To commemorate the first meeting of Duke University and North Carolina Central University on the football field, both universities and their student unions have organized a celebration for the entire Durham community. The Bull City Football Fest will be held Thursday, Sept. 24 from 5:30 to 11 p.m. at the Durham Athletic Park (428 Morris St.) in downtown Durham. The family-friendly event will feature activities for children, local food vendors, live music and performances by university student organizations. Bull City Football Fest is free and open to all Durham residents, visitors and students from both universities.

The Bull City Football Fest kicks off a weekend full of activities leading up to the Bull City Gridiron Classic on Saturday, Sept. 26. This is the first football contest between the Durham universities.

"This game is a long time in the making and will be an important and historic moment for Duke, NCCU and the City of Durham," said Duke President Richard H. Brodhead. "It will be an exciting game and a wonderful weekend for the entire community."

Thursday's event will feature the official pep rally for the game beginning at 6:30 p.m. and will include remarks from Duke Head Football Coach David Cutcliffe, NCCU Head Football Coach Mose Rison and Durham Mayor William V. "Bill" Bell. The Duke Marching Band and the NCCU Sound Machine will perform as well as the cheerleaders.

The event also includes a Children's Activity Area with carnival games, moon bounces, an inflatable obstacle course, bungie runs, rock climbing, arts and crafts and free snow cones and cotton candy. Following the pep rally, there will be a special Meet and Greet with the university mascots, the Duke Blue Devil and the NCCU Eagle.

The evening will conclude with a concert by bands The Sammies and The Dickens.

"This is an exciting opportunity for both institutions and the Durham community," said NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms. "It is my hope that this is the beginning of one of the strongest cross-town rivalries in the Southeast."

Tickets for the Bull City Gridiron Classic will be available for purchase at the event. Tickets are also available one the Durham Chamber of Commerce website (click the Calendar of Events tab) and GoDuke.com.

For more information about the Bull City Football Fest or the Bull City Gridiron Classic, please contact David Jarmul (Duke University) at (919) 684-3973 or Cindy Fobert (North Carolina Central University) at (919) 530-7266.

Bull City Football Fest Schedule:

5:30 - 6:30 p.m. DJs from WXDU and WKNC playing music

6:30 - 7:20 p.m. Pep rally featuring head coaches, football team captains, marching bands, and cheerleaders

7:20 - 7:25 p.m. Proclamation by Durham Mayor Bill Bell

7:30 - 9:10 p.m. Performances by student groups from Duke and NCCU
Performances include: The Pitchforks (A cappella), DefMo (hip hop dance), Inside Joke (sketch comedy), Sabrosura (Latin dance), and Stop Motion (break dancing)

9:10 - 10:00 p.m. Concert by The Sammies

10:00 - 11:00 p.m. Concert by The Dickens