Lincoln, Neb (July 9, 2025) – The first weekend of competition in the 2025 Cornhusker State Games (CSG) begins Friday, July 11, launching a high-energy opening weekend packed with competition in more than 40 sports and thousands of athletes from across the region.
The current participant total stands at 7,000, and organizers anticipate that number to continue climbing as several events still offer open registration. Those interested can find full details and sign up at CornhuskerStateGames.com.
One of the weekend’s biggest draws is Track and Field, which features more than 500 athletes of all ages competing at Lincoln High. The event gets an added boost this year with ESPN on site, capturing the action and spirit of Nebraska’s premier amateur sports festival for its “50 States in 50 Days” program.
Pickleball is another fan favorite, continuing its meteoric rise in popularity with over 380 participants competing Friday through Sunday at Woods Tennis Center in Lincoln.
This year also marks a major milestone for the Games’ shooting sports, which are being hosted for the first time at Heartland Public Shooting Park in Grand Island. The expanded venue allows for the addition of new events like International Bunker Trap, and Action Pistol, joining a diverse lineup that already includes Trap, Sporting Clays, High Power Rifle, and more.
Also taking center stage this weekend are Adult Volleyball, Bowling, Gymnastics, Team Bass Fishing, Pocket Billiards, Powerlifting, Slow Pitch Softball, and Triathlon. With many more events still on the schedule, the first weekend is only a glimpse of the excitement still to come. If you’re interested in watching sports you can check out the CSG composite schedule here.
The 2025 Cornhusker State Games is a signature program of the Nebraska Sports Council, also serves as a qualifying event for the State Games of America, which will be held in State College, Pennsylvania in 2026. The Games are proudly supported by Platinum partners including FMNE Insurance, Nebraska Orthopaedic, Pepsi-Cola of Lincoln, and Grand Island Tourism. For more information, visit CornhuskerStateGames.com.
