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Photo by Jesse Chambers.
Big crowd
Some of the area residents who turned out on August 24 for the 11th annual Tailgate Challenge at The Bell Center in Homewood.
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Photo by Jesse Chambers
Backing the Bulldogs
Some of the Mississippi State fans at the Tailgate Challenge.
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Photo by Jesse Chambers
Mascots
There was no shortage of mascots, including these Chick-fil-A cows, at the Tailgate Challenge this year.
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Photo by Jesse Chambers
Lots of food
Employees from the Balch & Bingham law firm manned one of the tents at Tailgate Challenge, serving up chili cheese dogs to attendees.
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Photo by Jesse Chambers
Lots of entertainment
There was a lot going on at the Tailgate Challenge, including balloons for the kids.
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Photo by Jesse Chambers
Lots of tents
The Tailgate Challenge typically has more than 30 companies or alumni groups that set up tents and serve food along 29th Court South.
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Photo by Jesse Chambers
Kids area
The Tailgate Challenge has a play area for children.
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Photo by Jesse Chambers
A hot, sunny day
The weather was warm and sunny for the 11th annual Tailgate Challenge.
The Bell Center in Homewood hosted its 11th Annual Tailgate Challenge on Saturday, August 24, with a large crowd turning out on a warm, sunny day to support the center and welcome the coming of a new football season.
The event typically involves as many as 40 local companies and groups of college football fans who set up tents along 29th Court South and serve tailgate-style food to attendees.
Among the teams represented at this year’s event were Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Texas and Missouri.
Local celebrity judges were also scheduled to rank the tents in several categories — best food, best drink, team spirit, best all-around and people’s choice.
The Tailgate Challenge supports The Bell Center’s work with families of children from birth to 3 years old who are at risk for developmental delay, as they transition from early intervention to preschool services.
This year’s event was sponsored by Encompass Health, a Birmingham provider of inpatient rehabilitation, home health and hospice care.
For more about the Bell Center and its work, call 879-3417 or go to thebellcenter.org.
