Pickleball Meets Celebrity Glamour: Former NFL quarterback Drew Brees is once again spearheading a high-profile event in Southern California: the Whispering Angel Celebrity Pickleball Tournament. Set against the backdrop of the Del Mar Wine & Food Festival, this year’s tournament promises a star-studded affair, benefiting Feeding San Diego—a local nonprofit dedicated to hunger relief and food rescue.
The tournament will unfold at Bobby Riggs Racket & Paddle in Encinitas on Friday, October 4, 2024, from noon to 4 p.m. The event will feature a mix of celebrities, athletes, and chefs, offering fans the chance to engage in pickleball games with notable figures.
Tournament Details
Participants can choose from various ticket options, ranging from $125 to $600 per person:
- Play With A Pro (Round Robin): $500
- Play With A Celebrity (Round Robin): $600
- Tournament: Advanced-Expert (Play For The Title): Individual – $200 | Team – $350
- Tournament: Intermediate-Advanced (Play For The Title): Individual – $200 | Team – $350
- Recreational Play (Fun, Casual Play): $150
- Spectator (Eat, Drink, Watch All The Action): $125
Notable participants include tennis stars James Blake and CoCo Vandeweghe, former San Diego Padre Mark Loretta, and Brees himself. The event will also feature food and beverages from a variety of brands, adding to the festival’s culinary experience.
Festival Highlights
The Whispering Angel Celebrity Pickleball Tournament is a highlight of the Del Mar Wine & Food Festival, which runs from October 2 to October 7. This year, the festival will include a new event, the Happy Fillmore Golf Classic on October 7, benefiting Feeding San Diego. The golf event will take place at Lomas Santa Fe Country Club in Solana Beach and will feature food and beverages from over 20 brands.
Brees’ Expanding Pickleball Ventures
Brees’ involvement in pickleball extends beyond this event. He has recently participated in a Pickleball Fest in New Orleans and a celebrity pickleball tournament in Miami. Additionally, he is working on opening a new indoor pickleball facility in Louisiana and co-owns the professional pickleball team “Mad Drops” with other prominent figures.
The Del Mar Wine & Food Festival, which debuted last year, raised $25,000 for Feeding San Diego and aims to surpass that amount this year. Ali Colbran, senior director of development at Feeding San Diego, expressed gratitude for the continued support, highlighting the festival’s impact on their mission.
“It is an honor to again be chosen by the team behind the DMWFF as its charity beneficiary. The culinary community is interwoven with our cause because we all agree that access to nutritious food is a basic human right,” said Ali Colbran, “We are looking forward to all of this year’s events and to the opportunity to have our organization showcased in front of such a large audience who can get involved by donating or volunteering.”
News in Brief: Pickleball Meets Celebrity Glamour
Drew Brees will host the Whispering Angel Celebrity Pickleball Tournament at the Del Mar Wine & Food Festival on October 4, 2024, at Bobby Riggs Racket & Paddle in Encinitas. The event, benefiting Feeding San Diego, features tickets ranging from $125 to $600, with opportunities to play alongside celebrities like James Blake and CoCo Vandeweghe.
The Del Mar Wine & Food Festival, running from October 2-7, also introduces the Happy Fillmore Golf Classic on October 7. Brees continues to expand his pickleball ventures, including new facilities and professional team ownership.
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