The Green Bay Packers kick off their 2018 Training Camp on Thursday, July 26 at 11:30 a.m. at Ray Nitschke Field. The players and coaches will be working hard to get ready for the upcoming season, while the fans and team officials celebrate 100 seasons of professional football in Green Bay.

Training camp is a very big draw in Green Bay every summer. The Greater Green Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau indicates that 90,000 people descend on the community during the 4 weeks of camp every summer. There are not as many open practices to the public or night practices as in years past, but the Packers and the community have plenty of activities to fill your summer day.

Here is what you need to know if you are making the trek to training camp.

When are the public practices? The are 15 training camp practices that are open to the public. The practices are held July 26 – August 27, weather permitting and start at 11:15 a.m. or 12:15 p.m. The practices are held at Ray Nitsche Field, which seats about 1,500 spectators. The gates open up about 90 minutes before practice. You can stand at each end of the field as well.

Public Practice Schedule:

  • Thursday, July 26 11:30 a.m.
  • Friday, July 27 11:30 a.m.
  • Saturday, July 28 11:15 a.m.
  • Monday, July 30 11:15 a.m.
  • Tuesday, July 31 11:15 a.m.
  • Thursday, August 2 11:15 a.m.
  • Friday, August 3 11:15 a.m.
  • Saturday, August 4 Packers Family Night 7:30 p.m.
  • Monday, August 6 12:15 p.m.
  • Tuesday, August 7 11:45 a.m.
  • Sunday, August 12 12:15 p.m.
  • Monday, August 13 11:45 a.m.
  • Monday, August 20 12:15 p.m.
  • Tuesday, August 21 11:45 a.m.

Kids – bring your bikes

Still an annual tradition in the smallest city in the NFL. Players have been riding kids bikes to practice for years. The players will ride kids bikes from Lambeau Field to Ray Nitschke Field before every open practice. If your kids are interested in participating, they should bring their bike and meet an hour before practice in the American Family Insurance Dream Drive area on the east side of Lambeau Field. They may just be lucky enough to have a player ride their bike.

Titletown District

This is the first training camp that the Titletown District is fully operational. After practice swing over to the new Titletown District located on the west side of Lambeau Field. The new area is a great place to spend the afternoon after watching the team practice. Everything is free. It includes 3 playgrounds for kids, a football field, a cafe and numerous games for both kids and adults.

What’s New?

As the Packers kickoff their 100 seasons celebration, they will get things rolling with their four-day Packers Experience.  The experience includes a wide variety of interactive activities, live music, food, beverages, interactions with Packers alumni and much more. You can look like a player, run the 40 yard dash, walk around a make shift Packers locker room, kick a field goal, return a punt, or listen to alumni speak. The Packers Experience opens at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 26th, which is 2½ hours before the first practice of training camp. You will need to register for a Packers Pass to participate in the Packers Experience activities, www.packers.com/fans/packers-pass.

The excitement of the season is upon us. Let the 2018 Super Bowl season begin.

Anthony Haag is a writer for PackersTalk.com. He has been a Packers fan since the day he was born and truly bleeds green and gold. He makes annual visits to Lambeau Field and has attended his fair share of games. You can follow Anthony on Twitter at @anthony_haag