Blue Wahoos Offseason Begins With Octoberfest Of Stadium Events
The next Blue Wahoos baseball season is six months away. But the stadium won’t sit idle in the offseason. In fact, these next six weeks are the busiest for events, which include two football events, a distance run stage, a gourmet dinner on the field, a kickball event, a special
The next Blue Wahoos baseball season is six months away. But the stadium won’t sit idle in the offseason.
In fact, these next six weeks are the busiest for events, which include two football events, a distance run stage, a gourmet dinner on the field, a kickball event, a special Halloween weekend night, plus the return of Pensacola Eggfest.
It’s the Blue Wahoos’ version of an extended Octoberfest for open-to-public community events, along with other private, company outings at the stadium throughout the same period.
“It is like the doors reopen and the light shines in,” said Shannon Hannah, the Blue Wahoos’ event sales manager. “We’re ready for offseason events and it’s so fun.
“I came into this position seven years ago, and I was thinking, oh my gosh,I don’t know if we can do this kind of event or that kind of event. And now, there is zero of that thinking.
“This stadium was built for everything. It is multi-use. We have done everything from putting in bounce house inflatables, water slides, to football games and beautiful dinners on this field, so we don’t say no, because we can make it happen.”
There is at least one community event each of next six weekends at the stadium.
“I love October. It’s by far my favorite month at the stadium,” Hannah said. “The weather is getting better, people are excited for fall and people have kind of moved past the hump of back-to-school, so they are in a groove, they are ready to come out and enjoy festivals and other kinds of events.
“We see more people out, which is great,. October also brings such a diverse group of people with every event that we host. It is so fun to see every year.”
All of it began Monday, ironically, with a baseball event under a cloudless sky, low humidity and the sun sparkling off Pensacola Bay.
It was the first Panhandle Conference Sophomore Showcase, bringing together the five Panhandle area junior college baseball teams, including Pensacola State College, in an event that included various baseball drills and a formatted game among the teams. A group of professional baseball and collegiate scouts watched both events.
It was followed by West Florida Baseball Academy having its travel-ball, high-school age players taking the field with various drills to help get college notice.
The next large-scale event at the stadium will occur Oct. 14 with the 31st annual Soul Bowl youth football game featuring the Southern Youth Sports Association Tigers against the East Pensacola Magee Field Rattlers. There will be five age-division games beginning with the youngest kids playing early that morning.
The stadium field will soon be lined for football and goal posts installed before the Soul Bowl. This event has been held at Blue Wahoos Stadium since the ballpark opened in 2012.
“The Soul Bowl has produced a tremendous following within the community and it has done that for years and years,” Hannah said. “It is fun to see the crowd that day return with all the kids and families, and all the energy that comes with the Soul Bowl.”
It will be followed by the “Fall Farm to Table, Under The Lights” dinner event on October 19 that occurs on the stadium field. The event is for those 21-older. It features a four-course meal prepared by Blue Wahoos executive chef Travis Wilson, paired with wine and various beverages, along with live music from Jordan Torrez.
“Chef Travis has a great menu built and we expect a beautiful night to have a fancy dinner on the field,” Hannah said. “This is the fourth time we’ve done a meal on the field like this, but this time we will even have childcare available, if there is interest for that, among parents who want to make it a date night.
The Blue Wahoos will then host a kickball game on Oct. 21 with law enforcement officials and local politicians playing a kickball game against area military members.
The month’s signature events conclude Oct. 28 with “Wahooloween” featuring trick-or-treating for children beginning at 5 p.m., followed by the Walt Disney animated film, “Coco” shown on the stadium video board.
“I would say Wahooloween is my favorite event all year, because it’s tied with Halloweeen festivities in the community,” Hannah said. “You have hundreds of kids in costumes on the field, on the concourse, and this family friendly Halloween event. We already have 20 businesses signed up for booths and tables to pass out candy.”
In between the ticketed events in October, the Blue Wahoos will host a variety of private events. The stadium is also the site of the start/finish area in Sunday’s Pensacola Half-Marathon and 5K.
On November 3, the stadium plays host to the First City Bowl -- the first in-season high school football game played at Blue Wahoos Stadium and featuring Tate High against Booker T. Washington. The game occurs on the final Friday of the 2023 regular season for area high school teams.
The following weekend on November 12 will be the annual Pensacola Egg Fest featuring barbecue and other food delights from area chefs and restaurants, plus music and beverages.
“This time of year in Pensacola is like the perfect time to come outside and we try to book as many events as we can,” Hannah said. “The stadium is open, baseball is finished for the season, the weather is great and people are ready to come out.
“And all of these events we put on truly meet our mission with the ballpark. We’re trying to provide something for everyone.”
WAHOOS OCTOBERFEST
Public Events At Blue Wahoos Stadium In October-November
Oct 8 – Start/Finish course for Pensacola Half-Marathon and 5K Run. (Begins at 7 a.m. inside stadium).
Oct 14 – 31st Annual Soul Bowl. Tickets are $10 apiece, general admission. Link: www.bluewahoos.com/soulbowl.
Oct 19 – Under The Lights Dinner. Tickets $115 apiece, includes four-course meal paired with wine, live music. www.bluewahoos.com/underthelights.
Oct. 21 – Politicians, Law Enforcement vs. Military Kickball. 8:30 am.--noon. Free admission.
Oct. 28 – Wahooloween, Tickets are $7 apiece. Trick-or-Treat begins at 5 p.m., movie begins at 6 p.m. www.bluewahoos.com/wahooloween.
Nov. 3 – First City Bowl. Tate High vs. Booker T. Washington High Football. Tickets $7 general admission. www.bluewahoos.com/firstcitybowl.
Nov. 12 – Pensacola Eggfest. Tickets are $45.00. www.bluewahoos.com/pensacolaeggfest.