The Alzheimer's Association-North Carolina is holding a Paint the Park Tailgate outside Segra Stadium on Friday, Aug. 29 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The tailgate will feature fun activities for the family before the Fayetteville Woodpeckers' Paint the Town Purple game. Tickets to the game are not required to join in on the tailgate. To RSVP to the tailgate, visit https://tinyurl.com/FAYWalkKickOff2025
The Alzheimer's Association-North Carolina is gearing up for the Walk to End Alzheimer's taking place on Oct. 25, in downtown Fayetteville. The tailgate is an opportunity for the Association to talk to people about signing up for the walk.
"The tailgate will be casual, an opportunity to connect with other participants and get the tools needed to help people recruit their Walk team and raise funds for the cause," said Kara Harrington, senior director of marketing and communications, Alzehimer's Assocation-North Carolina.
"Our kickoff event is an opportunity to build the excitement for our Walk to End Alzheimer's - Fayetteville event on October 25. People can get registered if they haven't already, enjoy meeting other participants and receive the tools they need to help them raise money for the cause and recruit their Walk team," she said. " The tailgate is a social event - free to attend and while at the stadium, you are not required to attend the Woodpeckers game in order to participate."
The game will also be promoting Alzheimer's awareness, for the sixth year in a row. Players will be wearing purple jerseys that will be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to help fund the 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer's-Fayetteville. The night will conclude with an all purple fireworks show. The game starts at 7:05. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.gofevo.com/event/Alzheimersawareness21
"The Fayetteville Woodpeckers have hosted an Alzheimer's Awareness Night at the ballpark for several years now called Paint the Park Purple. This annual event gives a portion of ticket sales to the Alzheimer's Association, players wear special jerseys and attendees learn more about local resources and support available through the Alzheimer's Association. We will also have a Tribute Fence on the 3rd base plate side, where people can honor and memorialize their loved ones impacted by the disease," Harrington said. " We like to host a Walk kickoff event each year and turning Paint the Park Purple - Alzheimer's Awareness Night with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers was a perfect way to do it since so many in the community attend the game."
Harrington said she hopes the tailgate party and game bring, "A better understanding of how much Alzheimer's and other dementia impacts the community, particularly caregivers. We are also in an era of treatment and research is moving us closer to our mission to one day end Alzheimer's. We want people to feel supported, and also have hope that we will one day see that happen."

(Photo courtesy of Walk to End Alzheimer's -Fayetteville Facebook page)