Full Saturday Schedule: Fan Fest, Music Fest, Tailgate and Final Four games

SAN ANTONIO — Final Four festivities were in full force Friday as college basketball fanatics, music lovers and families enjoyed a bevy of activities downtown (and only a brief weather delay impeding the fun). 

Saturday will see Final Four mania reach full throttle in San Antonio, kicking off with the morning River Rally along the beloved River Walk, continuing with family fun and culminating in the semifinal games to determine who advances to Monday’s NCAA men’s championship. 

VIA is offering Park & Ride service for those wanting to avoid parking headaches. 

Here’s the schedule of events for Saturday. 

11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center

The Fan Fest, which runs through Monday, promises to create a four-day “sports wonderland” complete with games and autograph signing sessions as the eyes of the college basketball world turn to San Antonio. Children 12 and under get in free; tickets are $10 for most adults, with discounts available for some. 

While there are all kinds of interactive games and contests all around the convention center, take note of the Saturday schedule for the marquee attractions you don’t want to miss:

• 10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.: Caleb Love appearance (Wilson area)
• 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Hakeem Olajuwon appearance (Knockout Court)
• Noon to 1 p.m.: Bruce Bowen appearance (AT&T area)
• Noon to 1 p.m.: San Antonio Spurs Hype Square and Spurs Coyote appearances (Buick Arena)
• 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.: Danny Green appearance (Wilson area)
• 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.: RJ Davis appearance (GEICO area)
• 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.: UTSA Cheer Clinic (Knockout Court)
• 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Danny Green appearance (Turbo Tax Fan Zone)
• 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.: Matt Painter appearance (AT&T area)
• 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Matt Bonner appearance (Coca-Cola Zero Sugar area)
• 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Jackson Shelstad appearance (Ritz area)
• 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Men’s Final Four Semifinals Watch Party (Buick Arena)
• 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: David Robinson appearance (Capital One Experience)
• 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Team Flight Brothers Slam Dunk Exhibition (Buick Arena)

For more on what to expect at the Fan Fest, including parking options and bag policy, click here. 

11 a.m. at the Rivercenter Lagoon at River Walk

Your last, best chance to catch the Duke, Auburn, Houston and Florida teams before they hit the court for game action will be at this San Antonio-style floating pep rally. 

Each program’s band and cheer squad will bring the energy; you just have to show up and match the spirit. The River Rally is free to attend, starts at 11 a.m. and is expected to wrap up by noon. 

Civic Park – 1:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Civic Park

One of the bigger outdoor events of the weekend continues Saturday at Civic Park with the Tip-Off Tailgate, which runs all afternoon through the evening! Fans can enjoy food and drinks, basketball-themed contests and a chance to watch the semifinal games with thousands of other fans. Just make note of what you can and can’t bring inside. 

Saturday’s schedule at the Tip-Off Tailgate is as follows:

• 1:30 p.m.: Doors open at Civic Park
• 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.: James Worth meet & greet (Nissan 4-Point Shootout area)
• 3 p.m.: Nissan 4vr Showdown Semifinals (Tip-Off Tailgate Half Court)
• 3:15 p.m.: Special appearance, Q&A with Danny Green (Wendy’s Viewing Screen)
• 5 p.m.: Watch Party – Game 1 between Florida and Auburn (Wendy’s Viewing Screen)
• 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.: CashNasty appearance (Nissan 4-Point Shootout area)
• 8 p.m.: Watch Party – Game 2 between Duke and Houston (Wendy’s Viewing Screen)
• 11 p.m.: Tip-Off Tailgate ends

3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Tower Park

The free concerts continue at near the Tower of the Americas on Saturday, when it’ll be T-Pain, Jelly Roll and Willow Avalon taking the stage. 

Admission is free, but capacity is limited, and certain items aren’t allowed inside. 

See the full schedule for Saturday below:

• 3 p.m.: Gates open 
• 4 p.m.: Willow Avalon
• 5:30 p.m.: T-Pain
• 7:15 p.m.: Jelly Roll
• 9 p.m.: Festival ends

At the Alamodome

Of course, the main attraction for Saturday will be the hotly anticipated matchups of Duke-Houston and Florida-Auburn. 

Game 1 between the Florida Gators and Auburn Tigers tips off at 5:09 p.m., pitting a team that last won it all in 2007 against a squad looking to win its first ever NCAA title. 

Game 2 between the Duke Blue Devils and Houston Cougars follows, with a schedule start time of 7:49 p.m. It’s a David vs. Goliath matchup between a team searching for its sixth title and a team that’s never won one. 

You can catch both games on KENS 5.