JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Football fans will take over Downtown Jacksonville Friday for the 79th TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Kickoff is at noon as the Clemson University Tigers take on the University of Kentucky Wildcats.
Fans celebrated their teams Thursday evening at a pep rally at Deck The Chairs in Jacksonville Beach. Families of fans drove hours with generations of family members.
"This is our favorite bowl [game]," said Kathryn Moore.
Moore says her mother was a Tigers fan and they went to the Gator Bowl together in 1989.
"Our last bowl is today that we are attending with our grandchildren," Moore told First Coast News.
James and Riley Hughes brought their young daughters.
"These are our little UK Wildcat girls," said Riley Hughes. "They're gonna be Kentucky fans," James Hughes added.
Parking lots open at 7 a.m. and the gates at EverBank Stadium open at 10 a.m. Tickets are still available as of Friday morning.
On Saturday morning, runners will congregate in the same area of the bowl game for a charity 5K and mile run, starting at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.