As March Madness heads into the final stretch—and I mourn the implosion of my office-pool bracket—Denver is just gearing up to host the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Basketball Final Four tournament. Baylor, Stanford, Notre Dame, and the University of Connecticut will battle it out in the Mile High City on April 1 (semifinals) and April 3 (championship) at the Pepsi Center.

Game tickets are pretty much sold out, but fans—like the 30,000 visitors expected to descend on our city—can join in on the fun with plenty of other goings-on around town, starting Friday:

Tourney Town: Center of the madness for the five-day hoops extravaganza, visitors can enjoy food, autograph sessions, basketball clinics, and concerts. Best Bets: Jewel (remember her?) will perform a free show on Saturday, March 31, and the school’s mascots compete in a head-to-head competition on April 2. March 30–April 3, Colorado Convention Center, Free

Powerade NCAA Youth Clinics: Kids ages eight to 16 can improve their hoop skills during five hands-on clinic sessions (e.g., defensive and offensive drills, fitness and conditioning) run by coaches and student-athletes. March 31, ThunderRidge and South High Schools, Free

Open Practices and Team Autograph Sessions: See the teams in action as they prep for the big game and get signatures from your favorite athletes. March 31, Pepsi Center, Free

Mile High Dribble: Got mini basketball fans at home? Register them for this active afternoon (pictured) where several thousand youth (18 and under) will dribble from Civic Center Park to the Colorado Convention Center—and leave with a T-shirt and a basketball. April 1, Civic Center Park, Free

Find the full schedule of events here.

Image courtesy of the NCAA

Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer is an award-winning writer and editor based in Denver. You can find more of her work at daliahsinger.com.