5 Travel Tips for Navigating All-Star Weekend
All-Star Weekend is a fun-filled weekend with basketball players, celebrities, events and NBA. It is a weekend festival that typically happens in February where your favorite top players play against each other. This year, All-Star Weekend is in Salt Lake City, Utah on February 17-19, 2023. I went to my first All-Star Weekend in 2017 in New Orleans. And what a time! I met so many celebrities, basketball players, and went to amazing shows and events. Here’s my tips for navigating All-Star Weekend:
Go to Celebrity Basketball Game on Friday.
The celebrity basketball game on Friday is typically a basketball game where celebrities play against each other. When I went to All-Star weekend in 2017, I saw DJ Khaled, Fat Joe, and some other celebrities. During this game, the celebrities were pretty friendly and we had a chance to take photos with them. They will also tell you about parties and events they will be at. Fat Joe actually told us where to go for the weekend and gave us VIP passes. This game is usually less crowded and you can get close seats for a cheap price.
Find out the city’s infamous food spots.
Every city typically have famous food locations, such as popular brunch or dinner spot. Find out those food spots and make reservations for you and your friends EARLY. This is more than likely also when you were going to run into some basketball players and celebrities. Some of these places have day parties as well so you may be able to make a reservation and stay for the day party.
Stay in a four-star or five-star hotel.
Because it is All-Star weekend, the prices will be expensive but it will be worth it. If you can only stay in the five-star hotel one night, book for one night. This is also where you're going to run into celebrities and basketball players especially at the bar area. If you cannot afford staying in the hotel, visit the hotel’s lounge area during the day for any events or happy hour.
Go to Individualized Basketball Player Event.
Some NBA players will have their own specialized events especially if they are selling a product or promoting something. Go to that event. Typically you have other celebrities and other basketball players who come to support them so you will also get a chance to meet and greet some other players as well. They typically have free giveaways and prizes. In 2017, D. Wade and Gabrielle Union was having an event in New Orleans and I got a chance to meet both of them as they were promoting some products. I won products and a signed shirt from D. Wade.
Choose one location for nightlife.
There are going to be many parties going on at the same time, especially nightlife events. Choose one nightlife location because typically they are going to have a new celebrity or a basketball player as the main guest every night . When I went to All-Star Weekend in 2017, we went to the Masquerade- a casino- because Fat Joe recommended and gave us VIP tickets for Saturday. We decided to go to Masquerade on Friday and Fabolous performed. Probably the first time I was a complete fan girl because I love his music. It was an intimate environment which made it better. We are glad we chose one location for nightlife.
All-Star Weekend is a blast and great for those single ladies or anyone who want to network. Click here the schedule for All-Star Weekend in 2023.