American Legion World Series kicks off this week in Shelby

All day Saturday, crowds of people packed uptown Shelby as they enjoyed the American World Series Festival that kicks off the 97th annual games set to begin this week.

Food vendors had booths set up around the court square and families enjoyed inflatables, putt-putt, amusement rides, temporary tattoos, cornhole, live music from various musicians and bands, a classic car show, the Little Miss ALWS Pageant and more.

Craig Morgan and Cooper Allen drew in fans during the free evening concert.

Fans have a lot to look forward to during this year's American Legion World Series. Here's what to expect:

• Games will begin Thursday and end Tuesday, Aug. 20.

• General admission tickets are available in advance. Day passes will be available only at Keeter Stadium once the games begin.

• Games will be broadcast on ESPN3 Thursday through Sunday and ESPNU Monday and Tuesday.

• The popular U.S. Army Parachute Team, The Golden Knights, will make its third visit to the ALWS and fans can catch them twice. The Golden Knights will perform a 35-minute program at 6 p.m. on Saturday, USAA Military Appreciation Day, between the second and third games of the day. On Championship Tuesday, they will perform at 5:30 p.m. before the final two teams play for the national championship.

• The Museum of Flight’s three T-28 warbirds and their pilots will be visiting every day of the six-day tournament. The planes and the pilots will be on public display from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the Shelby-Cleveland County Regional Airport. The warbirds are single-engine, vintage aircraft created as training planes for the U.S. military and are no longer in service. The pilots will execute flyovers every tournament day.

• Blaze Battalion JROTC units will be attending from Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, TN. The award-winning cadets will post the colors every day of the tournament.

For more information visit www.alws.us or call the office at 704-466-3103.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: American Legion World Series kicks off this week in Shelby