Wild pitch! 10 wacky promotions on deck for Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp baseball in 2024
Plain old baseball? Not for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in 2024.
As usual, offbeat promotions are lighting up 121 Financial Ballpark in huge numbers for the coming minor league baseball season, beginning with the Jumbo Shrimp's Triple-A home opener against the Gwinnett Stripers on March 29.
But how weird can it really get? Read on.
Full schedule here: Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp release 2024 Triple-A baseball schedule: See who's on deck
Think Edgar Allan Poe mixed with glow sticks. Or fans dyeing their hair during the game. Or a double dose of the Fourth of July.
All of those are on the schedule for 2024 on the First Coast. Maybe they'll even show up again down the road. A few of recent years' favorite promotions have gained repeat status. Classical Music Night, among last year's additions, returns in 2024 on May 17.
Here's a look at 10 of the most entertaining, the most interesting or simply the weirdest awaiting Jacksonville's International League fans in 2024.
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April 9: Band Books Night
No political hot-button topics here, just between-innings readings from books by or about actual bands.
April 19: Quoth the rave(n), give me more!
It's described as an EDM Poetry Slam Rave, complete with flashing LED lights each inning, electronic dance music, glow sticks… and, of course, Edgar Allan Poe. The series is appropriately timed with a visit from the Norfolk Tides, a city linked to Poe at both the early and late stages of the poet's life.
May 4: Margaritaville Night
A tribute to Jimmy Buffett, this Saturday afternoon game includes not only special Margaritaville jerseys but also music and a bucket hat giveaway for the first 2,000 fans.
May 19: Public Domain Night
A celebration of "the greatest loophole of all time," Public Domain Night takes an assortment of "pretty cool old stuff" in the public domain and mashes it together on a jersey. There's also an auction planned for the specialty jerseys.
June 1: 50 Years of Hip Hop
The name says it all: It's a celebration of 50 years of hip hop, including a shirt giveaway for the first 2,000 fans. There's also a live DJ with player walk-up music and a live soundtrack for postgame fireworks.
July 19: Fourth of July in July
Last year, it was Thanksgiving in July. This year, the Jumbo Shrimp is entering a two-week time warp and celebrating Independence Day for the second time in a month.
July 31: Shower Beer Night
A few selected fans get a chance for a free beer… if they're willing to drink it while getting doused by a hose.
Aug. 1: Ginger Reveal Night
Fans can volunteer to get their hair dyed red during the game at the ballpark against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Will Thirsty Thursday increase the volunteer count?
Aug. 13: Random Municipal Water System Giveaway Night
Fans get the chance to win a "jar of good ole government water." The source of said water isn't specified.
Aug. 29: Can It Juice?
It's a follow-up to Jumbo Shrimp promotions in the last two years, Will It Waffle Night and Will It Smoothie Night. So juicing is the next frontier. (If the item is a baseball, the answer is probably no.)
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp: 10 wild promotions for 2024 baseball season
