The Philadelphia Eagles have been bathed in glory since their epic Super Bowl LII victory over the New England Patriots back in January. Now the Birds are gearing up to do it all again and go for another potential Lombardi Trophy. Whether or not the squad can make it this year remains to be seen, but the City of Brotherly Love has got their back and plans to show its support at a daylong NFL kickoff festival and celebration Thursday.
To celebrate the start of the new season with the home opener Sept. 6 against the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field, the city of Philadelphia is hosting a free, daylong festival – the 2018 NFL Kickoff Experience – to celebrate the coming season and honor the Eagles’ incredibly Super Bowl victory yet again.
There will be music performances by Daya, Locash, and Shawn Mendes, and the entire Super Bowl LII will be re-broadcast during the NFL kickoff festival. Eagle legends are also expected to appear at the festival. (The current Birds will be busy prepping for the Falcons, a rematch of their 2017 NFC playoff that the Birds won).
Pretty much everything Eagles-related will be celebrated during the festival on Penn’s Landing on Sept. 6, except for that night’s Eagles-Falcons game, which will not be broadcast at the festival.
Read on for everything you need to know about what to expect and how to get to the 2018 NFL kickoff festival.
NFL kickoff festival celebrates the Eagles
The 2018 NFL Kickoff festival is free and no tickets are required. The celebration will be held at the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing.
Guests can enter the festival at the following locations: Market Street Viaduct (2nd & Market streets); the Chestnut Street Viaduct (Front & Chestnut streets) and Penn’s Landing RiverWalk (via Walnut Street & Columbus Blvd.) The blocks around these entrance points will be closed to traffic and parking for the festival.
Numerous family-friendly events and activities will be offered during the NFL kickoff festival, such as:
NFL Return to Glory
-Adults and children can experience the sensation of fielding a booming punt launched from an automatic machine.
Gear Up & Go
-Try on NFL equipment and feel what it’s like to get dressed for game day.
Kids’ Extra Point Kick
-Test your ability to kick a field goal through NFL uprights.
Kids’ Quarterback Challenge
-Test your passing skills.
Autograph Stage
-Free autographs from NFL Legends, schedule TBD.
Look Like A Pro
-Step inside a uniformed body-cast mold bearing the insignia of your favorite NFL team.
NFL Kickoff Experience Tailgate
-Selections from some of Philadelphia’s best restaurants offered in a “taste of the town” tailgate.
NFL Museum
-Featuring the full collection of 51 Super Bowl rings, the George S. Halas NFC Championship Trophy, and the Lamar Hunt AFC Championship Trophy
NFL Virtual Reality
-Experience NFL games using virtual reality technology
And much more.
The full schedule for the 2018 NFL Kickoff festival on Sept. 6, 2018
10 a.m.: NFL Kickoff festival opens
12 p.m.: Super Bowl LII rewatch party
3 p.m.: Locash performs
4 p.m.: Daya performs
5 p.m.: “America’s Game – The story of the Super Bowl LII champions,” an Eagles documentary, will be broadcast
6 p.m.: Shawn Mendes performs
8 p.m.: NFL kickoff festival ends.
Visit NFL.com/Kickoff and NFL.com/FanMobilePass to get an all-access pass with the chance to win prizes.
