The 2016 Houston Astros Caravan presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors will commence on Monday, January 18 in an effort to connect with Astros fans throughout Houston and central and south Texas.
The Astros Texas tour consists of several simultaneous trips over the course of four days with stops in the Houston area (Jan. 18 - 21), San Antonio (Jan. 19),Austin (Jan. 20) and Corpus Christi (Jan. 20).
The Caravan will give Astros players and broadcasters an opportunity to engage with and thank fans as the team gears up for Spring Training and the 2016 season. The fan outreach tour will also engage with local first responders, stop at several different community centers, visit military facilities and hospitals and conduct baseball and softball clinics . There will also be several opportunities for fans to get autographs from Astros players at select Academy Sports + Outdoors locations.
Additionally, the Astros will host "Caravan Jams" in specific markets (North Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Corpus Christi), which will feature music, inflatables, traditional baseball fare and interaction with players through a public Q&A session.
Current players joining the community engagement tour include Jose Altuve, Mike Fiers, Ken Giles, Marwin Gonzalez, Dallas Keuchel, Jake Marisnick, Lance McCullers, Brad Peacock, Colby Rasmus,Max Stassi, Preston Tucker and Luis Valbuena. Manager A.J. Hinch will also be on the tour, joining Astros TV broadcaster Bill Brown and radio broadcasters Robert Ford and Steve Sparks. Please note that all individuals are subject to change.
Other players and alumni may be added to those listed. For more information and complete details, visit www.astros.com/caravan and www.astros.com/fanfest.
The Astros will kick off Astros Caravan week with a day of service on Monday, Jan. 18 at the Houston Food Bank, the Star of Hope Men's Development Center and Star of Hope Women and Family Emergency Shelter.
On Friday, Jan. 22, The Astros Foundation is hosting the Diamond Dreams Gala featuring legendary singer and songwriter James Taylor on the field of Minute Maid Park. The charitable event will benefit the Astros Foundation as well as New Hope Housing, an organization combatting homelessness by providing housing and support services for those in need.
Media wishing to cover the Diamond Dreams Gala must RSVP with Dena Propis at [email protected] by Thursday, Jan 21.
Astros FanFest will cap off the week-long Caravan at Minute Maid Park on Saturday, Jan. 23 from 11a.m. - 4p.m. with activities for all ages including autograph sessions with many current and former players, swings in the Astros batting cages, running the bases, bullpen throwing sessions, an interactive kids zone, fan forums with front office staff and current players, a vendor expo, clubhouse tours, a dedicated Social Media Zone and PlazaFest which includes a live petting zoo. The majority of FanFest proceeds will benefit the Astros Foundation's programs for at-risk children and teens.
Details for Caravan are as follows, subject to change:
Monday, Jan. 18- Astros Day of Service
Houston
Orbit, Shooting Stars, Astros front office members
Houston Food Bank
•              8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
•              535 Portwall St., Houston, TX 77029
•              Open to media
Star of Hope Men's Development Center
•              11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
•              1811 Ruiz St., Houston, TX 77002
•              CLOSED to media
Star of Hope Women and Family Emergency Shelter
•              11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
•              419 Dowling St., Houston, TX 77003
•              CLOSED to media
Academy Sports + Outdoors Autograph Signing, featuring Marwin Gonzalez
•              2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
•              2404 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77098
•              Open to media and public
Tuesday, Jan. 19
San Antonio
Brad Peacock, Colby Rasmus, Steve Sparks
Brooke Army Medical Center
•              11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
•              Warrior and Family Support Center, Bldg. 3638, 3138 Rawley E. Chambers Rd., San Antonio, TX 78219
•              Open to media
Whataburger
•              2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
•              18303 W. Interstate 10, San Antonio, TX 78257
•              Open to media and public
Ronald McDonald House
•              3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
•              4803 Sid Katz Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229
•              Open to media
Caravan Jam at H-E-B
•              5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
•              9900 Wurzbach, San Antonio, TX 78230
•              Open to media and public
Academy Sports + Outdoors Autograph Signing
•              6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
•              2643 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78230
•              Open to media and public
Houston
Orbit, Shooting Stars
Houston Methodist West Hospital
•              9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
•              18500 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77094
