The Myrtle Beach Pelicans minor-league baseball team has plenty of reasons to celebrate this season, and they plan to do just that all summer. Not only has the Grand Strand's home team captured back-to-back Carolina League championships, but the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs will also honor the parent club's unforgettable World Series title run last fall.
Located about 1 mile down 21st Avenue North from The Breakers Resort, Pelicans Ballpark will be the site of a summer-long celebration. You don’t have to be a baseball fan to enjoy a fun night out at the ballpark, which has been ranked as one of the best sports venues in the country for watching a game and taking in family-friendly entertainment, such as between-inning games and promotions that put the spotlight on the fans in the grandstands.
So what is a sports organization to do when it has three championships to commemorate? The Pelicans present Cubs‐A‐Palooza — a three-day tribute to the organization that captured the hearts of baseball fans by winning their first World Series title since 1908. The June 23-25 salute to the beloved Cubbies is the highlight of the Pelicans' promotional schedule for the 2017 season.
Cubs‐A‐Palooza is sure to pack the 5,500-seat ballpark near the Broadway at the Beach complex. The event will feature appearances by former Cubs greats like Baseball Hall of Famer Andre “The Hawk” Dawson and Bill Buckner. The June 23 contest will give fans a unique culinary experience with a “Taste of Chicago,” offering bratwursts, ribs, sausages and more. On June 24, lucky fans will receive Replica World Series Trophies upon entry and a fireworks show at the end of the game. The final day of the celebration is Cubstock, a Woodstock-themed party with post‐game pyrotechnics.
But you don’t have to come for Cubs-A-Palooza to join in the fun. In fact, no matter when you attend, the Pelicans have a promotion planned for every home game, including the popular Thirsty Thursdays with $1 draft beers from 6 to 8 p.m. New to the weekly schedule this year is Foodie Friday, which allows patrons to upgrade their tickets to enjoy a unique dining experience at the game, such as oyster roasts, shrimp boils, pig pickin’s and more. Other rotating weekly promotions include Locals Appreciation Saturdays, Family Sundays, Make a Splash Mondays, Craft Beer Tuesdays and Wiener Wednesdays.
In addition to the 21 post-game fireworks shows, the Pelicans' popular and wacky promotions include Bark in the Park (April 26 and Aug. 23), when fans can bring their four-legged friends to the game; Old School Hip Hop Night (Aug. 24); and Bring Your Own Instrument Night (Aug. 26). The Pelicans offer almost nightly giveaways, such as baseballs, bats and talking bobbleheads, and there are lots of great attractions throughout the ballpark.
The first of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans’ 70 home games is set for Thursday, April 13, with a wide variety of Opening Day festivities on the schedule. The team will raise the 2016 Carolina League Championship Banner on April 14, and the debut weekend concludes April 16 with a visit from the Easter Bunny and a special helicopter candy drop on the field. It’s not the only opportunity for the little ones to step out on the diamond, as Kids Run the Bases has become a popular post-game ritual for the Pelicans over the years.
After a fun night at the ballpark, make a home run to The Breakers Resort for a good night’s rest so you can get ready for another vacation day in paradise.
