Bulls Fest: A Celebration of Basketball, Culture, and Community
Dave Cooper caught the Chicago Bulls’ attention with a tweet last September. His son, Patrick, then a rising seventh-grader, was locked in what appeared to be a fiercely competitive game of one-on-one. The contest was impromptu, and Patrick’s opponent was another kid he did not know. With the Willis Tower kissing the sky in the background, Cooper’s caption was emblematic of everything the franchise hopes fans experience when they attend Bulls Fest.
“Two kids, who didn’t know each other before, just playing ball in the city. Kind of what Bulls Fest was all about,” Cooper wrote.
Bulls Fest is back for the second year with another two-day extravaganza just outside the United Center this weekend. The festival is being billed as a celebration of basketball, culture, and the Chicago Bulls. It aims to bring together fans of all ages and backgrounds for a weekend filled with fun and excitement.
There will be basketball camps and clinics, a mock combine, a 3-point competition, a dunk contest, a 3-on-3 tournament, an art gallery, current and former Bulls players on-hand, photo opportunities, food trucks, discount Bulls merchandise, and more. Bulls Fest truly offers something for everyone.
Last year’s event was a hit among attendees. Dave Cooper took his entire family to the festival, and they had a blast. Patrick’s younger brother, Landon, participated in the 3-on-3 competition and won the championship for their age group. Even Cooper’s youngest daughter, who was only 6 at the time, thoroughly enjoyed herself.
“We saw it all,” Dave Cooper said. “The 3-on-3 games. The art exhibition, which I loved. The dunk contest, which we all loved. Benny (the Bull). Everything.”
The Bulls organization aims to create a community atmosphere at Bulls Fest. They want fans to feel like they are part of something special, a Chicago Bulls weekend rather than just a random basketball tournament weekend. The inspiration for Bulls Fest came from the overwhelming demand from fans to resurrect the three-decades-old “Shoot the Bull” 3-on-3 summer tournament formerly held in Grant Park. Bulls Fest was reimagined to marry basketball with a typical Chicago street festival.
This year, the Bulls made it a point to be even more inclusive and welcoming to all corners of the community. Inclusivity will be a theme throughout the weekend, with an all-girls clinic and a diverse-abilities clinic. More than 300 teams have registered for the 3-on-3 tournament, ranging from ages 8 to 65. The event also features brackets for men’s and women’s elite players and an invite-only FIBA 3-on-3 tournament.
Additionally, the Bulls are hosting several community partners, including Hoops in the Hood, a sports-based summer safety initiative that creates safe spaces for youth from at-risk communities, and SWISH, a BIPOC basketball meet-up group that provides a space for queer women, trans, and enby players to feel held, seen, and valued. The Chicago Skyhawks, a basketball program for youth with disabilities, will also participate.
“We want the next generation of fans. We also want the fans that used to love us before. But we also want everyone who’s looking forward and thinking about what the future’s going to be like now that we’ve got some great Chicago guys on the team as well,” said Bulls vice-president of community engagement Adrienne Scherenzel-Curry.
The Bulls have lined up an exciting roster of guests for this year’s Bulls Fest. Second-year guard and Chicago native Ayo Dosunmu attended last year’s event and drew a long line for photos. This year, free-agent acquisition Jevon Carter, another local product from nearby Maywood, will be in attendance. Bulls alumni, like Horace Grant and Nate Robinson, are also scheduled to be present.
The Bulls organization is committed to showing up for the community and providing access to all the things they have to offer. Bulls Fest is a way for them to connect with fans, celebrate basketball and culture, and create lasting memories.
“I think it’s going to be something that we don’t know that ends up being my favorite, like that tweet from last year of the two kids playing basketball. All of that stuff just happens organically. I’m just kind of really looking forward to seeing this come to life,” said Dan Moriarty, Bulls vice president of marketing.
Bulls Fest promises to be a great weekend of basketball, entertainment, and community engagement. Whether you’re a die-hard Bulls fan or simply looking for a fun-filled event for the whole family, Bulls Fest has something for everyone. Don’t miss out on this exciting celebration of basketball, culture, and community.