Nebraska State Fair reports surge in ticket sales, expands entertainment and vendor lineup

The Nebraska State Fair is projecting higher attendance this year after organizers reported a substantial uptick in ticket sales and an expanded entertainment and vendor program. Karli Bartz, Entertainment & Events Director, told the board the Fair “has sold about 4,500 tickets more than this time last year,” naming Phil Wickham as the season’s top seller and Shinedown second.

Bartz said the grounds will feature more than 600 hours of free entertainment, from strolling piano and close-up magic to acrobats and animal acts, and that more than 60 Nebraska bands and 50 marching bands will perform. Staff reported 73 classes have signed up and 5,370 students and teachers are registered to attend. The State Fair Marathon will draw athletes from 21 states, Bartz added.

Sales Director Keaton Irwin said vendor agreements are being finalized and the Fair has introduced new concession concepts, including Wandering Lobster, Skew It and Freund Family Foods, while expanding gluten-free meal options. The sales team has moved payment processing to Square and is filling vendor space in the Silver Spur Square shopping area.

Board members were asked to submit event ticket requests promptly so staff can finalize credentials and seating. Organizers also said the box office will deploy a new in-house credentialing system to print barcodes on staff and volunteer badges for more controlled, individualized access.

Why it matters: stronger ticket sales and a larger entertainment roster could boost revenue and visitor engagement at the State Fair, affecting vendor revenues and sponsorship value. The board is positioning marketing and sponsorship work to support that growth heading into the fair season.

Next steps: staff continue vendor onboarding and credential testing ahead of the fair; board members were reminded to submit ticket and parking requests and the next board meeting is scheduled for June 19.