2026 Baylor Fan Fest Presented By McLane Children’s Details Revealed

WACO, Texas -- Baylor Athletics has announced details for the inaugural Baylor Fan Fest presented by McLane Children's on Saturday, April 25 at McLane Stadium.

Designed as a festival-style celebration of Baylor football and the Waco community, Baylor Fan Fest will feature live music, local food trucks, interactive fan experiences and a free open practice inside McLane Stadium.

"Baylor Fan Fest is really about bringing people together, giving our fans and families a chance to connect with our programs and just enjoy a great day in Waco," Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Doug McNamee said. "It's another step in how we're putting our fans first and finding new ways to bring them closer to Baylor Athletics."

The event will begin at 10 a.m. in the South Plaza, highlighted by a full lineup of entertainment throughout the day. The Sloppy Joe Band, a Waco-based cover band, will take the stage at 10:15 a.m. and perform a mix of classic rock and country during an hour-long set. Shortly after the final song, Baylor Spirit will take the stage with the Songleaders dance team to perform some of their best gameday routines.

At noon, the "Voice of the Bears" John Morris will host on-stage interviews with select Baylor football student-athletes, followed by a special conversation with Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Doug McNamee.

Fan Fest will also feature a kids zone with inflatables, a uniform try-on station, photo opportunities with Baylor Spirit and mascots, a coloring station and face painting.

There will also be a wide variety of activities available for fans to sign up for, beginning with the Backyard BBQ Cookoff. Open to all fans, the cookoff will be judged by three former Baylor Bears, including Baylor legends Seth Russell and Chris Platt, along with accomplished pitmaster Blake Blackmar. Winners will receive an award and two complimentary 2026 Baylor football season tickets. Fans can sign up for the Backyard BBQ Cookoff HERE. Registration will remain open through Tuesday, April 14, at 5 p.m. or until capacity is reached.

Additionally, fans can sign up to participate in the 2026 Baylor Cornhole Tournament. Each member of the winning cornhole tournament team will receive an award and one 2026 Baylor football season ticket per participant. All winners will have the opportunity to be announced on stage during the event. Fans can sign up with their teammate for the cornhole tournament HERE. Sign-ups will remain open until Tuesday, April 14 at 5 p.m. or when capacity is reached.

Fans can also tour the local food truck options that will be on site in the South Plaza, including Pop's Lemonade, King's Chicken, Frank's Kettle Corn, Ohana Shaved Ice, Burgertology, Mae Baby's Kitchen, Sison Taco, The Quesadilla Factory, Taquisa Waco, Tru Jamaica, Dave's Burger Barn, Flappy's Wings, Old Time Funnel Cakes, and Luna Juice Bar.

Fans will also be able to watch the NFL Draft throughout the day on the McLane Stadium rear-facing display in the South Plaza.

Check-in for the Youth Skills Combine will begin at 10:15 a.m., offering pre-registered participants (grades 3-8) the opportunity to rotate through football drills while interacting with Baylor coaches and student-athletes. Events will include throwing passes with the quarterbacks, running routes with the receivers, blitzing with the defensive line, and racing to the endzone with the running backs. At the end of the event, the fastest kids and longest throwers from each age group will receive awards from the coaches. Sign-ups are limited to approximately 250 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is free to all fans and is currently available HERE.

Sign-ups will remain open until Tuesday, April 14 at 5 p.m. or when capacity is reached.

Baylor football student-athletes will take the field at 1 p.m. for a 90-minute open practice, featuring a competitive showcase of drills including 7-on-7, perimeter, down-the-line and one-on-one challenges. Fans are invited to watch as the Bears fine-tune their skills in the final practice of spring camp.

All fans will park in Lots 2-4 at McLane Stadium, while Lot 1 will be reserved for Bear Foundation members. Fans are encouraged to enter along the east side of the stadium toward the South Plaza beginning at 10 a.m.

Gates to McLane Stadium will open at 12:30 p.m. for the open practice, and admission is free. Fans may enter at Gate D, and standard stadium policies will apply, including the clear bag policy. Concessions will be available throughout the event.

Baylor Fan Fest is part of Baylor Athletics' Fan First initiatives, focused on enhancing the overall fan experience and strengthening the connection with supporters. For updates and more information as the event approaches, visit the Baylor Fan Fest Fan Guide HERE.

Baylor football opens the 2026 home slate against Prairie View A&M on Sept. 12. Season tickets are available at BaylorBears.com/tickets or by calling the Baylor Athletics Ticket Office at 254-710-1000.

For more information, visit BaylorBears.com and follow @BUFootball and @BaylorAthletics on social media for updates.

- BaylorBears.com -

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