NATCHITOCHES – The tailgate scene outside Turpin Stadium will have a different look Thursday night ahead of Northwestern State's 7 p.m. season opener against Alcorn State.
 
The Northwestern State Athletic Department has announced the creation of "Tailgate Town," an area that will include vendors and interactive contests for Demon fans.
 
Located on the tailgate field behind the Collins Alumni Pavilion, Tailgate Town will feature Flying Heart Brewery, which will provide cornhole games and free beer tokens (age 21 and up) and Magnolia Spa, which will have clear bags and additional NSU gear for sale. Natchitoches Events will have three interactive inflatables present as well.
 
Northwestern's athletic marketing staff will be on hand with Purple Reign T-shirts, sponsored by Sabine State Bank, that will keep with the theme of Thursday's Purple Out. Those will be available as supplies last. The Purple Reign theme asks all fans to wear purple for Thursday's game.
 
In addition, six food trucks – Big Pit Smoking, Rob's BBQ Smokehouse, Tasty Boy, Big Dawg's Creole Kitchen, Soulful Wings and Taqueria Mexico – will be set up in the parking lot between the tailgate field and the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex with food for sale for all fans.
 
"The creation of Tailgate Town and the food trucks will enhance our pregame atmosphere for the students, fans, staff and alumni who we hope to see in Turpin Stadium on Thursday night," Director of Athletics Kevin Bostian said. "We want to see a sea of purple outside of Turpin Stadium before kickoff and inside to support our Demons as they open the season against Alcorn State."
 
Ahead of the game, rising country singer Clay Cormier will perform from 4-6 p.m. in the tailgate area outside the Donald G. Kelly Athletic Complex.
 
There also will be a kickoff contest on the tailgate field open to all attendees.
 
The addition of Tailgate Town joins the Demon Walk, which resumes at 4:45 p.m. Thursday.
 
Single-game and season tickets for Northwestern's five-game home schedule remain on sale. Visit NSUTickets.com or call the Northwestern State Athletics Ticket Office at 318-357-4268 for more information.