SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Carolina Panthers, Wofford College and the Spartanburg community will celebrate the NFL team’s 25th summer training camp at the college as practice begins Thursday, July 25, with the annual Training Camp Kickoff Party. The celebration is from 4:30 to 9 p.m. at Gibbs Stadium, with the team’s first practice from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Gates open at 4 p.m. for the free event.

The Kickoff Party will feature on-field performances by the TopCats and Junior TopCats, Sir Purr, PurrCussion and the Black & Blue Crew as well as the Mayors’ Ball Delivery, face painting, food, interactive games, sponsor displays and more on the plaza of the stadium.

On Friday, July 26, Atrium Health will present Play 60 Day on the intramural field at Wofford, across from the main spectator entrance to camp. Play 60 Day is a free, action-packed, full-field attraction with kid-style NFL combine activity stations and inflatables – a great training camp experience for kids, families and youth groups.

Panthers Pals, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, again will be offered to children ages 6-13 at most of the practices (see the online schedule for dates). Panthers Pals offers five randomly selected children an opportunity to watch part of practice from field level and then spend time with a player afterwards. Kids can register to be a Panthers Pal at the Academy Sports + Outdoors Kids Field located outside the main entrance to the practice fields. Names are selected about 45 minutes before the end of practice; winners receive a Panthers Pal T-shirt and are escorted to a special area to watch the conclusion of practice.

The Academy Sports + Outdoors Field also offers kids a great place to toss a football and enjoy active family fun. It is open during training camp practice days and is conveniently located near the main spectator entrance gate.

Practices on Tuesday, Aug. 13, and Wednesday, Aug. 14, will be held jointly with the Buffalo Bills.

All practices at training camp, which concludes Wednesday, Aug. 14, and additional activities are free and open to the public. The training camp practice and promotional schedules can be found at www.panthers.com. Practice times, locations and special events are subject to change without notice.

DIRECTIONS AND PARKING INFORMATION:

All traffic should enter campus via Cumming Street from Pine Street and Wood Street. Evins Street from North Church Street will be closed to all traffic except shuttle buses and other authorized vehicles.

Free shuttle buses will be provided from the parking lot at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, which also will serve the parking lot at Wofford’s Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts.

Shuttle buses also will stop on Evins Street at Osage Street to pick up fans parking off Osage Street. Buses will drop off and pick up in front of Gibbs Stadium on Cumming Street.

Handicap parking will be available in the lot beside Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium off Cumming Street for vehicles with state-issued placards or plates.

All parking and direction information can be found at www.panthers.com.