No Baseball, But Blue Wahoos Hosting Two Nights Of Community Fun To Celebrate Special Fourth Of July

The Blue Wahoos are hosting two nights of fireworks viewing on July 3-4 at stadium to commemorate nation's 250th birthday. (Bill Vilona/Blue Wahoos)

By Bill Vilona, Senior Writer

July 1, 2026

For the first time in the team’s 14-year history, the Blue Wahoos won’t have a home baseball game during the Fourth of July holiday week. But the stadium won’t be empty. The Blue Wahoos have consecutive events on Friday and the Fourth of July entitled “Red, White and Wahoos,” featuring

For the first time in the team’s 14-year history, the Blue Wahoos won’t have a home baseball game during the Fourth of July holiday week.

But the stadium won’t be empty.

The Blue Wahoos have consecutive events on Friday and the Fourth of July entitled “Red, White and Wahoos,” featuring on-field activities, a baseball themed-movie, inflatable waterslides for kids, whiffle ball playing and each night culminating with viewing fireworks displays.

General admission is $10 each day. Gates open at 6 p.m. each night. The Hancock Whitney Club and party decks will also be utilized for a VIP experienced and higher price.

People gather on the field at Blue Wahoos Stadium for a Fourth of July night event. This year, it will happen on July 3-4 to mark nation's 250 birthday.Bill Vilona/Blue Wahoos

“For the last 20 years or so in Minor League Baseball, it’s always been where you had one or the other dates around July 4, either playing at home on July 3 or playing on July 4^th,” said Blue Wahoos team president Jonathan Griffith.

“This year with July 4^th on a Saturday and scheduling involving with that, it was deemed that it wasn’t possible this year. Now, next year the Fourth (of July) falls on a Sunday, so we’ll have a homestand that whole week leading into July 4.

“But with this year being so special, the (USA’s) 250^th birthday, it was kinda tough for us, because had to figure out what we were going to do.”

Blue Wahoos events manager Shannon Hannah arranged for two nights designed for family fun and children’s activities.

The two nights of events July 3-4 at Blue Wahoos Stadium will feature four water slides for kids of all ages.Bill Vilona/Blue Wahoos

There will be three large inflatable water slides installed on the field for the two-night experience, along with a special tiny water slide for toddlers. There will be a baseball-themed movie showing on July 3, then ability to listen and see the Pensacola Symphony’s annual “Sparks and Stars” on July 4 at the Hunter Amphitheater, located behind centerfield.

The Blue Wahoos mascot Kazoo will be meeting and greeting people both nights. There will be other on-field games and food and beverages available throughout the stadium on the concourse storefronts. Those attending the events can bring blankets and sit on the outfield turf as if being at a lawn picnic.

“We had opportunities this year to host both July 3^rd and July 4^th,” Hannah said. “We always see a big turnout on July 4^th, but with July 3^rd being on a Friday and it’s the recognized (holiday) day off, so we figured, hey, let’s open up the stadium and give families two days to come out.”

The Blue Wahoos will have their fireworks show at 8:30 p.m. on July 3. On the holiday night, Pensacola’s 4^th of July Fireworks show, sponsored by the Greater Pensacola Chamber and Pensacola Young Professionals, will be produced nearby and plainly visible at the stadium at 9 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Blue Wahoos team is in the second week of an extend road trip, playing games against the Rocket City Trash Pandas in Madison, Alabama. The team returns on July 7 to begin a homestand, which is a 16-day gap between home games.

Fireworks will be viewed on July 3-4 at Blue Wahoos Stadium as part of twin days of family friendly events.Bill Vilona/Blue Wahoos

For the last several years with the team on the road July 4, the ballpark has hosted a community event which has become popular.

“I think we learn lessons every year,” Hannah said. “We always try to be bigger and better. Listening to feedback… and what better place to celebrate the Fourth of July than at Blue Wahoos Stadium. It’s perfect. It’s a big place for kids to run around. We’ve got plenty of restrooms, we have 4,000 seats for people to sit and watch the fireworks, we’ve got concessions, we’ve got all the makings for a comfortable gathering spot and a safe gathering spot.”

One thing learned, Hannah said, was going with the water slides – this year having four – as opposed to inflatable bounce houses or maze inflatables that become too hot in July on an artificial surface field.

“When we started with one or two (water slides), the lines were very long. This year, we’ll have water sliders for kids of all age.”

RED, WHITE & WAHOOS

WHAT: Two days of family events, fireworks shows.

WHEN: July 3-4, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium

ADMISSION: $10 general admission each day. Upgrades: $40 for Coors Light Cool Zone party deck with All-American buffet meal, free sodas, cash bar for alcoholic beverages or $55 for Hancock Whitney Club level with special chef prepared buffet meet, cash bar, option to purchase a whiskey tasting experience on July 4 by American Born Whiskey.

PARKING: Free at stadium’s main parking lot.

ACTIVITIES: A baseball theme movie will be shown on July 3 at 6:30 p.m., along with featuring 3 inflatable water slides, other inflatables, whiffle ball, lawn games, music and appearances by Blue Wahoos mascot Kazoo. Fireworks at 8:30 produced by Blue Wahoos. On July 4, Pensacola Symphony concert at Hunter Amphitheater begins at 7 p.m.. City of Pensacola fireworks show begins at 9 p.m.

INFO: www.bluewahoos.com. Ticket Link: http://bit.ly/4eovbS7.