Final Four weekend schedule: So much basketball, so much partying

April 4, 2019 at 12:53PM

The two Saturday semifinals and the Monday night championship are only three of the games going down in town this weekend. All-star games, dunk contests, three-point shootouts, 3-on-3 battles and more are scheduled at various sites.

THURSDAY

8 p.m. Target Center: College players compete in a dunk contest and three-point shooting competition. Dunk judges include Wolves players Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson and Robert Covington, and Vikings RB Dalvin Cook. Info: collegeslam.com.

FRIDAY

10 a.m. U.S. Bank Stadium:   Fans can walk into the stadium free of charge to watch the four teams practice.

11 a.m.-7 p.m. Convention Center: Final Four Fan Fest. Sign up for various activities at ncaa.com/final-four.

1 p.m. East Ridge High School: Prep players compete in a dunk contest, and there are two three-point shooting competitions, one for girls and one for boys. Minnesotans competing include Courtney Brown Jr. and Chloe Stoehr of East Ridge, Matthew Hurt of Rochester John Marshall and Tyrell Terry of DeLaSalle. Info: amfam.com/highschoolslam.

2 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Mall of America Rotunda: A 3-on-3 competition. At stake: prize money (the winning team collects $100,000) and a trip to the USA National 3-on-3 Championships later this year. Info: 3x3uhoops.com.

4-10 p.m. Nicollet Mall: Tip-Off Tailgate party. Free interactives, entertainment, music and more.

7-11 p.m. The Armory: March Madness Music Series. Headliner: The Chainsmokers.

SATURDAY

9 a.m. to noon Bloomington Jefferson High School: High school all-star scrimmages, featuring the 2019 USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team. Members of that team will scrimmage against members of an all-star team compiled from players from the NBA Academies in other countries. Minnehaha Academy's Jalen Suggs is a Team USA invitee. Info: usab.com.

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mall of America Rotunda: The 3-on-3 competition continues.

10 a.m.-7 p.m. Convention Center: Final Four Fan Fest.

2-10 p.m. Nicollet Mall: Tip-Off Tailgate party.

Approx. 5 p.m. at U.S. Bank Stadium: National semifinal, Game 1.

Approx. 7:50 p.m. at U.S. Bank Stadium: National semifinal, Game 2.

7-11 p.m. The Armory: March Madness Music Series. Headliner: The Jonas Brothers.
SUNDAY

9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mall of America Rotunda: The 3-on-3 competition continues.

10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Convention Center: The all-star scrimmages between the Team USA junior team and the NBA Academies team continue.

Noon St. Thomas: A celebrity all-star game, with Hall of Famers Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal as coaches. CelebrityCrunchInfo: Classic.com.

11 a.m.-6 p.m. Convention Center: Final Four Fan Fest.

2 p.m. downtown Minneapolis: NCAA Final Four Dribble, a youth basketball parade, starting at the Convention Center.

2-8 p.m. Nicollet Mall: Tip-Off Tailgate party.

7-11 p.m. The Armory: March Madness Music Series. Headliners: Katy Perry, Zedd.

6:30 p.m. Convention Center: NABC Guardians of the Game Awards Show.

MONDAY

11 a.m.-6 p.m. Convention Center: Final Four Fan Fest.

Approx. 8:15 p.m. U.S. Bank Stadium: National title game.

4 p.m.-midnight Nicollet Mall: Tip-Off Tailgate party.

A giant Ferris wheel was erected on Nicollet Mall Tuesday afternoon, in preparation for the Final Four festivities in Minneapolis. There will be a four-day tailgate on Nicollet Mall.
A giant Ferris wheel was erected on Nicollet Mall Tuesday afternoon, in preparation for the Final Four festivities in Minneapolis. There will be a four-day tailgate on Nicollet Mall. (Terry Sauer — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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