Padres FanFest Returns to PETCO Park

Photo from SD Dirk via Flickr

Baseball season is starting to heat up as we are a week away from catchers and pitchers reporting to camp. With a busy off season, the Padres have added new faces in new places and fans had a chance last Saturday to interact and get to know some of them.

The event was a great opportunity for the nearly 12,000 people in attendance. No doubt the beautiful San Diego weather played a role in the numbers.

FanFest was a chance for kids young and old to experience what it’s like to be a Major League baseball player while meeting new and returning Padres, alumni and broadcasters.

The”Retro” section and “Military Zone” were buzzing with alumni players signing autographs and military vehicles, Padres military merchandise, and a rock climbing wall.

FanFest was a great opportunity to get San Diego fans excited about the upcoming season — there’s plenty to get excited about. This season’s lineup features 17 all-fan giveaways, 12 kids giveaways, four fireworks shows, six Throwback Thursdays, four College Nights and three Heritage Nights.

New this season are the Throwback Thursdays and College Nights. College Nights (April 16, May 28, June 18, Sept. 24) will feature special discounts for college students. For Throwback Thursdays, the Padres will wear vintage team uniforms from the 1970s and ’80s for six 3:35 p.m. day games. In an online vote the 1978 brown team jerseys won, with the 1884 white jerseys coming in close second. The winning jerseys were unveiled during FanFest on Saturday.