North Platte, Neb - Local event organizers are dedicated to creating fun and exciting events in North Platte and Lincoln County that attract visitors and boost the economic vitality of our community. Visit North Platte’s Promotional Grant Awards are specifically designed to promote, encourage, and draw visitors to Lincoln County. The grant funds, as well as the marketing and operating expenses for Visit North Platte, are entirely funded by lodging taxes collected from overnight stays at lodging properties within the county.
The Visit North Platte Board of Directors approved grant funding at the monthly meeting on October 22nd, 2025, for the following. The applications totaled $81,914 in requests and a total of $47,914 was awarded.
• Approved $5,000 in funding for the 2026 Miss Rodeo Nebraska. The city of North Platte has hosted the Miss Rodeo Nebraska Pageant for 34 years. This event happens during NEBRASKAland Days each summer and offers a great deal of entertainment for locals, draws in contestants, and brings spectators to the city of North Platte. Supporting the upcoming 2026 Miss Rodeo Nebraska, Brylee Thompson of Hershey, will help spread the word about North Platte as she attends nationwide events all year.
• Approved $2,500 in funding for the Sculpture Walk Across Nebraska. SWAN is a cooperative effort between the participating communities of North Platte, Norfolk, Grand Island, Valentine, Ogallala, and Columbus that provides a revolving art experience in walkable districts. The goal is to add art that will inspire, entertain, and educate, while providing additional attractions for visitors and community members. Every spring, communities gather to choose sculptures to rent for one year from artists across the United States. Locally, the Prairie Arts Center partners with Downtown North Platte, the Canteen District, and the city to make this possible.
• Approved $7,320 in funding for the 2026 North Platte High School Cheer Showcase. The NPHS Cheer Showcase is a new annual invitational event where cheer teams from Nebraska and beyond perform their routines for professional feedback before competition season begins. Focused on growth over rivalry, it offers athletes valuable critiques and fans an exciting preview of top-level performances. This event will be held at the high school January 24th-25th. In its first year, the showcase is expected to draw 10-12 teams, with plans to expand to 20 teams and a multi-day format in future years, boosting tourism and local economic impact. Once equipped, NPHS also plans to host cheer competitions, camps, and clinics, building ongoing opportunities for athlete development and positioning Lincoln County as a youth sports destination.
• Approved $2,250 in funding for the Miss Nebraska Crowns & Gowns event. Crowns & Gowns returns to North Platte this February 6th-8th, offering an exceptional shopping experience for contestants preparing for upcoming scholarship competitions. This year, the Miss Nebraska Organization is expanding the event to include a new workshop component open to delegates from Nebraska and surrounding states. Former Miss America Heather French Henry will host the event at Mid-Plains Community College, leading workshops throughout the weekend. Additional highlights include professional headshot sessions with a Kansas City-based photographer, appearances by a Jovani designer from New York City, and special community events.
• Approved $4,844 in funding for the USA District 2 Wrestling Tournament. Nebraska USA Wrestling Clubs host annual district tournaments for Pre-K through 8th-grade athletes to determine state qualifiers. North Platte will welcome the District 2 Tournament back to the D&N Event Center on March 7th. The event is expected to draw approximately 650 young wrestlers and up to 3,000 spectators, bringing an exciting day of competition and community spirit to the area.
• Approved $3,000 in funding to the Midwest Championship Fighting St. Patty’s Day Beatdown event. MCF will have their St. Patty’s Day Beatdown event at the D&N Event Center on March 14th. This will be the 26th MCF event and it will feature pro and amateur mixed martial arts fights. Supporting this event helps to bring in higher level fighters, providing top-tier competition for visitors and locals alike, right here in North Platte.
• Approved up to $3,600 in Grant Funds for the Flatrock Pro/Am powered by Prodigy Disc Golf Tournament. This disc golf tournament is an official event sanctioned by the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) and is scheduled to take place on March 20th-22nd at the Cody Park Disc Golf Course and the River’s Edge Golf Course. Last spring North Platte hosted the Flatrock Pro/Am tournament for the second time, and it successfully brought in 95 players. This year’s event is expected to bring in 120 players from Colorado, South Dakota, North Dakota, Kansas,Iowa, Wyoming, and other communities throughout Nebraska. The Flatrock Pro/Am promises to be a captivating three-round B-tier tournament.
• Approved $3,100 in Grant Funds for the Eagles State Pool Tournament. This event is held in North Platte every other year and continues to bring in 950+ pool players along with friends and family members for this three-day tournament. It will be held at the D&N Event Center which will house the required 72+ pool tables on March 27th-29th.
• Approved up to $5,100 in Grant Funds for the 2026 Mid Nebraska Regional American Cornhole League Tournament. The Mid-Nebraska ACL Regional Cornhole Tournament will be coming to North Platte on April 10th and 11th at the D&N Event Center. This high-energy regional competition is expected to attract around 200 players and numerous spectators from across multiple states, providing a strong boost to local tourism. As one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation, cornhole continues to draw competitive players and fans alike. Offering larger payout opportunities for winners helps to attract even more participants.
• Approved $5,600 in Grant Funds for the Flatrock Youth Baseball Tournament. What started as a tournament with 19 teams has grown to a tournament with a total of 60 teams out of Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, South Dakota, and Wyoming. This event continues to bring athletes and their families to North Platte to experience not only baseball but everything else our community has to offer. This tournament is scheduled for May 9th and 10th and will use the ball fields in Centennial Park, Cody Park, and the Dowhower Softball Complex.
• Approved $5,600 in Grant Funding for the Spring Bash Youth Baseball Tournament. This annual tournament is only in its second year and is already expected to bring in 60 teams from across the state as well as from neighboring states to compete. Each team will play a minimum of four games. It will also feature a home run derby and a skills competition. This tournament is scheduled for May 2nd and 3rd and will use the ball fields in Centennial Park, Cody Park, and the Dowhower Softball Complex.
The next round of funding is now open, with a January 1st deadline for events or projects occurring in April, May, and June of 2026. These applications will be considered at the regular monthly Board of Directors meeting scheduled for January 28th, 2026. Anyone interested in submitting a grant application is encouraged to contact the Visitors Bureau at 308-532-4729 and discuss their project with a staff member.
Visit North Platte operates under an agreement with the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners to facilitate the Nebraska Visitors Development Act. Grant funds, marketing, and operating expenses for Visit North Platte are funded by lodging taxes collected and remitted by lodging properties from overnight stays in Lincoln County.
It is thanks to the efforts of the lodging property partners located within the county that funds are available to attract more visitors, which have a significant impact on the economic well-being of our Lincoln County communities.