
Members of the FM Legion Riders will be “Freezin’ for a Reason” outside the American Legion for 44 hours starting Friday, Jan. 31. The fundraiser, which also includes a soup contest, homemade pizza, music and a silent auction, raises fund for the Honor Flight and Golden Drive Kids.
Nancy Edmonds Hanson
No matter what the forecast for the first weekend of Frostival, the FM Legion Riders will be “freezin’ for a good reason” around the clock next Friday, Jan. 31, through Sunday, Feb. 2. Along with the mission that propels it – raising funds for the Veterans Honor Flight and Golden Drive for Kids – the 44-hour event packs plenty of food, fun and fellowship into those three days
Once again, the Riders – including area veterans, spouses and friends – will be spending 44 hours over three days and two nights in tents pitched on the grounds of Moorhead American Legion Post 21. “We do it every year to bring awareness to homelessness among vets,” Legion Riders director Marc Simonet says. The duration, he explains, signifies the 22 American vets dying every day die by suicide. Sleeping outside represents the numbing truth of homelessness and others struggles so many face.
Freezin’ for a Reason has become a midwinter tradition since 2022, when the Legion Riders first erected their tents there. While others enjoy a full slate of activities inside the club – from homemade burgers, pizzas and soup Friday and Saturday to the Riders Breakfast and Ice Cube Bingo Sunday – Marc and other members will be sticking it out with Mother Nature, no matter what she brings.
“I haven’t heard the forecast, but it can’t get any worse than it was the first two years,” he says. “Back then, it was 20-plus below zero with sharp winds and wind chills in the minus-40s.” With a grin, he adds, “But we do cheat and put a little heat in the tent.”
Meanwhile, the (fully heated) Legion clubhouse will be rocking with more temperate attractions. Starting after the flag raising by the FM Honor Guard at 5 p.m. Friday, members of the club will be serving homemade Rider’s Pizzas indoors. The Front Fenders take the stage from 7 to 10 p.m.
Saturday starts with a soup cook-off. Following on the heels of the previous weekend’s Uffdah It’s Cold Out Hotdish Contest, this culinary competition draws a slate of kitchen wizards bearing vats of hearty homemade soup. Then, after the panel of celebrity judges have sipped, sampled and chosen the year’s best by noon, guests can line up to ladle lunch to their hearts’ content. Judges include Janae White and Ronnie Lee of WDAY Radio’s “Coffee Club” and Sophia Richards and Tatum Miller of KVLY’s “North Dakota Today.”
Beginning at 1, four-person teams clash in the tournament dubbed Pizzas, Puzzles and Beer. The cornhole competition starts at 2. Prizes are awarded in both contests. That evening, Twice as Hard is scheduled to perform from 7 to 11.
Throughout the weekend, guests will be bidding on silent auction lots donated by area businesses. The auction wraps up at 11 a.m. Sunday in the midst of the Riders Breakfast, to be served from 8:30 to 1 p.m., followed by Ice Cube Bingo at 2.
Simonet says the Riders have introduced a new feature to their camp-out for 2025, the Tent Challenge. “You can nominate someone to sleep outside for a fee of $50,” he says. “Then they can choose to stay warm and sleep in their own beds by raising at least $200 themselves.
“No one is going to be forced to sleep outside,” he adds quickly. “It’s all in fun. Supporting our causes is what it’s all about.”
The Legion Riders group is relatively small, with membership of 25 or so, but mighty in its support of local charities. Based out of Legion Post 21, the group of motorcycle enthusiasts includes members of the Legion, Sons of the American Legion and the Legion Auxiliary. Members need not be veterans themselves.
“We’re pretty active in supporting veterans and children’s charities,” director Simonet observes. Among those who have benefited from their fundraising and volunteer work – in addition to the Honor Flights of ND/MN and, this year, the Golden Drive for Kids – are the Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation, Cully’s Kids and Young Life.