The Houston Cougars men's basketball team will shoot for history as it takes on Duke in an NCAA Final Four showdown in San Antonio on Saturday, April 5. A win could send the Coogs to their first national championship game in four decades.

UH fans headed to San Antonio for the game will have to wait patiently until 7:49 pm Saturday for tip-off at the Alamodome. How to fill the rest of the weekend? Much of the thrilling Final Four action will be off the courts, including concerts from Grammy-winning artists, meet-and-greets with San Antonio Spurs legends, and tailgating fun.

Downtown San Antonio will explode with can't-miss events from April 4-7 — and many of them are free. Read below for our guide to the essential events during San Antonio's slam-dunk Final Four weekend.

Fan Fest
April 4 & 7, noon-6 pm; April 5-6, 10 am-6 pm at Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
Make a full-court press to this celebrity-filled party packed with interactive games, exhibits, demonstrations, autograph signings, and appearances from greats like David Robinson and Avery Johnson. Event sponsor Capital One Bank will welcome cardholders with early entry and free swag.

March Madness Music Festival
April 4, 4:30-10 pm; April 5, 3-9 pm; April 6, 2:20-10 pm at Hemisfair Tower Park.
Top athletes won't be the only VIPs gracing San Antonio during the Final Four.This electrifying music festival includes three days of free outdoor performances from musical heavyweights like Pitbull, Doechii, Jelly Roll, T-Pain, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and Chris Stapleton.

Men's Final Four Friday
April 4, 10 am-6 pm at Alamodome.
Basketball fans of all ages can hoop it up during this complimentary day of interactive activities featuring each Final Four team squeezing in one last practice. Guests can also preview future NBA draft picks as top senior student-athletes compete in the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-Star Game.

Tip-Off Tailgate
April 4 and 7, 3-10 pm; April 5, 1:30-11 pm; April 6, noon-5 pm at Civic Park.
These free watch parties for the men's and women's Final Four games include giveaways, basketball-themed activities, and a curated selection of food and drinks. There are also meet-and-greet sessions with Spurs icons David Robinson and Manu Ginobili, former Duke Blue Devils star Christian Laettner, and Los Angeles Lakers legend James Worthy.

River Rally
April 5, 11 am-noon at the Lagoon at Shops at Rivercenter, 849 E. Commerce St.
Show your team spirit by watching free performances by bands and spirit squads from each of the four participating schools floating along the River Walk.

Final Four Dribble
April 6, 10 -11 am at Travis Park.
While there are no more participatory spots, guests can cheer on more than 3,000 local kids and teenagers dribbling a basketball through a one-mile course downtown. Each participant will move the ball freestyle while wearing a specially designed branded shirt.

Championship River Parade
April 7, after the title game at La Villita.
Fans of the newly crowned national champion can hoot and holler as players and coaches celebrate on barges drifting down the San Antonio River. The victorious team will show off their trophy and hold a final rally at the Arneson River Theater at 418 Villita St.