpent god from Aztec mythology.
Chance (he/him) is a senior Religion and Classics double major from Hardwick, MN. When he’s not working in admissions, he can be found working in the Office of the Chaplain or doing research with Carleton Religion faculty. He’s the vice-commodore of the Carleton Sailing Club. He also moonlights as a barista at a local coffee shop and is working on refining his latte art this summer.