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Astros Fanfest set for Saturday at Minute Maid Park

Autographs, fan forums highlight day; over 30 current and former players to participate; free admission, free parking

WHO: Current and former Astros players; select front office personnel
WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, 11 a.m-3 p.m.
WHERE: Minute Maid Park
WHAT: Astros FanFest


Autograph Availabilities
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Kids Autograph Sessions (available to kids 14 years old and younger; no voucher required)
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Autograph Session A (voucher required)
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Legends Autograph Session (voucher required)
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Autograph Session B (voucher required)
1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Orbit Autograph Session (no voucher required)
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Autograph Session C (voucher required)


Fan Forums
11:15 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. Q&A with A.J. Hinch and Jeff Luhnow (hosted by Steve Sparks)
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. Award Winners with Jose Altuve and Dallas Keuchel (hosted by Bill Brown)
12:40 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Story Time with Milo Hamilton
1:10 p.m. - 1:40 p.m. The Future with Mark Appel, Carlos Correa, Colin Moran, Preston Tucker (hosted by Steve Sparks)
1:50 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. Hall of Fame Talk with Craig Biggio (hosted by Bill Brown)
2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. New/Returning Faces with Luke Gregerson, Jed Lowrie, Pat Neshek (hosted by Steve Sparks)


Social Media Zone
This interactive area, known as the Social Media Zone, will host Astros players and Legends throughout the day. Located behind the Crawford Boxes, fans are encouraged to stop by and participate in a variety of social media activities, including selfies with players in an interactive photo booth, Twitter Q&As with players and Legends, a FanFest social media scavenger hunt for a chance to win great Astros prizes and more. Follow all the social media fun using #AstrosFanFest.


All-Day Activities
Include batting practice in the Astros batting cages (voucher required), bullpen throws in the Astros bullpen (voucher required), running of the bases, photos in the dugout, mechanical bull riding, inflatables, face painters, balloon artists, a vendor expo, caricature artists, a garage sale, mystery grab bags, clubhouse tours and a Houston Methodist blood drive.


**Media are to utilize the normal press entrance located off of Texas Avenue. A 2014 Astros season credential is sufficient for entrance. Media without a 2014 season credential can gain entrance by claiming a free voucher on Astros.com.


INFORMATION
FanFest will conclude the Astros week-long Winter Caravan at Minute Maid Park this Saturday, Jan. 24 from 11:00 am - 3:00 p.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 as well as current and former players, a vendor expo and mechanical bull riding. Additionally, Houston Methodist will be conducting a blood drive at Minute Maid Park during the event. The majority of FanFest proceeds will benefit the Astros Foundation's programs for at-risk children and teens.

Free parking will be available in Astros-controlled lots A, B and C for all fans and media.

Three different types of autograph sessions will take place throughout the day: Players, Legends and a free Kids-Only autograph session (available to children 14 years or younger; no voucher required). For each player and legends autograph session, a limited number of vouchers will be sold to ensure that each fan that purchases a voucher will be guaranteed to get through the line. Player autograph vouchers are currently sold out, but Legends autograph vouchers are still on sale online for $15 per session, and any remaining vouchers will be available for on-site purchase at FanFest for $20 per session. Assigned players will not be announced prior to the sessions, as they will be randomly assigned by lottery.

Astros players, prospects and legends appearing at FanFest include Jose Altuve, Mark Appel, Brandon Backe, Chris Carter, Kevin Chapman, Carlos Correa, Larry Dierker, Matt Dominguez, Josh Fields, Evan Gattis, Marwin Gonzalez, Luke Gregerson, Robbie Grossman, Milo Hamilton, L.J. Hoes, John Hudek, Dallas Keuchel, Jed Lowrie, Jake Marisnick, Collin McHugh, Colin Moran, Pat Neshek, Brad Peacock, Alex Presley, Terry Puhl, Jon Singleton, Chad Qualls, J.R. Richard, Tony Sipp, George Springer, Max Stassi, Carl Warwick, Asher Wojciechowski and Jimmy Wynn. All players and legends are subject to change.

Clubhouse Tours will also be offered every 30 minutes during FanFest. Tours begin at 11:30 a.m. and run until 2:30 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase for $20 inside the Diamond Club lobby.
For more information, or to claim event vouchers, visit www.astros.com/fanfest, or visit the Astros Box Office at Minute Maid Park.

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