On Sunday, March 1, the North Platte Catholic schools will hold the 51st annual Irish Fest celebration from noon-3 p.m. at St. Patrick’s High, 500 S. Silber.

The entire community is invited to get into the Irish spirit with a day full of family fun. The event features a homemade roast beef dinner, mini carnival games and prizes, Fun Jumpz, a silent auction, bake sale, and raffle. Irish Fest is open to the public and all tickets are purchased at the door. Proceeds support the North Platte Catholic schools.

This year’s Irish Fest raffle offers the following prizes — $250 and $100 cash prizes, two $250 Kwik Stop gift cards, $200 Dave’s Place March Madness, 55” TV, and ice cream for a year at Double Dips Ice Creamery.

Raffle tickets are $2 each and are on sale now at any of the North Platte Catholic schools offices, or from any North Platte Catholic schools student. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the event on March 1. The raffle drawing will be held at 2:50 p.m., and you do not have to be present to win.

The Irish Fest silent auction will be held online. Anyone is welcome to bid by registering at: www.bidpal.net/irishfest26. Bidding will open at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28, and close at 2:50 p.m. on March 1.

Irish Fest, originally called “Mardi Gras,” was first celebrated by the North Platte Catholic schools on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 1975. In the early years it was held on Fat Tuesday prior to the start of the Lenten season. Later it was changed to Sunday, and has been a tradition since.

For the past 50 years, Irish Fest has involved hundreds of volunteers and proceeds have provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to the operating budget of the North Platte Catholic school system.
Contact Endowment Director Wendy Dodson, 534-5939, w.dodson@npcschools.org, for more information.

© 2026 The North Platte Bulletin. All rights reserved!