The thrum of basketballs drumming down Asheville’s streets and inside the U.S. Cellular Center will serve as the City’s theme song this week. From March 2-6, the U.S. Cellular Center’s ExploreAsheville.com Arena will serve as the hive for SoCon hoops championship games between men’s and women’s college basketball teams in the Southern Conference.
Family flavored fun served up in connection with the tournament includes two events permitted by the City of Asheville’s Community & Economic Development Outdoor Special Events Division. These include:
- Downtown Dribble & KidsFest: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. March 4, starting at Pack Square, downtown. Pack Square will be filled with children’s games, cheerleaders and mascots. The event culminates with the Downtown Dribble during kids dribble basketballs from the square down to the U.S. Cellular Center. Participants receive a free basketball, T-shirt and admission to the men’s quarterfinal session at noon. Expect street closings on portions of Biltmore and College avenues and Haywood Street during this event.
- Celebrate Asheville Day and Ingles JamFest: A fun outdoor tailgating party along Page Avenue, this event happens from 2 to 4:45 p.m. March 5. It will feature local food vendors and musical performances by Asheville’s own Lyric and Joe Lasher Jr. It also serves as a benefit for Eblen Charities and its Hoops Against Hunger project. Again, there will be City-permitted street closings associated with this event.
Other events inside the arena during SoCon include the Teddy Bear Toss and Hometown Heroes Day.
For tickets, go to the U.S. Cellular Center box office, call 828-259-5736 or visit the U.S. Cellular Center website. Tournament packages are available.
Find the men’s and women’s tournament schedule on the SoCon website.
Welcome to Asheville, college hoops fans!
Scenes from the Downtown Dribble
