Tigirlily Gold performs at North Dakota Country Fest on July 10, 2025, in New Salem, North Dakota. The annual festival received a grant from the Department of Commerce to build a permanent stage and make other improvements. (Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor)
North Dakota is providing $4 million to the state’s largest country music festival and $3 million to create a dairy museum as part of its efforts to promote tourism.
The two grants are part of $15 million that the North Dakota Department of Commerce is awarding to 23 tourism projects across the state. The department announced the Destination Development Grants on Wednesday. The largest grant was awarded to North Dakota Country Fest to improve accommodations, including permanent cabins, and build a permanent stage for the music festival near New Salem. The 2026 event is planned for July 8-11. Commerce awarded $3 million to restore the historic Urbain Cote Round Barn near Dunseith and use the surrounding farmstead to create a dairy museum. The agritourism site will include dairy demonstrations, a petting zoo, culinary experiences and sales of fresh dairy and other products.
The project also includes a 40-unit RV park, birding platforms and farm-themed play areas.
Other grants included $1.2 million for Jurassic Junction near Hettinger to turn a bowling alley into a dinosaur-themed destination and $1 million for the Bear Creek Events and Cultural Center near Fargo area that will expand a winery into a year-round venue. The winery will add lodging, an outdoor stage, pickleball courts, trails, a greenhouse, a wood-fired pizza oven, a marketplace, and a seasonal cider and beer garden.Other grants included $1.2 million for Jurassic Junction near Hettinger to turn a bowling alley into a dinosaur-themed destination and $1 million for the Bear Creek Events and Cultural Center near Fargo area that will expand a winery into a year-round venue. The winery will add lodging, an outdoor stage, pickleball courts, trails, a greenhouse, a wood-fired pizza oven, a marketplace, and a seasonal cider and beer garden.The department said it received 106 grant applications from 45 communities.