ports Pirate Fest Returns to Bradenton on Sunday

BRADENTON — The Pittsburgh Pirates will host the 10th annual Pirate Fest on Sunday, March 15. The event will be located on 9^th Street West, just outside the main gate at McKechnie Field. The festival, which is presented by ABC 7, runs from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Pirates will face the Baltimore Orioles at 1:05 p.m. at McKechnie Field.

Several local businesses and community organizations will be represented at the family-centered event. There will be an abundance of activities to delight fans of all ages. Among the scheduled activities are a photo booth, giveaways, face painting, a bounce house, live music from Matthew Huff, and mascot fun with Marty the Marauder. Autograph sessions with select Pirates players will be featured throughout the morning.

The Pirates will support the Mayors’ Feed the Hungry program by accepting donations of non-perishable goods outside the main gates. Fans that donate five or more items will be entered into a raffle to win great prizes.

On the day of the event, 9th Street West will be closed to northbound traffic at 17th Avenue and closed to southbound traffic at 13th Avenue starting at8:00 a.m. Fans wishing to park in the Outfield Parking Lot north of McKechnie Field will be permitted to access the lot by traveling southbound on 9^thStreet, turning left onto 13^th Avenue, and accessing the lot from 7^th Street. The 6th Street Parking Lot and the Wastewater Treatment Lot will be unaffected by Pirate Fest and are both accessible from 17th Avenue. 9^th Street will reopen to traffic at 2:00 p.m.

Pirate Fest is free and open to the public. After Pirate Fest the Pirates take on the Orioles. Single game tickets are available at the McKechnie Field box office, calling 1-877-893-2827, or by visiting www.Pirates.com.

Bradenton has been the Spring Training home of the Pirates since 1969. The team’s High-A affiliate, the Bradenton Marauders, began playing at McKechnie Field in 2010. For more information about Pirate Fest, Spring Training, or the Marauders, call 941-747-3031, visit www.BradentonMarauders.com, or email MaraudersInfo@Pirates.com.