Although it didn’t feel much like winter, Washington Nats fans headed out in droves this weekend to attend Nationals Winterfest, the team’s annual fanfest, held January 11-12 at Nationals Park.
The atmosphere was celebratory, as fans gathered to fete the reigning World Series champions. Even Mother Nature seemed to revel in the fun, basking Nats Park with bright sun and springlike temperatures.
Winterfest is best suited for two types of people: hard-core Nats fans and kids. Those who live and breathe baseball had the opportunity to meet and greet their favorite players, as long as they were willing to wait.
The lines this year dwarfed those from previous festivals, no surprise given the Nats’ playoff success. Some rabid fans spent the entire time waiting in one line after another for the chance to meet Trea Turner or Juan Soto.
Luckily, there were plenty of other activities, many of which required little or no waiting. For the littlest ones, there was the always-popular Nats playground, a pit for faux snowball fights, and even a storytime with Nats players doing the reading.
OIder children could join a game on a special youth field, where a Nats player would occasionally join in the fun. They could also build a faux snow fort, race against the Presidents, or even try their hand at curling.
Winterfest is a fun event for all those Nats fans counting the days until baseball begins again.
What to Expect:
- Interact with players and coaches
- See player interviews
- Player photo stations
- Interactive games
- Kids Zone with storytime and activities for the younger crowd
- Batting cages
- Hear updates on the Nationals
- Gain behind-the-scenes access to several parts of Nationals Park that are typically closed
- Watch for tickets here: https://www.mlb.com/nationals/tickets/winterfest
A note from Our Kids:
Although Winterfest will change a bit from year to year, it’s always a great chance to get up-close with the Nats and keep up with the team during the off-season. With the Nats cinching the Word Series title, the they attracted a lot more fans. Tickets for Winterfest may sell out so we strongly recommend buying tickets in advance.
The Nats will post information about Winterfest on their website a couple of months in advance and Our Kids will keep you posted when dates for next year are announced. Early Bird pricing is usually available if you buy tickets shortly after they go on sale. Go Nats!
Photos by Stacy Beck
