Blue Wahoos Bringing Baseball, Fireworks, Community Outing To Fourth of July Week

The schedule enables the Blue Wahoos this week to mix together all the popular elements surrounding the Fourth of July,

There will be baseball, food, fireworks and a community gathering.

It began Monday when the Blue Wahoos faced the Montgomery Biscuits in a three-game series, which concludes Wednesday night with the team’s traditional patriotic fireworks show at the ballpark.

On Thursday July 4, while the team is on the road, the stadium will host a community holiday event from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The ticketed event ($5 general admission) will be complete with three water slides, inflatables, toddler play areas, appearances by Kazoo and the Military Mascots, people able to gather on the field, plus the ability to watch the Pensacola Symphony perform and see the Downtown Pensacola fireworks show from its location away from the ballpark.

The upgraded $35 package in the Hancock Whitney Club has already been sold out.

“We love doing it, because it’s so popular,” said Blue Wahoos events manager Shannon Hannah, now in her seventh year handling the Fourth of July as one of the ballpark’s year-round events.

“It’s the way Fourth of July should be,” she said. “We give the community a safe spot to come. We’ve done this when we’ve had a game, or in the case this year, when we are not playing. But it’s so great to see everyone here.

“One of the important things is that everyone is inside the stadium. Parents know they can bring the kids and the kids can run around. They can play on the slides. The parents don’t have to worry about the kids running into the street. And it’s such a great spot to see the fireworks show downtown and on Pensacola Beach in the distance.”

After dropping three of their first four games against Biloxi to start the second half, the Blue Wahoos gained a split of their road series against the Biloxi Shuckers by winning Saturday and Sunday. They endured a two hour-plus rain delay Sunday to beat the Shuckers 5-1.

Three players – Jacob Berry, Tanner Allen and Joe Mack – all homered, thus making the bus ride home from a long day that much easier. Their late arrival back to Pensacola was followed by Monday’s quick turnaround to face Montgomery in the only Monday home game of the season.

The Blue Wahoos will stage their holiday fireworks show Wednesday, then the stadium will be configured for a community party on Thursday. The team will then continue facing the Montgomery Biscuits, but on Thursday through Saturday at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery.

“Last year we had one water slide for our event and realized the demand was so great,” Hannah said. “This year, we have three water slides. Two are double lane water slides, so five lanes of slides and we’ll have lots of water activities for the kids. And they can wear their swimsuits to the stadium.

“They love it and It was so popular last year. And with our field being a synthetic turf, you don’t have grass blades, you don’t mud or dirt so it’s perfect. It’s easy and it’s clean.”

In addition to the water slides and infant play areas on the field, the public will be able to spread out blankets and enjoy the atmosphere on the field. The concession storefronts will be open for food purchases on the concourse. There will be a bounce house and inflatable games on the concourse area was well.

The team’s military mascots will join Kazoo in mingling around the ballpark during the event. The Blue Wahoos game on Thursday from Montgomery will be shown on the stadium videoboard beginning at 6:35 p.m.

“Of course, you love a baseball game on July Fourth, who wouldn’t, but I love this (year’s events), because you get the best of both worlds. People can come in, the Blue Wahoos game will be on the video board, the symphony will be playing outside and we’ve got so much going on.”

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Blue Wahoos Fourth Of July Summer Celebration

WHEN: July 4, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium

ADMISSION: $5 general admission,

INFO: There will be three water slides on the field, plus other inflatable games/bounce houses on the field and on the concourse, plus cornhole boards, inflatables for infants to play, music, Kazoo appearances, concession storefronts for food purchases, the Blue Wahoos merchandise store will be open. Stadium access will include both the field and throughout the ballpark. The Pensacola Symphony will be performing their Sparks and Stars Show behind the stadium at the waterfront amphitheater.

FIREWORKS: While there won’t be fireworks launched at the stadium July 4, those attending will have good views of Pensacola’s downtown fireworks show, as well as a view of fireworks on Pensacola Beach.

REMINDER: Blue Wahoos Stadium is a cashless venue. No food or beverages will be permitted to be brought inside the stadium gate entrances.