Experience Grand Island Like a Local

The sprawling Nebraska State Fair at Fonner Park can be overwhelming to newcomers. This little series will point out Grand Island Tourism staff’s favorite areas and activities to help get first-time fairgoers going! Recommended by Paul, our marketing director:

There’s something special about becoming more than just a visitor. Memberships and season passes invite us to go deeper, to return often, and become part of the stories that shape us. In Grand Island, “buying in” means investing in experiences that enrich our lives while supporting the organizations that make this place creative, educational, and connected.Whether your interests lean toward history, music, science, culture, or conservation, Grand Island offers memberships that reward curiosity and create lasting community connections.

Every memorable visit to Grand Island begins with people. It starts with the warm greeting at a hotel front desk, the helpful guidance at an event, the friendly welcome from a volunteer, or the extra effort from someone who simply takes pride in doing their job well. These frontline individuals and volunteers are often the first faces our guests meet, and they leave the lasting impressions that bring people back again.

The report estimates total economic impact related to business output during the spring migration season reached $28.0 million in 2025, nearly double the $14.3 million recorded in 2017.

In recent weeks, the discussion about hotel occupancy taxes has brought important questions to the forefront about how Grand Island funds tourism, supports livestock events, and maintains facilities like the Heartland Events Center. How we answer those questions will shape our success as a regional events destination for decades to come.

Explore Grand Island at a pace that allows you to get up close and personal: Your own pace.