In
July, fans will gather together with former football players
and coaches from across the country to honor college football's
gridiron legends. The College Football Hall of Fame in downtown
South Bend will play host to two jam-packed weekends of fun-filled
events. During the various events, fans will be able to get
up close and personal with football celebrities as they take
their place as official members of the Hall of Fame.
From
the Enshrinement Queen Pageant and Ribs Cook Off, Concert,
and Car Show, through the FanFest to the Enshrinement Dinner
and Show, fans can take advantage of the many opportunities
to hear and meet college football's greatest players in a
forum unparalleled anywhere. Nowhere else is there such a
dense concentration of athletic talent and celebrity available
for college football fans to appreciate and actively participate
in.
Joe
Paterno, Chris Zorich, and Doug Flutie headline this year's
class, but each Enshrinee, in his own way, will leave a lasting
impression on South Bend and the fans who come to enjoy yet
another Enshrinement Festival.
The
Festival kicks off the weekend of July 11-12 with a fun, new
event called the Enshrinement Ribs Cook-Off, Concert, and
Car Show. Both professionals and amateurs can showcase their
barbeque skills in the ribs competition. But even if you're
not a competitor, plan to come down and sample the mouth-watering
barbeque. Also that day, Studebaker National Museum will be
hosting their annual Cruise-In Car Show. It will be a great
day of family fun you won't want to miss.
The
Festival continues the following weekend with the annual Celebrity
Golf Scramble, where each foursome gets paired with an Enshrinee
or other sports celebrity. That evening, the Hall of Fame
has booked Grammy-award winning artist, Travis Tritt, in concert
at the Morris Performing Arts Center.
Saturday
morning, July 19, brings another great family entertainment
opportunity with the fourth annual Enshrinement Grand Parade.
Many local residents fondly remember South Bend's former Ethnic
Festival and Summer in the City Festival parades. The Hall's
Enshrinement Grand Parade has taken over where those left
off. It's a great blend of a community parade with some celebrity
mixed in: You won't want to miss this one. The parade is followed
by a daylong FanFest, with family-friendly activities including
a youth football clinic, celebrity flag football game, autograph
session, games, inflatables, food, beverages and more.
The
Enshrinement Dinner and Show serve as the finale for the festivities.
The reception includes a silent auction of sports memorabilia,
followed by a dinner and show featuring the official Enshrinement
ceremony.
Through
participation in Enshrinement Festival activities, fans gain
an appreciation for what the Hall of Fame and the National
Football Foundation are all about: the preservation of the
rich tradition and unique spirit of amateur football. Regardless
of one's expertise in college football, the Enshrinement Festival
offers something for everyone, from food and music, to games
and a parade, to sporting events of all types. By featuring
an array of sports, this festival also hosts a spectrum of
interests,whether
one prefers to participate in events such as
the Celebrity Golf Scramble or the Youth Football Clinic or
watch one's favorite football star compete in the annual flag
football challenge. Though honoring college football's greatest
achievers, this is truly a festival designed for sports fans
and their families.