Tourism Events Grant Funding

The 2025 grant application is closed and the City of Kirkland's Tourism Program has awarded the following grant funding for it's 2025 program year:

Please check back Spring of 2025 for details of the 2026 funding year program.

History of City of Kirkland's Tourism Funding

Where does our tourism funding come from? The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 67.28.180 provides authority for cities to adopt a lodging tax. The City of Kirkland has adopted a 1 percent lodging tax rate and may invest these revenues into events or programs that attract visitors to Kirkland. The City’s Tourism Program has awarded funds to special events, festivals and programs that have demonstrated the ability to attract visitors from over 50 miles away and generate overnight stays, fulfilling the primary goal of the Tourism Program to support events and activities that showcase the City’s best assets while fostering a love of Kirkland that inspires our guests to come back time and time again. These overnight stays not only improve the tourist environment of Kirkland, they also contribute to the revenues sustaining the tourism program budget.

Kirkland’s Tourism Program has been in operation since 2002. During that time, over $1.2 million has been granted to tourism events and programs with $60,000 as the proposed annual funding to the program. These funds are awarded for the marketing or operations of special events and festivals designed to attract tourists to Kirkland. The TDC looks supportively at new events, events that promote diversity and inclusivity, while also giving serious consideration to events with proven track records for bringing visitors to the City. For questions, please contact the Tourism Program at tourism@kirklandwa.gov.

Questions: For questions or additional information, please contact Tourism Program staff at: tourism@kirklandwa.gov.