The 16th annual Fishtown Turkey Bowl will take place at Hetzel’s Field — located at the corner of Thompson and Columbia Streets — at 11AM on Thanksgiving day.

Want to participate? Draft night is this Saturday, 9PM at Starboard Side Tavern (2500 E. Norris St). The cost to participate is $25, which covers the cost of a jersey for the game as well as the beer and water that will be provided.

The draft involves two captains who pick names from a hat to choose their roster, as well as trades between the teams.

Mark Simms, who was born and raised in Fishtown, started the Turkey Bowl in 1999. He told The Spirit that he started the game to continue the tradition of football in the neighborhood.

“The neighborhood was full of guys who played ball,” Simms said. “Thanksgiving and football go hand in hand. That got my juices flowing.”

Simms encourages all participants to be either present or former players from Fishtown Football Leagues in an effort to make the game more about camaraderie than competition.

“It’s basically like a reunion and football game all in one,” Simms said. “It’s like a big family that goes in the backyard [at a family party]  and throws a ball around.”

Simms says the game has been a success each year since its inception.

“[For] fifteen years, we’ve never had an argument, any trouble or any who has gotten injured,” Simms said. “It’s all about a football game. We have a lot of laughs, a couple beers and just a good time.”