GRANT PARK — Gray skies didn't keep hordes of football fans from flocking to Grant Park for the NFL's Draft Town festival Thursday.
Fans from across the country spilled into the Downtown park hours before the actual draft is set to begin at 7 p.m. They were met with a Ferris wheel, games, football memorabilia and plenty of stands serving food and beer.
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"It's pretty cool to have this many fans from all the different teams," John Clark of the Grand Rapids, Mich. area said. "It's different than a game where everyone is taunting each other."
Lines were long at the Jackson Boulevard entrance, but fans who entered the festival through the Congress Parkway or Columbus Drive entrances said they got through hassle-free.
Concessionaires include Tank Noodle, Cheesie's, Wow Bao, Black Dog Gelato and Dia De Los Tamales. Beers are being poured out of the festival's "Draft Tavern" at Jackson and Columbus and many other stands throughout the park.
Here's how much beer costs. Cheaper than Soldier Field? #DraftDay #DraftTown #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/cyUiRLfupn
— David Lee Matthews (@DavidLMatthews) April 28, 2016
The actual draft action, including the announcing of picks, will be at the NFL's "Selection Square" stage just east of Buckingham Fountain. But fans who arrive to the festival will find about 20 football fields worth of games, pop-up museums, and shops. New attractions to this year's draft festival include a College Football Hall of Fame, "locker rooms" with video boards, and the aforementioned Ferris wheel.
The scene at Draft Town on Congress Parkway. [DNAinfo/David Matthews]
Though guests were having fun, some admitted the weather was a bit of a downer. Unlike last year's sunny festival, today's Draft Town will be marred by cloudy skies and showers forecasted later this afternoon.
The festival will last until 10 p.m. Thursday. Check out more pictures from the park:
— David Lee Matthews (@DavidLMatthews) April 28, 2016
This Tostitos truck is handing out bags of chips. Skittles stand is next door. pic.twitter.com/cdT98UMnZu
— David Lee Matthews (@DavidLMatthews) April 28, 2016
Here's the Draft Tavern at Jackson/Columbus. Beer/prices: same pic.twitter.com/K5NcwgJWPi
— David Lee Matthews (@DavidLMatthews) April 28, 2016
Pop-up college football HOF, a new addition this year pic.twitter.com/pr9LTOTD8Z
— David Lee Matthews (@DavidLMatthews) April 28, 2016
C'mon pic.twitter.com/5IZJCk7DP5
— David Lee Matthews (@DavidLMatthews) April 28, 2016
So many great jay cutler moments/reflections in replica locker room pic.twitter.com/8zAigqfffU
— David Lee Matthews (@DavidLMatthews) April 28, 2016
More food: cheesie's, wow bao, dia de lots tamales. @BaoMouth brought some jokes #DraftTown #DraftDay #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/wHonMx8Qrr
— David Lee Matthews (@DavidLMatthews) April 28, 2016
Oh snap @TyDerby ur boy Fred Taylor pic.twitter.com/UEH8vtmjzT
— David Lee Matthews (@DavidLMatthews) April 28, 2016
Obligatory slo-mo Ferris wheel video #NFLDraft2016 pic.twitter.com/tnRCZf6KCA
— David Lee Matthews (@DavidLMatthews) April 28, 2016
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