The State College Spikes return to action in just over a month and the season at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park will be filled with special events and promotions.
Among the highlights: Penn State football greats LaVar Arrington and Ki-Jana Carter will make special appearances, while fan favorites Cowboy Monkey Rodeo and the Human Cannonbal will make return engagements.
The Spikes previously announced the giveaway schedule for the season, including bobblehead nights for Carter on Aug. 10 and NFL-bound wide receive DaeSean Hamilton on Aug. 24. Carter will be in attendance on Aug. 10 to sign the bobblehead and interact with fans on Aug. 10.
Ki-Jana Carter, DaeSean Hamilton Bobbleheads Among Highlights of Spikes’ Giveaway Slate
Carter also will headline a celebrity softball game at Medlar Field on Aug. 14 as part of the festivities for the 2018 NYPL All-Star Game, which is being hosted by the Spikes that night. On Aug. 13, an All-Star Gala will take place under the lights at Medlar with games, music, food and a chance to meet local legends and NYPL All-Stars.
Check here for details on NYPL All-Star Game events
Arrington, meanwhile, will meet and greet fans and sign autographs at the game on July 20.
The ever-popular Cowboy Monkey Rodeo returns on June 24. Tim ‘Wild Thang’ Lepard and Team GhostRiders will bring the monkeys riding dogs herding rams to entertain throughout the night.
‘The Bullet’ David Smith, Jr., makes his return to State College for a postgame blastoff as the Human Cannonball on July 3.
Fans and their four-legged friends can enjoy four ‘Bark in the Park’ nights: June 20, July 1, Aug. 3 and Aug. 30.
The tradition of unique theme nights at Medlar Field will continue on July 13 with FryDay the 13th Night — a National French Fry Day Celebration and a Salute to Horror Movies. On Aug. 29, gamers will do battle at the ballpark on Salute to Esports Night.
First Responders Appreciation Night is set for July 3, with Military Appreciation Night on July 15.
Paint the Park Pink Night on July 22 will support the fight against breast cancer. The team will wear pink sunrise jerseys that will then be auctioned off to benefit the Mount Nittany Health Foundation. The first 1,000 fans also will receive a replica shirtsey.
On Aug. 4, the Spikes will celebrate the 40th anniversary of ‘Animal House with State ‘College’ sweater jerseys, which also will be auctioned off to benefit Children’s Miracle Network. The first 1,000 fans receive replica shirtseys.
The skies will light up with post-game fireworks on 12 nights, including the home opener on June 16, the All-Star Game on Aug. 14 and the home finale on Aug. 31. Other fireworks dates include June 24, June 29, July 3, July 15, July 21, July 22, Aug. 4 , Aug. 10, and Aug. 25.
Community Nights return again this year, with free Kids Zone. The schedule includes: Clearfield County Night (June 13), Huntingdon County Night (July 21), Philipsburg-Osceola Community Night (July 22), the inaugural Lemont Night (Aug. 2), Bellefonte Community Night (Aug. 4), Penns Valley Community Night (Aug. 10), and Mifflin & Juniata County Night (Aug. 25).
Other theme nights and special events include:
• State College Borough Water Authority Water Conservation Awareness Nights on Wednesday, June 20, Friday, July 20, and Monday, August 20
• Ag Night on Sunday, June 24
• Three BB&T Books and Baseball Nights on Tuesday, June 26, Wednesday, July 11, and Wednesday, August 8, honoring readers who hit a home run in the BB&T Books and Baseball program
• Bellies & Baseball Night presented by Pregnancy Resource Clinic, on Friday, June 29
• Salute to Sports Movies on Thursday, July 12
• National Mac and Cheese Day Celebration on Saturday, July 14
• The Spikes’ Youth Baseball Clinicon Saturday, July 14 at 11 a.m., which is free with a ticket to that night’s game
• Super Splash Day, a special noon game where Ike’s Kids Zone turns into a water park, on Monday, July 16 and Wednesday, August 1
• Medical Professionals Appreciation Night on Friday, July 20
• Team Ream Night on Saturday, July 21
• Halloween Night on Tuesday, July 31
• Coaches vs. Cancer of Penn State Night and American Cancer Society Sun Safety Night on Friday, August 3
• Ladies Night and Paint the Park Purple Night on Thursday, August 9
• Scout Night, featuring a post-game sleepover on the field, on Friday, August 10
• The return of Way Back Wednesday, featuring a retro in-game presentation, on Wednesday, August 15
• Princess & Pirates Night on Thursday, August 16
• THON Night on Thursday, August 30.
Single-game tickets for the Spikes 39-game home schedule go on sale at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 10.
