This weekend’s Gulf Coast Challenge isn’t just a football game: The HBCU matchup also brings a slate of public entertainment events to Mobile.
Here’s what you need to know.
Wednesday, Oct. 2
R&B artist Jacquees, known for Billboard singles such as “B.E.D.,” “You” and “Put in Work,” kicks off the festivities with the first in a series of free concerts in Mardi Gras Park, bordered by Government, Royal and Church streets in downtown Mobile. According to promotional materials, the show starts at 6 p.m. Fans are welcome to bring lawn chairs.
Thursday, Oct. 3
SAWDC Alabama Works!, a nonprofit council supporting workforce development in nine southwest Alabama counties, presents a college and career fair “designed to connect high school and college students with educational institutions and career opportunities.” The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center. For details, visit www.thegulfcoastchallenge.com.
A “Gospel Xplosion” concert featuring John P. Kee and the Alabama A&M and Jackson State choirs starts at 6 p.m. in Mardi Gras Park. Admission is free; those with game tickets can access “preferred viewing.”
Friday, Oct. 4
The action ratchets up downtown, starting with a second-line parade that will begin lining up at 5 p.m. in front of the Alabama Power building at 150 St. Joseph St. The parade leads to Mardi Gras park for the start of the evening’s concert.
An HBCU Fest starts at 6 p.m. in the park, featuring a pep rally and Greek exhibition concert. The show will be headlined by Uncle Luke, the Southern rap pioneer who rose to notoriety with 2 Live Crew and went on to a varied career as producer, record label executive, mayoral candidate and newspaper columnist. As with the other shows, patrons are invited to bring lawn chairs, and those with game tickets have access to preferred viewing.
Saturday, Oct. 5
The game-day parade rolls at 10 a.m. Saturday. According to promotional materials, the parade starts downtown on Warren Street near the intersection of Congress Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. It will proceed northwest on MLK to Broad Street, southwest and south on Broad Street, southeast on Spring Hill Avenue and back north along Washington Avenue to Congress. DJ Tech will serve as Grand Marshal.
The game itself features the Jackson State Tigers and the Alabama A&M Bulldogs. It kicks off at 4 p.m. Saturday in Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The game will be shown on ESPN+. For full details on the game and related events, including ticketing, tailgating and game-day shuttle service, visitwww.thegulfcoastchallenge.com.