The Potomac Nationals will pay tribute to the fictional (and secular) holiday introduced by the sitcom “Seinfeld” when they celebrate “Halfway to Festivus” during Saturday’s doubleheader at Pfitzner Stadium. Gates for Game 1 will open at 4:30 p.m. and the Festivus-themed fun won’t stop until the “Head of the Ballpark” is pinned on the field at the conclusion of Game 2.

The event will be the Nationals’ “most encompassing theme night of the season,” according to a team release, and it’s easy to see why. The list of Festivus-related activities, on-field promotions and ticket deals for both games is longer than the list of grievances aired by former National Ian Desmond last December 23. You can read about all of them if you have 10 minutes, but here are a few of the highlights:

[The Bowie Baysox are changing their name to the Bowie Baysox]

– A Festivus Pole

– A Cosmo Kramer look-alike contest

– A Meatloaf-eating contest

– “Feats of Strength,” which could be anything (Remember the Beard Olympics?)

– Bagels at the concession stand, which will be picketed by an “On Strike Worker”

– Seinfeld-themed trivia

– An “Ode to Frank Costanza” tribute on the video board

– Human Fund donations throughout the game

– Festivus-themed jerseys (featuring meatloaf on lettuce) for the second game

And yes, fans will be encouraged to submit grievances at a table along the concourse to be read over the P.A. system throughout the evening. The Seinfeld episode that introduced Festivus to the world in 1997 — “The Strike” — will be played on the video board between the first and second games of the doubleheader against Winston-Salem.



(Via Potomac Nationals)

Fans whose legal names include Costanza, Cosmo, Kramer, Kruger or Whatley will receive free grandstand tickets. Half-price grandstand and reserve tickets, which are good for both games of the doubleheader, are also available for fans who wear a denim vest or have Jerry, George, Frank or Elaine as a first or last name. The first 1,5000 fans at the first game will receive a Frank Costanza (and Festivus Pole) bobblehead.



(Courtesy Potomac Nationals)

The Charlotte Knights, the White Sox’s Class AAA affiliate, held their own “Halfway to Festivus” celebration on Monday. Actor Larry Thomas, who portrayed the Soup Nazi on “Seinfeld,” signed autographs and threw the ceremonial first pitch.