NORFOLK, Neb. — After months of preparation, Norfolk is set to host a gaming tournament that promises to unite gamers of all ages, fostering competition and camaraderie. The event, now in its sixth year, has grown exponentially, attracting participants from far beyond Northeast Nebraska.

"We are going on six years deep," said Nick Wildman, Lead Admin for the Norfolk LAN Party. "We have over 100 participants already signed up and pre-registered for this event, so I'm thinking that's going to be our biggest one yet."

In previous years, the tournament has drawn gamers from states as far away as Michigan and Pennsylvania, and organizer Zach Miller anticipates an even wider reach this year. The event also spans a wide age range, from young children to adults over 50.

Beyond the thrill of competition, the LAN party aims to provide a supportive environment for individuals who may struggle with social interactions. "This actually gets them to leave the basement or come out of their bedroom and go socialize," Wildman explained. "And know, there are still other human beings out there." By bringing participants together in a physical space, the event encourages face-to-face interactions that can be challenging to replicate online.

In addition to the tournaments, attendees can look forward to a night filled with giveaways, including gaming controllers, headsets, and desks. The highlight of the event is a "golden ticket" raffle, offering one lucky winner a substantial cash prize.

"If you yourself or your team win," said organizer Preston Frasch, "then you get an entry into the golden ticket. So, we'll have a total of seven entries and then we spin a wheel, and if it lands on the participant's ticket, they would get a thousand bucks."

The LAN Party is free for both gamers and spectators, providing an opportunity for anyone to experience the excitement of competitive gaming.

"When you walk in those doors, you're going to see tons of lights everywhere, a bunch of friendly faces wanting to help people out," Wildman said. "This is everybody in one room hanging out, enjoying one thing in common, and that's gaming."

The event kicks off Friday, January 30, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and the first tournament starting at 7 p.m. The festivities will continue until 2 a.m. Saturday's schedule runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Participants are welcome to leave their equipment overnight. The event will be held at the old Alco building north of Hy-Vee East on Norfolk Avenue. For more information, visit https://norfolklanparty.com/.