•              Open to media
Chick-fil-A
•              3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
•              19303 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77094
•              Open to media and public
*Note- during this hour, any fan dining in with an Astros T-shirt or jersey on will receive a free Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich
Wednesday, Jan. 20
Austin
Jake Marisnick, Max Stassi, Steve Sparks
Lanier High School Chalk Talk
•              1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
•              1201 Payton Gin Road, Austin, TX 78758
•              Open to media
Caravan Jam at The Domain
•              5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
•              11410 Century Oaks Terrace, Austin, TX 78758
•              Open to media and public
Academy Sports + Outdoors Autograph Signing
•              6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
•              1104 C-Bar Ranch Trail, Cedar Park, TX 78613
•              Open to media and public
Corpus Christi
Mike Fiers, Preston Tucker, Bill Brown
Corpus Christi Hooks Luncheon
•              11:00 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
•              The Omni Hotel | 900 Shoreline Blvd., Corpus Christi, 78401
•              Open to media and ticketed public
Robstown High School Chalk Talk
•              2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
•              609 W. Hwy 44, Robstown, TX 78380
•              CLOSED to media
Caravan Jam at La Palmera Mall at Center Court
•              4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
•              5488 S. Padre Island Dr., Corpus Christi, TX 78411
•              Open to media and public
Academy Sports + Outdoors Autograph Signing
•              5:45 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.
•              5001 S. Padre Island Dr., Corpus Christi, TX 78411
•              Open to media and public
Katy, Sugar Land and Houston
A.J. Hinch, Marwin Gonzalez, Robert Ford
Tom Wilson Elementary School
•              9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
•              5200 Falcon Landing Blvd., Katy, TX 77494
•              CLOSED to media
ConocoPhillips
•              11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
•              600 N. Dairy Ashford, Houston, TX 77079
•              Open to media
Houston Methodist- Sugar Land
•              1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
•              16655 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77479
•              Open to media
Whataburger
•              2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
•              340 Highway 6, Sugar Land, TX 77479
•              Open to media and public
Challenger League Clinic at Minute Maid Park
•              3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
•              501 Crawford, Houston, TX 77002
•              Open to media
Academy Sports + Outdoors Autograph Signing, featuring Marwin Gonzalez and Robert Ford
•              6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
•              9734 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77055
•              Open to media and public
Thursday, Jan. 21
Galveston, League City, Pasadena and Houston
Lance McCullers, Luis Valbuena, Robert Ford
Shriner's Hospital for Children
•              9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
•              815 Market St., Galveston, TX 77550
•              Open to media
First Responders Firehouse
•              1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
•              120 Surf Court, Houston, TX 77058
•              Open to media
Academy Sports + Outdoors Autograph Signing
•              6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
•              4627 E. Sam Houston Parkway S., Houston, TX 77043
•              Open to media and public
Astroline at Pluckers featuring Jake Marisnick and Max Stassi
•              7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
•              1400 Shepherd Dr., Houston TX 77007
•              Open to media and public
Houston and The Woodlands
Jose Altuve, Ken Giles, Dallas Keuchel, Bill Brown
Chick-fil-A
•              10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
•              2222 Shearn St., Houston, TX 77007
•              Open to media and public
*Note- during this hour, any fan with an Astros T-shirt or jersey on will receive a free Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, with any purchase
Kids Meals (Keegan's Kitchen)
•              11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
•              2445 North Freeway, Houston, TX 77009
•              Open to media
St. Anthony of Padua
•              1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
•              7801 Bay Branch Dr., The Woodlands, TX 77385
•              CLOSED to media
Caravan Jam at the Fountains at Waterway Square
•              5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
•              24 Waterway Square Place, The Woodlands, TX 77380
•              Open to media and public
Academy Sports + Outdoors Autograph Signing
•              6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
•              1360 Lake Woodlands Dr., Spring, TX 77380
•              Open to media and public
-ASTROS-