Blue Jays to begin Winter Tour on Jan. 11

Rogers Centre will host Winter Fest on Jan. 19-20

November 13th, 2018
Fans yell for autographs from Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Teoscar Hernandez as he stands in the dugout before the team's baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)Ted S. Warren/AP

TORONTO -- The Blue Jays are heading to Halifax as part of January's Winter Tour, and they have also decided to bring back Winter Fest for the second consecutive year at Rogers Centre.
Select members of Toronto's organization will travel to Nova Scotia on Jan. 11 for a two-day stop in the Maritime Province. The Blue Jays will visit the IWK Health Centre, host a couple of baseball clinics and take part in an autograph session as part of the trip.
The Blue Jays also announced on Tuesday morning that Winter Fest has been expanded to two days. Winter Fest made its debut last year and featured dozens of current Major Leaguers, prospects and Blue Jays alumni. The goal was to make it an annual event, and the overwhelming success of last year turned that into a reality.
Learn more about Winter Fest and the Winter Tour
Winter Fest will take place at Rogers Centre on Jan. 19-20. Similar to last year, the carnival-style party will feature baseball-themed games, a Ferris wheel, a skating rink, batting cages, ballpark tours and interactive events with representatives from the Blue Jays organization.
Tickets for Winter Fest are scheduled to go on sale to the general public on Monday at 10 a.m. ET. Fans who purchase tickets prior to Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 10 p.m. ET will have the opportunity to gain access to autograph sessions and guided tours, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each player autograph session and guided tour ticket is $5, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Jays Care Foundation.

One week before the Blue Jays return home, they will be in Halifax for the special two-day event. Toronto will begin its trip out east by hosting a private brunch on Jan. 11 and then stopping at the IWK Health Centre to visit patients and their families. Friday night will feature an autograph session at Pier 21.
The second day in Halifax will include a visit to CFB Halifax, where players will meet members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families. Toronto will wrap up its first visit to Halifax since 2012 by hosting a Challenger Baseball Clinic and a Blue Jays Academy baseball clinic.
For a chance to secure tickets to the Halifax autograph session, fans will be required to enter into an online lottery at bluejays.com/wintertour. The lottery opens on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 11 a.m. AT and closes Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 10:59 p.m. AT.
Toronto has yet to announce which current players and alumni will be taking part in the Winter Tour and Winter Fest. The Blue Jays instead said the full list of participants will be announced closer to the event.