Annual Events

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Annual Events

In North Platte and our surrounding communities you’ll find some really great events throughout the year. Nature lovers won’t want to miss the spring Sandhill Crane migration and if you’re looking for a great party don’t miss NEBRASKALand Days. Read on for our full list of annual events.

February/March

Sandhill Cranes

Every year, beginning in mid-February, hundreds of thousands of Sandhill Cranes migrate into the Platte River Valley in Lincoln County. They will spend about six weeks here, roosting in the river bottoms at night and spending their days in the corn fields, alfalfa fields and meadows between North Platte and Sutherland.

Prairie Chickens

In the spring the hearts of the Nebraska Greater Prairie Chickens turn toward love. To successfully attract a female mate, the male Prairie Chickens must impress them with their dancing prowess. Males will gather in large numbers on dancing grounds known as leks. They will cackle, jump and stomp their feet, sometimes scuffling with a rival.

Midwest Championship Fighting St. Paddy's Beatdown

Midwest Championship Fighting hosts the best in the Midwest MMA Cage Fights at North Platte's D & N Event Center twice each year. The March fight is billed as the St. Paddy's Beatdown. Generally the third or fourth Saturdays in March

April/May

Lincoln County Raceway

Each year from April through September, you'll find the finest in dirt track racing at North Platte's Lincoln County Raceway at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds.

Pokercycle

What is a Pokercycle? Similar to a poker run, but on a bicycle! The Pokercycle is an 10-ish-mile bicycle ride, open to all ages, utilizing multi-use trails in North Platte. There are activity stations and chances to win prizes!

National Avocado Launching Championship

The National Avocado Launching Championship is exactly what it sounds like: a national avocado launching championship. Teams of three compete to score the most points by launching avocados at targets to win prize money and glory!

June

NEBRASKAland Days

NEBRASKAland Days is the largest event in the world…to receive Buffalo Bill’s coveted Buffalo of Approval. For 10 days every June the city of North Platte and the Wild West Arena hosts PRCA rodeo, country concerts, a carnival, and parade along with a host of other events throughout the community. The 2022 dates are June 15 through 25, featuring Tim McGraw in concert on June 24 and Miranda Lambert on June 25.

Heritage Festival at the Lincoln County Historical Museum

This celebration of North Platte’s heritage is held the second weekend in June. Activities include entertainment and food booths, living history demonstrations, historic farming practices demonstrations, horse drawn rides, cowboy quick draw and much more.

Fort Cody Summer Music Series

Starting in June and concluding in August, NRoute Entertainment brings Cody Park Trading Post to life in the evening with live musical performances every Thursday. With a local artist opening the show 6pm and a featured artist following at 7pm, this makes for the ultimate summer family-fun destination.

Miss Nebraska and Miss Teen Nebraska Pageant

Rich in history and social significance, the Miss America Organization is a not-for-profit organization that has maintained a tradition for many decades of empowering American women to achieve their personal and professional goals, while providing a forum in which to express their opinions, talent and intelligence. Miss Nebraska is crowned in North Platte each year during the first week of June.

Miss Rodeo Nebraska Pageant

The Miss Rodeo Nebraska Pageant that began in 1955 continues to be held annually to select a young lady who has the desire and enthusiasm to serve as a goodwill ambassador for the “Sport of Rodeo” and the State of Nebraska.

Buffalo Bill Rough Rider Gravel Grinder

Escape the great outdoors and bike for 25, 60, and 120 miles as you take on the unique scenery of Central Nebraska hills and canyons, thick groves of trees, and native grasses that populate the hill country. This event is typically the first weekend in June.

July

Sutherland 4th of July

One of the oldest 4th of July celebrations in the state, the award winning Rodeo and 4th of July celebration in Sutherland is two days chock full of fun! Events include a 5K, kids races, toad races, bbq, parade, two nights of open amateur rodeo and concert entertainment.

Lincoln County Fair

Towards the end of July, the Lincoln County Fairgrounds come alive with kids showing 4-H animals and projects, entertainment and vendor booths.

Platte River Cruise Night

Calling all car buffs, enthusiasts, and admirers. Rev up your engine and show of what you got at Platte River Cruise Night. Or just come to admire all the cars. There’s going to be music, food, kid’s activities, and various competitions such as "most engine horse power" and "loudest car".

Fort Cody Summer Music Series

Starting in June and concluding in August, NRoute Entertainment brings Cody Park Trading Post to life in the evening with live musical performances every Thursday. With a local artist opening the show 6pm and a featured artist following at 7pm, this makes for the ultimate summer family-fun destination.

North Platte Pow Wow

The pow wow will feature traditional, fancy, jingle dress and grass dancers in three age categories. There will also be specials for Golden Age, Tiny Tots and Veteran participants. Of special local interest will be the Men's Chicken Dance, which mimics the dancing rituals of the Greater Prairie Chicken.

August

Brady Days

BRADY DAYS is Brady, Nebraska’s annual community celebration, always the first weekend of August.

Maxwell Heritage Days

Generally the third weekend in August. Activities include bratwurst feed, live music, car show, parade, kids fun in the park, sand volleyball, and demolition derby.

