THE AFL is pleased to announce longstanding partner McDonald’s Australia will come on board as the official naming rights partner of the much-loved Footy Festival that will return to AFL Gather Round…A Festival of Footy next month.

Located at Elder Park, the 2024 Macca’s Footy Festival will run from Thursday, April 4 until Sunday, April 7 as part of the league’s Gather Round festivities.   

The four-day festival will be full of free activities and entertainment for all ages, including some of South Australia’s best local vendors, food trucks and licensed bars, while the popular 150m long zip line over the River Torrens will return for another year.

First partnering with the AFL in 2014, McDonald’s will remain as the naming rights partner of the Macca’s Footy Festival until the end of 2026.

The partnership will see Macca’s deliver several fan activations across the festival including the world’s first Macca’s Fry Thru offering Macca’s Fries and Chicken McNuggets, enjoy a barista-made hot or iced coffee from the McCafe Cart (with all proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House Charities SA) or get your free personalised AFL Captain Card at the Macca’s Captain Card photobooth. There will also be Giant Golden Arches swings, and a limited number of free mini Macca’s Sherrins given out each day.

South Australian music acts Motez and George Alice will headline a host of live entertainment that will perform at the Macca’s Footy Festival live stage on Friday and Saturday nights respectively, while a Battle of the Bands competition will see local music acts perform for a chance to play alongside Jet and Baker Boy at the inaugural Gather Live concert on Sunday, April 7.

Footy families and budding superstars can enjoy the NAB AFL Auskick Fun Zone which will have free skills stations, photo moments, and giveaways available, plus fans of all ages can participate in a Footy Festival Scavenger Hunt for a chance to win a host of prizes.

Other free activities include the Telstra Footy Country Print Press where fans can bring their guernsey down and get it personalised for free, The Chemist Warehouse fan zone which includes a virtual kick activity, photo moment and massage therapists running with set hours throughout the four days.

Fan favourite activations will also be in attendance including Coles Healthy Kicks, Toyota Big Feeling letters, NAB AFL Auskick and AFL Play activations along with a giant custom-built SOLO bottle offering a chance to win a double pass to the 2024 Toyota AFL Grand Final, plus fans can win a prize at the rebel goal square activation or bring a furry friend to life at the Build a Bear site.

In addition, eventgoers can watch all match action live and up close on the big screens while AFL and AFLW players will be appearing throughout the festival to meet and greet fans.

With less than two weeks away until Gather Round commences, AFL Executive General Manager Customer and Commercial, Kylie Rogers, said the Macca’s Footy Festival would be the place to be for footy fans to soak up the atmosphere.

"The countdown to Gather Round has officially begun, as the build for the Macca’s Footy Festival commences this week in Elder Park,” Ms Rogers said.

“This year’s Macca’s Footy Festival is shaping up to be bigger than ever before, with more free activities and entertainment available for eventgoers of all ages to enjoy.

“More than 80,000 people attended the Footy Festival last year and we are looking forward to welcoming more fans in 2024 to soak up the electric atmosphere of Gather Round which has experienced unprecedented demand this year.

“I’d like to thank our longstanding partner McDonald’s for its support of the 2024 Macca’s Footy Festival as well as our many valued partners for their role in bringing the festival to life.”

McDonald’s Director of Marketing, Amanda Nakad said McDonald’s was proud to extend its partnership with the AFL to become the naming rights partner of the Macca’s Footy Festival for the next three years.

“At Macca’s, we are passionate about creating iconic experiences for our customers, who we know have a special connection with the AFL for the moments and memories it has given them over the years. 

“With our Fry-Thru serving up our iconic Fries, McCafe cart for coffee and other unique Macca’s experiences, the Macca’s Footy Festival is going to be an unmissable event for footy fans and we can’t wait to help bring people together over a shared love of the game.”

SA Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison said, “Not only is the excitement building for the return of AFL Gather Round, but so is the family-friendly activation in Elder Park.

“In the heart of our city, footy fans and festivalgoers can once again gather to enjoy some of South Australia’s best local vendors, food trucks and licensed bars at the Macca’s Footy Festival.

“The Macca’s Footy Festival is another way the four-day event is helping entice visitors to stay and play in SA, after the inaugural AFL Gather Round last year injected $83 million into our state’s visitor economy.”

The Macca’s Footy Festival will be open from 10am-11pm each day throughout Gather Round. For more information, please visit afl.com.au/gather-round.