Big Blue Madness Campout will return this fall

Get your tent ready because Big Blue Madness campout is back, baby! John Calipari just announced on social media that the annual event, which has not been held since 2019 due to the pandemic, will make its triumphant return this fall. The dates, details, and even location are still to be determined based on Calipari’s wording, but rest assured, it will take place in some form.

“It is unacceptable to not have a campout,” Calipari wrote. “It is part of what makes UK Basketball special. We have some great ideas on how, where, and when that will make it tremendous. Unless there is some sort of roadblock, campout will return!”

The announcement came in a series of tweets in which Calipari answered some frequently asked questions from fans on his statewide autograph tour. Also on the agenda (dates TBA): the women’s clinic, which Calipari says will feature his wife, Ellen, and potentially his daughters Erin and Megan; and the coaches clinic. Most importantly, Calipari announced that his autograph tour raised about $50,000 in gift cards to give to organizations to help the victims of last December’s deadly tornadoes in Western Kentucky.

“Reflecting back on last week and I am so appreciative of BBN’s support of our neighbors in western Kentucky. We are still collecting, but it looks like we’ll have about $50k in gift cards to distribute to 5-6 organizations helping with daily needs like food, gas, school supplies, etc.

“I’ve been asked what stood out to me the most and I think it was a young woman who said that the money we raised for federal workers during the government shutdown helped her family. And she came out to support western Kentucky! We both got emotional. Those things move me and they show the power of this program and fanbase!”

Although we don’t have a date for this year’s campout yet, it typically takes place the final week of September. If you can’t make it in person, you can always claim your free tickets on Ticketmaster.