November:

There's much to be thankful for!

The holidays are nearly here with many events to support! Check out the month’s activities and events and get them on your calendar.

What's Inside:

• November Calendar of Events
• 2027 Marketing Grants Open Now
• LAST CHANCE to apply for 2027 Passport Stop

As always, I have included a highlight page of major events in our area as your friendly reminder to mark your calendars!

For November, Central Community College has a Community Appreciation event and Fall Choral Concert, Live Music, Monroe Veterans Memorial Dedication, Classes, Platte Valley Playhouse Production, Fundraisers, Holiday Stroll & More... November is full of events, so download November's Events Calendar today! 

Please support these events and share the calendar often. Additional events are always being added, so bookmark the events tab at VisitColumbusNE.com to stay current!

*As always we do our best to locate all the calendar items, but if we happened to miss your event, you can add it to our site or send to us at visitcolumbusne@gmail.com so we can make sure it is included!

All the details for the events above can be found at VisitColumbusNE.com. Events are added all the time, so check it out TODAY & everyday!

• Calendar of Events
• Shop Listings
• Places to Eat and Drink Listings 
• Place to Stay
• Explore Maps

Please help us make sure our content is current and up-to-date.

EVENTS: Enter your events on the site so we can help you make your event even more successful. If you are hosting any events and want it added to the calendars, please submit by the 27th of each month!

BUSINESSES: If you do not see your business, we can add that too! Simply send up an email with your information and we will get you added!

Visit Nebraska Grant Applications Now Open

Visit Nebraska's 2026-2027 grant application cycle is now open! Our agency's grant program supports our mission by assisting destination organizations, travel industry businesses and tourism-focused communities and regions with destination planning efforts and the development of fresh, innovative tourism marketing initiatives. This year's grant guidelines are outlined in a single document which all applicants will utilize. Deadline is December 16, 2026 to apply.

To apply and learn more about this year's program, click below!

Apply for Grants

LAST CHANCE: Apply now for the 2027 Nebraska Passport - Applications due October 31

Applications are now open for the 2027 Nebraska Passport. All destinations in the state are welcome to apply to become a stop. Past stops have included restaurants, museums, outdoor adventures, retail stores, wineries, breweries, arts destinations and more.

Some of the requirements for the Nebraska Passport stops include:

• Offer an exceptional, unique visitor experience
• Display excellent customer service. Be available at all times to greet Passport visitors and stamp Passport booklets
• Be open regular, reasonable, consistent hours (including at least one weekend day) during the Nebraska Passport season (May 1 to September 30). Note: Hours of operation are very important. Preference is given to destinations that have hours that are convenient for travelers.
• Keep the same hours of operation throughout the Passport season. Chosen Passport stops submit their hours in January and the Passport program begins May 1.
• Stops are not allowed to charge participants for admission in order to receive a stamp. Many tourists will naturally invest money in things they wish to see, buy, eat, or experience, but it is against the program policy to force Passport participants to pay for something at each stop.
• Be a good tourism ambassador for your region. Talk to travelers about other tourism destinations, restaurants, retail stores, etc. in your area that they may be interested in visiting.

Potential stops can complete the application here. The application deadline is October 31, 2026. There is no fee to apply or participate. Questions about the program can be directed to info@nebraskapassport.com. 

The 2027 program will run from May 1-September 30. Other information about Passport stop requirements, how the program benefits Passport stops and details about the application process can be found at https://nebraskapassport.com/becomeastop.

To learn more about the Nebraska Passport, visit nebraskapassport.com. To see the exciting adventures travelers are having with the Passport this year, be sure to check out Nebraska Passport Pals.

NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION:

Invite your friends to be added to our list. Simply email us or go to the website event page and hit subscribe! Be a part of our story!

You can also subscribe directly to our calendar - go to our events page and scroll to the bottom and hit subscribe! Easy, peasy!

You can also listen every Thursday morning on KLIR 101.1 spotlight (7am or 8am spotlight) as we help you plan your week ahead!

We all something to be thankful for,

Theresa & Karen