Community gathers in Uptown for annual Ballin’ on Beaufort event

NORMAL, Ill.- The town of Normal partnered with ISU Athletics for the annual Ballin’ on Beaufort event in Uptown on Wednesday night.

The event brought together the men’s and women’s basketball teams, complete with shooting competitions, local vendors, and a live DJ. Uptown Circle and Linden were closed off to transform the block into a stage-filled hub for Redbird basketball fans.

“The goal of the event is to get everyone excited about the upcoming basketball season for both the men’s and women’s teams,” said Adam Fox, Civic Arts manager for the Town of Normal. “Both look to be having incredibly exciting seasons on the horizon.”

The event gave community members a chance to connect with the basketball teams in a setting beyond the usual backdrop of CEFCU Arena.

“We’ve seen it grow over these first three years, people coming out, saying this is actually becoming one of their favorite events that we do in Uptown Normal,” said Fox. “There is such a connection to the team and connection to the program that happens throughout the season, and it begins on this night.”

Since its launch, the event has steadily grown in popularity among community members eager to stay connected with ISU Athletics while exploring all that Uptown has to offer. Ballin’ on Beaufort also serves as a lead-in to Homecoming in two weeks, adding another layer of community engagement.

“It’s so wonderful to see people coming out to Uptown Normal and celebrating the Redbird culture and Redbird community,” Fox said. “It just means so much to us to continue to reinforce that partnership.”