Blue Wahoos host July 4 family event with waterslides, games

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 that concludes Wednesday night with the team’s traditional patriotic fireworks show at the ballpark.

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On 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.

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The ticketed event ($5 general admission) will include three water slides, inflatables, toddler play areas, appearances by Kazoo and the Military Mascots, and a view of the Downtown Pensacola fireworks show from its location away from the ballpark.

“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. “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.”

The event had just one water slide last year and with demand so high, organizers knew they needed to expand.

“This year, we have three water slides," Hannah said. "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.

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. A broadcast of 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,” Hannah said.

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 team will then continue facing the Montgomery Biscuits Thursday through Saturday at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery.

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.

Bill Vilona is a retired Pensacola News Journal sports columnist and now senior writer for Pensacola Blue Wahoos. He can be reached at bvilona@bluewahoos.com