Hershey Fall Festival

Generally the final weekend in August. Events include food events, craft and bake sale, parade, car show, water fight, trap shoot, and street dance.

Fort Cody Summer Music Series

Starting in June and concluding in August, NRoute Entertainment brings Cody Park Trading Post to life in the evening with live musical performances every Thursday. With a local artist opening the show 6pm and a featured artist following at 7pm, this makes for the ultimate summer family-fun destination.

North Platte Rail Days

This 3-day event features a wide variety of events that are a highlight for anyone who loves trains and the railroad. Rail Days will be taking place August 5-7 and features The Big Boy 4014 this year, so you don't want to miss it!

September

Wellfleet Fall Festival

Always the second Saturday in September. Events include fishing contest, stock dog classic, craft and vendor show, sand volleyball tournament, many food events, antique tractor pull, parade, and street dance.

Wallace Fall Festival

Always the third weekend in September. Events include food events, parade, kids races, toad/turtle races, tractor pull, volleyball tournament, team sorting, and street dance.

Arts in the Park

Held annually in September, usually the first Sunday after Labor Day, hundreds of artisans display their wares from 10am to 4pm in Cody Park.

Western Nebraska Craft Beer Festival

The annual Western Nebraska Craft Beer Festival is hosted by Pals Brewing Company in conjunction with the Lincoln County Visitor's Bureau. Generally held the second weekend in September, visitors will sample craft beer, wine and spirits! Live music, pizza by the slice at Pals Grain Bin Bar and lots of other fun.

Mid-Plains College STAMPEDE Rodeo

Rodeo excitement continues in North Platte when thirteen college rodeo teams from the NIRA Great Plains Division, plus numerous independent contestants come to North Platte the third weekend in September for the Mid-Plains College STAMPEDE Rodeo. College rodeo events include saddle bronc riding, bare back riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping, and goat tying.

October

Sheldon Statewide Exhibit

Each October, North Platte’s Prairie Arts Center is the home of the Sheldon Museum of Art’s Sheldon Statewide Exhibit. The Sheldon Statewide program is a division of the Sheldon Museum of Art outreach program and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Midwest Championship Fighting

Midwest Championship Fighting hosts the best in the Midwest MMA Cage Fights at North Platte's D & N Event Center twice each year. The second event of the year is held annually in October or November.

North Platte Canteen Festival

The North Platte Canteen was one of the largest volunteer efforts of World War II, serving over six million service men and women. Today we honor those efforts and keep the story alive with the North Platte Canteen Festival held on the second weekend in October.

Homestead Pumpkin Patch

The Homestead Pumpkin Patch welcomed their first visitors in September of 2018, and what followed was nearly two months of fun and adventure for families throughout the area. Open from mid-September through the end of October, Homestead Pumpkin Patch offers pumpkins, campfires, s’mores, hotdogs and attractions for all ages including jump pillow, zip lines, hill slides, trike track, corn boxes, hayrides, and MORE!

Dusty's Pumpkin Fest at the Cody's

Enjoy fun fall events at one of North Platte’s most historic properties, Buffalo Bill State Historical Park. Dusty’s Pumpkin Fest include games, duck race, hay slide, horseback rides, wagon rides, mini golf, pumpkin decorating, pedal tractors, corn cribs, fire pits, and MORE! The concession area includes sweets, pop, hot chocolate, coffee, hotdogs and sandwiches!

Celebrate Fall

North Platte dives into the Fall spirit with the enthusiasm of a Golden Retriever diving into a pile of leaves! You'll find pumpkin patches at Homestead Pumpkin Patch, Dusty Trails Pumpkin Fest and more added all the time!

November/December

Cody Park Winter Wonderland

Santa’s Workshop has been a North Platte tradition for generations. Now in North Platte’s scenic Cody Park, numerous animated vignettes portray all aspects of the Christmas season, from busy elves toiling away in the workshop to joyous children on Christmas morning.

Light in the Dark Christmas Village Drive Through

Each December local individuals, organizations and businesses adopt a portion of the Western Heritage Village at the Lincoln County Historical Museum and decorate the grounds with thousands of lights and other holiday décor. The event is generally open each weekend in December prior to Christmas.

North Platte Christmas Canteen Festival

The North Platte Canteen was one of the largest volunteer efforts of World War II, serving over six million service men and women. Today we honor those efforts and keep the story alive with the North Platte Christmas Canteen Festival on the third weekend in December.

Christmas at the Cody's

Col. Wm. F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody and his wife Louisa loved to entertain for the holidays in their beautiful mansion. Today the community of North Platte keeps the tradition alive with Christmas at the Cody’s.

Every nook and cranny of the Cody mansion is filled with holiday cheer. Outside, cider, cookies and roasted chestnuts are served in a recreation of Christmas past. Horse drawn rides complete with carolers will keep you warm and toasty no matter the weather.

Holiday Fun

Before you know it, the ground will blanketed with snow and the twinkle of holiday lights will be around almost every corner. The changing of the season brings the holiday festivities and there is no better place than North Platte to celebrate this special time of year!