NCAA Final Four: Fan Fest and Bracket Town open in Atlanta

The entire world will set its sights on Atlanta this weekend as the NCAA Final Four Tournament heads into town. On April 5, the highly anticipated Fan Fest and Bracket Town open their doors on Friday at noon, much to the delight of Atlanta families and college basketball fans. Although traffic will certainly be rough, Fan Fest is a great opportunity to take advantage of the tournament. Bracket Town, Fan Fest and free concerts in Centennial Park present inexpensive and family-friendly opportunities to partake in the 2013 NCAA Final Four. More than 90 percent of the events are free and open to the public, including the Division II and III National Championship finals that will be played for the first time during the same weekend as Final Four Division I.

Bracket Town at the Georgia World Congress Center offers more than 30,000 square feet of family-friendly activities. This inexpensive, four-day interactive event targets NCAA fans by offering them a chance to meet legendary coaches and former college stars at exclusive autograph sessions. Kids can sign up and participate in a wide variety of youth clinics and sporting activities that range from lacrosse to hockey and more.

NCAA Tournament AtlantaNCAA Tournament Atlanta

The weekend also boasts a variety of unique entertainment including the annual “Battle of the Bands” featuring the bands and cheerleaders from the participating NCAA teams. Rounding out the weekend experience is the Powerade 3v3 basketball tournament, open to kids of all abilities and ages – from ages nine to 40+.

Tickets to Bracket Town cost $10 for adults and $6 for kids age 3-11. They can be purchased on-site or online. If you plan on attending any of the NCAA Final Four events in Atlanta, it's best to take MARTA. For more information on taking a train to the Georgia World Congress Center, go to Martaguide.com.

Bracket Town will be open during the following hours:

• Friday, April 5 from noon-8 p.m.
• Saturday, April 6 from 10-8 p.m.
• Sunday, April 7 from noon-8 p.m.
• Monday, April 8 from noon-8 p.m.

Below are The NCAA Final Four highlights for Friday, April 5:

• Open team practices: Free, Georgia Dome, noon-2 p.m.
• Skills Challenge with Tony Gonzalez: Bracket Town, noon-1 p.m.
• Powerade NCAA Youth Clinics: Bracket Town, 1-2 p.m.
• Danny Manning autograph session: Bracket Town, 1-2 p.m.
• Clyde Drexler autograph session: Bracket Town, 2-3 p.m.
• Christian Laetner autograph session: Bracket Town, 2-3:30 p.m.
• Powerade NCAA Youth Clinics: Bracket Town, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
• Cheer Clinic: Buick Arena, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
• The Big Dance Concert Series with Saints of Valory (4:45 p.m.) , My Morning Jacket (7 p.m.) and Zac Brown Band (9 p.m.): Free with Bracket Town entry, Centennial Olympic Park
• Gary Williams autograph session: Bracket Town, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
• Musical performance by Gym Class Heroes: Georgia Dome, free, 4 p.m.
• Powerade NCAA Youth Clinics: Bracket Town, 4-5 p.m.
• Brad Stevens autograph session: Bracket Town, 4-5 p.m.
• Bill Walton autograph session: Bracket Town, 4:45-5:45 p.m.
• College All-Star Game: Georgia Dome, free, 5 p.m.
• Cheer Clinic: Bracket Town, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• John Thompson III autograph session: Bracket Town, 5:45-6:45 p.m.
• David Robinson appearance: Bracket Town, 6-7:30 p.m.
• The Harlem Globetrotters: Bracket Town, 6-8:30 p.m.

Below are The NCAA Final Four highlights for Saturday, April 6:

• 5k run/walk: Start/end Georgia World Congress Center, 7:30 a.m.
• Powerade Youth Clinics: Multiple locations, 8 a.m.-noon
• Powerade 3v3 Tournament: Bracket Town, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Gary Williams autograph session: Bracket Town, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• Cheer Clinic: Bracket Town, 11 a.m.-noon
• Mark Fox autograph session: Bracket Town, 11 a.m.-noon
• Christian Laetner appearance: Bracket Town, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Dick Vitale autograph session: Bracket Town, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Tyus Edney autograph session: Bracket Town, noon-1 p.m.
• Travis Ford autograph session: Bracket Town, noon-1 p.m.
• The Big Dance Concert Series Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (1:45 p.m.), Ludacris (3:15 p.m.), Flo-Rida (4:30 p.m.) and Muse (8:30 p.m.): Free with Bracket Town entry, Centennial Olympic Park
• Bill Rafferty Appearance: Bracket Town, 1-2 p.m.
• Jamie Dixon autograph session: Bracket Town, 1-2 p.m.
• Battle of the Bands: Bracket Town, 1-2 p.m.
• Elgin Baylor autograph session: Bracket Town, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
• Dennis Scott and Dominique Wilkins appearance: Bracket Town, 2-3 p.m.
• Dereck Whittenburg autograph session: Bracket Town, 2-3 p.m.
• Powerade NCAA Youth Clinic: Bracket Town, 2-3 p.m.
• Bo Ryan autograph session: Bracket Town, 2-3 p.m.
• Basketball Battle: Bracket Town, 3-4 p.m.
• Lenny Wilkins autograph session: Bracket Town, 3-4 p.m.
• AJ Green autograph session: Bracket Town, 4:15-5:15 p.m.
• NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Semi-Finals No. 1 – Louisville vs. Wichita State (doors open at 4 p.m.): Georgia Dome, 6:09 p.m.
• NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Semi-Finals No. 2 – Michigan vs. Syracuse: Georgia Dome, 8:49 p.m.

To receive future articles by Jackie Kass, scroll to the top of this article, and click on SUBSCRIBE. Do you have a story idea? Email your ideas to jackiekass@bellsouth.net.