NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The University of Notre Dame's Oct. 5 football game against Arizona State at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, also will include a series of events throughout the weekend at various locations in the North Texas area.

The Shamrock Series presented by Sprint annually includes not only a football game but also a variety of other activities for Notre Dame alumni and fans.

Here are some of the featured events during the weekend:

-- A Friday kickoff luncheon at the Fort Worth Worthington Renaissance Hotel ballroom featuring a variety of Notre Dame guests (11:30 a.m. CDT, open to the public; tickets available at http://www.nddallas.org)

-- A Friday night pep rally at General Worth Square at 9th and Main Streets in downtown Fort Worth featuring the Band of the Fighting Irish, the Notre Dame cheerleaders, Irish Guard and leprechaun and other special guests (free and open to the public; Texas recording artist Charla Corn will perform from 4:45-5:45 p.m. CDT; rally begins at 6 p.m. CDT)

-- A Saturday morning Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral (1206 Throckmorton Street in Forth Worth), with Father John Jenkins as celebrant and homilist (10 a.m. CDT; free and open to the public)

-- A Saturday concert at AT&T Stadium West Plaza featuring the Band of the Fighting Irish (3:45-4:30 p.m. CDT; open to the public, game ticket required)

-- Two Friday academic programs, at the Fort Worth Worthington Renaissance (free and open to the public):

* 10:30 a.m.-noon CDT--"Science and Spirits," presented by the College of Science (panelists include Notre Dame professors Rebecca Wingert, David Lodge, Chris Kolda and Norman Dovichi)

* 3-4:30 p.m. CDT--"Latinos and the Future of America," presented by the College of Arts and Letters--with panelists including moderator José Limón (the Julian Samora Professor of Latino Studies English and Institute for Latino Studies director), Philip Fuentes (owner of McDonald's Restaurants and ILS Advisory Council member), Anne García-Romero (assistant professor of film, television and theater), Marcos Ronquillo (partner at Beirne, Maynard & Parsons and ILS Advisory Council member), Timothy Matovina (professor of theology and ILS executive director) and Ricardo Ramírez (associate professor of political science)

-- A Saturday academic program and Saturday with the Saints Lecture at the Worthington Renaissance:

* 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. CDT--"Stories Written in Light: The Saints in the Window of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart," presented by John Cavadini, Ph.D., McGrath-Cavadini director

-- A Friday afternoon service project sponsored by the Notre Dame Alumni Association and the Catholic Charities Diocese of Fort Worth (details and signup at gameday.nd.edu)

-- The Notre Dame-Arizona State football game that kicks off at 6:30 p.m. CDT, and will be televised live by NBC Sports

Alumni headquarters for the weekend will be the Worthington Renaissance at 200 Main Street in Fort Worth (817-870-1000). Additional Notre Dame alumni and fans will be at the Hilton Fort Worth at 815 Main Street (817-870-2100) and the Courtyard Forth Worth Downtown/Blackstone at 601 Main Street (817-885-8700).

The Worthington Renaissance will include a Notre Dame Hammes Bookstore satellite story, as well as hospitality desks manned by the Notre Dame Alumni Association and Anthony Travel.

Go to gameday.nd.edu for complete listing of all the weekend's events.

This marks the fifth straight year Notre Dame has taken one of its football games "off-site"--after playing in San Antonio in 2009 (versus Washington State at the Alamodome), in New York City in 2010 (versus Army at Yankee Stadium) and in Washington, D.C., in 2011 (versus Maryland at FedExField) and in Chicago in 2012 (versus Miami at Soldier Field).