THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME’S FOOTBALL FEST & FREE DAY PRESENTED BY THE PEACH BOWL CELEBRATES THE RETURN OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/20/25

 See reimagined exhibits and the College GameDay bus with free admission to The Hall for guests on Sat., Aug. 23

The College Football Hall of Fame’s Football Fest & Free Day presented by the Peach Bowl returns on Saturday, Aug. 23, once again bringing the ultimate college football kickoff party to Atlanta. Celebrate the return of college football with reimagined exhibits, interactive activations, and free admission for all guests, creating an unforgettable day in the Capital of College Football.

The event, running from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., will feature the famed College GameDay bus, and an electric atmosphere headlined by live DJs, including DJ Jay Envy, the official DJ for the Atlanta Falcons, and DJ Euphoria and DJ Danny M, who regularly energize pregame crowds at Atlanta United and Atlanta Falcons games. MC Carlos Morales will also be returning to keep the hype going throughout the day.

“Our annual Football Fest & Free Day has become the ultimate way to usher in the college football season, and we are proud to open our doors to fans from across all of college football,” said Kimberly Beaudin, CEO of the College Football Hall of Fame. “Thanks to our incredible partners at Southern Company and Coca-Cola, the newly reimagined exhibits will help bring the energy to life, and we can’t wait to help showcase why Atlanta is the capital of college football.”

This year, guests will also have the opportunity to check out two major exhibit enhancements unveiled just in time for the event:

• Southern Company ‘Celebrating HBCUs’: The renovated exhibit now includes AI-powered visualizations of HBCU drum majors, marching band members, and majorettes, marking the first motion-based AI installation in The Hall and elevates an already rich display.
• Coca-Cola ‘Fight Song Karaoke’: A fully reimagined, gamified experience allows guests to select their favorite team’s fight song and sing along with friends on large LED screens to become the next Chant Champion.

During the celebration, guests can also experience inflatables, interactive games, prize giveaways, and appearances from Georgia Tech’s iconic Ramblin’ Wreck, local team mascots, cheerleaders, and marching bands. Atlanta Falcons coaches will be conducting a Youth Football Clinic from 11 a.m. to Noon, followed by the Atlanta Falcons cheerleaders leading a Youth Cheer Clinic from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., with spots for both clinics available to be reserved by visiting this link.

New this year, guests can elevate their experience with a VIP Tour, offered at a special Football Fest rate of $35 per person. These guided tours will run every 45 minutes, with limited space available per tour, so book your reservation through The Hall’s ticketing page. Each VIP ticket includes a Hall of Fame-branded water bottle and a Chick-fil-A gift card redeemable for one sandwich, courtesy of Chick-fil-A. Guests will also be able to take advantage of The Hall’s newly refreshed membership tiers, available for purchase during the event, with all seven tiers offering unique privileges and tailored experiences to celebrate the legacy of college football.

While tickets are not mandatory, guests do have the option to reserve their spot at cfbhall.com/tickets, and by doing so, gain access to the ‘Fast Pass’ line, ensuring minimal wait times for entry to the event. Those planning to attend are encouraged to consider utilizing Atlanta’s public transportation system, MARTA, in an effort to alleviate congestion around the Football Fest event, or conveniently park in the Green Deck, located at the corner of Marietta Street and Baker Street, and a short walk from The Hall.