Every year, a bash is thrown to celebrate the official start of the Mud Hens baseball season.
This year’s celebration comes at the end of a brutal winter.
The official Mud Hens party will grill plenty of burgers and hot dogs to celebrate the beginning of spring. The party, set for 2 p.m. April 4, happens before the Mud Hens Opening Day doubleheader, which will see the Mud Hens kick off their season at 4 p.m. followed by a regular season game for the Walleye hockey team at 7:15 p.m.
This is the first time in Walleye and Mud Hens history that both teams have played on Opening Day.
“It’s the biggest party in town; let’s just carry it off into the evening and be able to hang out with the Walleye that night,” said Andi Roman, communications director for the two teams.
The bash will feature drink specials and an all-you-can-eat buffet, including hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans, potato chips and gourmet cookies, Roman said. Live music will be provided by The Bradberries at The Nest from 2-3:15 p.m.
After the Mud Hens game, the University of Toledo marching band will lead people from Fifth Third Field to the Huntington Center for the Walleye game.
Tickets to the bash are $30. For those interested in going to both games, there’s a special ticket price of $25. To attend the bash and both games, fans can purchase the $25 double ticket plus a bash wristband for $17. To purchase tickets, call (419) 725-4367 or mudhens.com.
Happening Downtown
Events celebrating Opening Day will also take place outside of the stadium.
Sarah Mettler, supervisor at Ye Olde Cock n’ Bull, 9 N. Huron St., recently used tagged photos from Facebook as art on the newly designed menus. Anyone who has tagged themselves at the bar on the social networking site just might spot themselves on the menus. Mettler said she has been waiting for the spring season to show them off.
“They’ve been out for a little bit, but it’s been the winter season so sales haven’t really been that high,” she said.
Ye Olde Cock n’ Bull, which will open at noon April 4, will have live music by Flabongo Nation from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Drink specials for the day include $1 Jell-O Shots and, as always, draft beers will be available.
This is the second year the bar will celebrate the start of the Mud Hens season. Mettler said it is the bar’s busiest day of the year and she enjoys seeing the support for local sports.
The Blarney Irish Pub, 601 Monroe St., will open at 10 a.m. April 4 and will feature a hot dog bar all day. Patrons will be able to dress their dogs in their choice of 20 exotic toppings.
Live music will be featured as well, including Last Born Sons at 1 p.m. and Nine Lives at 9 p.m.
Bill Kline, general manager of The Blarney Irish Pub, said after the winter area residents have endured, it’s exciting to begin baseball season.
“We’re looking forward to opening up the patio,” he said.
Gathered Art Gallery & Studios, 23 N. Huron St., will celebrate the new season in an artistic manner, according to Marketing and Events Coordinator Amanda Goldberg.
From noon to 4 p.m., anyone who visits the studio can make a glass baseball glove for $45. A food truck, face painting and live music will also be featured during that time.
After the game, from 6-11 p.m., people are encouraged to return to the studio for public glass blowing demonstrations and to purchase a handmade glass cup.
