In less than two months, All-Star Week will come to Florida for the first time, and it will have a distinctive Miami flair, starting with a nighttime Electric Run MLB All-Star 5K presented by Nike on July 8 and MLB All-Star Zumba featuring Beto Perez the next morning.
Signups are underway for both fitness events, which will take place at Miami's Bayfront Park on the weekend before the 88th All-Star Game presented by MasterCard on July 11 at Marlins Park. It will mark the first "nightlife" All-Star 5K and the first Zumba event at Major League Baseball's big summertime bash.
"After the great reception in San Diego, we again wanted to tap into the culture of the All-Star host city to plan this year's festivities," said Marla Miller, MLB's senior vice president, special events. "In discussing ideas with the Marlins and other local officials, we thought a nighttime 5K and a Zumba class in the park would connect really well with the vibrant South Florida community. These special events should provide one-of-a-kind memories for fans in the Miami area."
"We are thrilled to show off the evolution of Miami during the many All-Star Week festivities happening around town," said Marlins president David Samson. "Electric Run MLB All-Star 5K will be such a unique event that reflects our city, and the MLB All-Star Zumba class in Bayfront Park is certain to be an energetic class with Beto as the host and lead instructor. It's great that there is a variety of activities around the city that will give fans more chances to get involved in All-Star Week."
The Electric Run MLB All-Star 5K is $34.99 per person if you register now, and the race will take place throughout downtown Miami starting at 8 p.m. ET. Electric Run is a concert-turned-dance party full of lights, music and surprises that ends with a festival beyond the finish line.
"We're bringing the party to Miami for MLB All-Star Week," said Nick Pearson, event director for Electric Run MLB All-Star 5K. "It'll be an electric experience you won't want to miss."
After debuting Soul Pose MLB All-Star Yoga in San Diego during last year's All-Star Week, MLB is tapping into Miami's culture to hold the first MLB All-Star Zumba event on July 9. Perez, the Colombian-born co-creator of Zumba, will guide participants through the one-of-a-kind event from 9:30-11 a.m. ET that day. General admission is $34.99, or you can get a spot closer to Perez with a $69.99 VIP ticket.
Zumba is the largest dance-fitness program in the world, with 15 million people taking classes on a weekly basis in 186 countries. The fitness craze incorporates hip-hop, soca, samba, salsa, merengue and mambo into its choreography.
"Zumba classes have injected happiness into the fitness world for almost two decades, and teaching a program that gets people moving and smiling is what I live for," Perez said. "Get ready, Miami and MLB, because we're going to sweat and dance all our stresses away."
Additional sponsors of the Electric Run MLB All-Star 5K include 5-Hour Energy, OxiClean, Nathan's Famous, T-Mobile and Gatorade. Arm & Hammer will be the supporting partner of MLB All-Star Zumba.
The 88th Midsummer Classic, at Marlins Park in Miami, will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM will have comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @AllStarGame on social media.