Orioles Expand Community Events Calendar For 2016-17

SARASOTA, FL – The Baltimore Orioles have been a local community steward since they moved year-round operations to Sarasota in 2010. As of this spring, the Major League Baseball franchise reported its contributions to the Sarasota community has totaled more than $2.6 million.

Now the Orioles are looking to increase their activities in and around Sarasota even more. The team announced that it will expand its events calendar during the 2016-17 calendar year.

“We’re excited to expand the public event schedule at Ed Smith Stadium in partnership with a wide variety of community organizations,” said David Rovine, vice president of Orioles-Sarasota. “Civic groups, charities and performing arts organizations enjoy the novelty offered by the ballpark setting and the opportunity to draw a different and often larger crowd than they may typically attract.”

Here are the Orioles’ community events scheduled for 2016-17:

Howl-O-Ween

Sarasota County and the Orioles present their second Howl-O-Ween Movie Night Spooktacular on Saturday, Oct. 15. Guests are offered a free evening of fun, safe activities including a family-friendly movie.

Bowls of Hope

Bowls of Hope, the annual charity event for All Faiths Food Bank, moves to Ed Smith Stadium this year on Sunday, Nov. 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event features soup, bread and desserts provided by 40 restaurants with each guest receiving a handcrafted bowl donated by local artists.

The Orioles collect food and monetary donations during the All Faiths Food Drive at Ed Smith Stadium each spring. In six years, the food drive has collected more than 4,200 pounds of food and more than $6,000 to help the hungry.

Mayors Feed the Hungry Sorting Day

The Orioles will host the Mayors Feed the Hungry Sorting Day at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday, Nov. 18. The all-volunteer organization collects and distributes donated food to families in Sarasota and Manatee counties in time for Thanksgiving.

Run for the Birds 2

The Orioles will host the second-annual Run for the Birds 5K and 1-mile Fun Run at Ed Smith Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 4 from 8 to 11 a.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Save Our Seabirds Wild Bird Learning Center in Sarasota.

Go for the Gold Gala

The YMCA Foundation of Sarasota will also bring its signature event to Ed Smith Stadium in May 2017. The Going for the Gold Gala has grown into one of Sarasota’s largest one-night fundraising events since its inception in 1991.

Outdoor Pops

Responding to public demand, the Sarasota Orchestra will add a second performance if its popular Outdoor Pops event at Ed Smith Stadium in May 2017. The concerts are a part of the Orioles Arts in the Ballpark series.

In addition to the additional arts and community events, the Orioles are continuing to expand the sports tourism impact of baseball tournaments at both Ed Smith Stadium and the Buck O’Neil Baseball Complex at Twin Lakes Park.

“The Orioles’ facilities are becoming the year-round centers of community activity that the ball club envisioned when we located Major League Spring Training operations in Sarasota County,” Rovine said.

For more information on the Orioles’ year-round activities in Sarasota County, visit www.orioles.com/sarasota.

Image courtesy of the Sarasota Orchestra