(North Platte, Nebraska, January 26, 2024) – Local event organizers continue to work hard to create fun
and exciting events in North Platte that bring in visitors and contribute to the economic vitality of our
community in addition to giving locals and visitors options for unique activities.
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.
The Visit North Platte Board of Directors approved grant funding at the monthly meeting on January 24,
2024, for the following events which will be held in March, April, May, and June of 2024. The
applications totaled $78,310 in requests and a total of $63,650 was awarded.
• Approved $2,500 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.) Scheduled to take place on March 16-17, at the Cody Park Disc Golf
Course and the River’s Edge Golf Course, the Flatrock Pro/Am promises to be a captivating
three-round B-tier tournament.
• Approved $2,000 in Grant Funds for the Eagles State Pool Tournament. This event is held in
North Platte every other year and continues to bring in at least 960 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 22-24.
• Approved $9,000 in Grant Funds for the American Cornhole League Mid-West Regional
Tournament. The American Cornhole League (ACL) is hosting a regional tournament in North
Platte March 29-30, at the D&N Event Center. Cornhole is one of the fastest growing sports in
the United State and has also started to grow internationally. Helping to advertise this event and
offering the opportunity for larger payouts to competition winners will help to draw in more
attendees from not only neighboring Nebraska communities but surrounding states including
Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, and South Dakota. As the sport continues to grow it will be important to
emphasize North Platte as a destination for cornhole due to our facilities and central location.
• Approved $4,000 in Grant Funds for the Flatrock Youth Baseball Tournament. What started as
a tournament with 19 teams has grown to a tournament with 48 teams out of Nebraska,
Colorado, Kansas, 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 4-5, and will use the ball fields in Centennial Park, Cody
Park, and the Dowhower Softball Complex.
• Approved $1,500 in Grant Funds for Music on the Bricks. Music on the Bricks has become a
North Platte staple since it began in 2017. The event not only showcases the beautiful
downtown Canteen District but also highlights area talent by giving them a chance to perform
for a large crowd. There are also vendors, food, and kids’ activities which make it a great time
for the entire family. Visitors like to experience destinations by engaging with the locals and
seeing what events they gravitate towards. The spring Music on the Bricks event will be held on
May 17-18.
• Approved $3,500 in Grant Funds for the Ultimate Bull Riding Tour 6th Annual Bucking Battle
and Bash. This event happening on May 24-25 continues to grow each year and offers family
friendly entertainment to our visitors and locals alike through bull riding. Stock contractors
come from all over the Midwest, with past bull riders coming from not only the United States
but also Brazil, Mexico, and New Zealand. Both riders and contractors are competing to win the
UBT year end and North Platte is excited to be a stop on the tour. This event will be held at the
D&N Event Center.
• Approved $11,500 in Grant Funds for the Platte River Boots and Beef Music Festival. Pals
Brewing Company will be hosting this new and exciting music festival in North Platte on May 31-
June 1 to kick off the summer. There will be two days of live blues and country music along with
a vendor booth area and a sand volleyball tournament. They plan to highlight Nebraska beef in
their food offerings for the festival, which they hope to make an annual event.
• Approved $7,700 in Grant Funds for the Miss Nebraska Scholarship Organization. The Miss
Nebraska Scholarship competition is one of North Platte’s signature events and their committee
continues to provide Nebraska contestants with an exceptional experience and many
scholarship opportunities. Miss Nebraska will host a plethora of events in North Platte June 2-8,
with the final two days of the event featuring a fast-paced and entertaining show at the North
Platte Highschool Auditorium.
• Approved $4,300 in Grant Funds to North Platte Pickleball for their PFA Round Up
Tournament. The North Platte Pickleball Club is hosting a tournament on June 5-9 at Memorial
Park. As the sport of pickleball continues to grow in popularity, hosting tournaments like this
gives our community the opportunity to draw in competitors from surrounding communities
while also offering recreational opportunities for our local residents.
• Approved $6,400 in Grant Funds for the Buffalo Bill Softball Tournament. North Platte’s
Express Fastpitch Softball team will host the tournament on June 7-9 in North Platte. This is a
sanctioned USA fastpitch softball tournament for ages 10-18 and is open to all levels of fastpitch
softball players. Continuing to host softball in North Platte keeps us on the map as a destination
for future tournaments, gives visiting players and their families the chance to explore our city,
and offers our residents the opportunity to enjoy watching the sport.
• Approved $11,250 in Grant Funds for NEBRASKAland Days. NEBRASKAland Days features four
nights of PRCA Rodeo and two nights of big-name county music concerts that are all held at the
Wild West Arena. There are also many other events throughout the community such as a
NEBRASKAland Days on parade, a quilt show, and the flapjack feed, just to name a few and it
draws visitors from not only surrounding communities, but also surrounding states.
NEBRASKAland Days is the official celebration of the State of Nebraska and will be celebrating its
60th year in 2024.
The next round of funding is now open, with an April 1 deadline for events or projects occurring in July,
August, and September of 2024. These applications will be considered at the regular monthly Board of
Directors meeting scheduled for April 24, 2024. 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.
Grant funds, marketing, and operating expenses for Visit North Platte are funded solely through the
lodging taxes that are collected and remitted for overnight stays by lodging properties 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.
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