Bengals 2016 training camp schedule announced

The Cincinnati Bengals are currently on summer break, but that won't last long as the 2016 training camp schedule was just announced.

On Tuesday, Cincinnati announced the full 2016 Bengals training camp schedule with the first camp session taking place on Friday, July 29th.

Bengals training camp kicks off for the fifth year at Paul Brown Stadium, with the majority of practices free and open to the public. All practices will offer fans opportunities to obtain free player autographs when practice ends, as well.

This year's camp will include joint practices with the Vikings,  who are led by former Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, now the head coach in Minnesota. Two-team practices on Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 10th and 11th, will give fans the opportunity to watch both the Bengals and the Vikings go head-to-head in a practice environment. Those two practice sessions should be some of the best for fans to attend this summer.

The joint practices will be in preparation for the Bengals' preseason opener which will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12th, at Paul Brown Stadium.

The Bengals will also host a free Family Day event inside Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 6th. The Family Day practice will feature child-friendly activities, including inflatables, face painting, balloon artists, pictures with team mascot Who Dey, and an NFL Play 60 Activity Zone.

With the exception of Family Day, the Bengals will practice on the grass fields just west of Paul Brown Stadium. The grass fields will have bleacher seating for 1,250 fans, plus additional standing room along the sidelines.

For each session on the grass fields, the first 53 fans to show a Fifth Third Bank Bengals Checking debit card or credit card will be upgraded to the Fifth Third Reserved Bleacher Seats.

Here are all the Bengals training camp dates and times open to the public:

NOTE: On dates not included below, there is no public access. Those are closed-off practices the Bengals don't reveal the dates of until later, if at all. All times listed below are Eastern Standard Time.

FRIDAY, JULY 29

--Gates open at 2:30 p.m.

--Practice begins at 3 p.m.

SATURDAY, JULY 30

--Gates open at 2:30 p.m.

--Practice begins at 3 p.m.

SUNDAY, JULY 31

--Gates open at 2:30 p.m.

--Practice begins at 3 p.m.

MONDAY, AUG. 1

--Gates open at 2:30 p.m.

--Practice begins at 3 p.m.

TUESDAY, AUG. 2

--Gates open at 2:30 p.m.

--Practice begins at 3 p.m.

THURSDAY, AUG. 4

--Gates open at 2:30 p.m.

--Practice begins at 3 p.m.

FRIDAY, AUG. 5

--Gates open at 5:30 p.m.

--Practice begins at 6 p.m.

SATURDAY, AUG. 6 (FAMILY DAY AT PAUL BROWN STADIUM)

--Gates open at noon

--Practice begins at 1 p.m.

MONDAY, AUG. 8

--Gates open at 2:30 p.m.

--Practice begins at 3 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 10

--Gates open at 2:30 p.m.

--Practice (with Minnesota Vikings) begins at 3 p.m.

THURSDAY, AUG. 11

--Gates open at 10:30 a.m.

--Practice (with Minnesota Vikings) begins at 11 a.m. (practice time estimated one hour)

Parking for all practices is available in adjacent parking lots at established prices.

The duration of each practice is estimated at an hour and 45 minutes, but subject to adjustment by the coaching staff. Times are subject to change, so fans are advised to check www.bengals.com/camp on the days of practices for the latest times and for other important information.