The Miami Marlins today announced that Marlins Play Ball Week 2016, the team's annual celebration of community engagement, kicks off on Saturday, February 13 and culminates on February 20 at Marlins Park with FanFest presented by Papa John's Pizza. FanFest, free for all fans, will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with single-game tickets being sold as of 10 a.m. at Marlins Park and Marlins.com.
During Play Ball Week, which gets its name from the MLB initiative aimed to encourage more participation in all forms of the sport among all age groups, Marlins players, coaches and staff will be appearing at over 40 stops throughout South Florida. The festivities begin on February 13 with appearances in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties; the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, a Marlins Fish Family BBQ in Boca Raton, the West Boca Little League and Scout Masters Camporee in Sunrise. Additionally, Marlins players and personnel will engage the community during the week with visits to schools, little leagues, military partners, the Los Viejos seniors baseball league, corporate partners in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, a Florida Panthers game and the Miami-Dade County Fire Training Facility.
Marlins Park will serve as the host for many events during this period, including a beep ball game with Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Special Olympics Unified Softball game, Kickin' It with the Fish kickball games with wounded veterans, RBI baseball and softball games, and several high school baseball games as part of the Field of Dreams Play Ball Series at Marlins Park. Also during the week, the 2016 Marlins Charity Partners will be announced and recognized with surprise visits by Marlins players.
Two Marlins Foundation signature events will also highlight Marlins Ayudan Week, the Jack McKeon Celebrity Golf Classic and Taste of Miami. The golf classic, which is hosted by former Marlins manager and 2003 World Series Champion Jack McKeon, will take place at Crandon Golf Course on February 17. Taste of Miami celebrates the stylish flavors of Miami with culinary bites from the city's best restaurants. The event will take place on Thursday, February 18 on the East Plaza at Marlins Park. For tickets and more information about Taste of Miami, please visit Marlins.com/TasteOfMiami.