All Things Madison | Go Back and Forth Between the Trash Pandas Home Games and the Big 'Ol Ballpark Fair: HERE'S HOW
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Go Back and Forth Between the Trash Pandas Home Games and the Big ‘Ol Ballpark Fair: HERE’S HOW

Kissel Entertainment is BACK with another Big ‘Ol Ballpark Fair, but for the first time ever, it’ll overlap with Trash Pandas HOME GAMES!
All Things Madison | Go Back and Forth Between the Trash Pandas Home Games and the Big 'Ol Ballpark Fair: HERE'S HOW

There are A LOT of options for buying Trash Pandas baseball tickets, and there are A LOT of options for buying Big ‘Ol Ballpark Fair tickets, so we sat down to crunch the numbers, look at the maps, and figure out what is the absolute best option for enjoying this “two for one” mega event this week.

All Things Madison | Go Back and Forth Between the Trash Pandas Home Games and the Big 'Ol Ballpark Fair: HERE'S HOW

Let’s break it down!

Though the fair is in town for a total of 11 nights, only the first FOUR nights overlap with home baseball games (Thursday, April 25th – Sunday, April 28th).

All Things Madison | Go Back and Forth Between the Trash Pandas Home Games and the Big 'Ol Ballpark Fair: HERE'S HOW

Instead of listing out a million options for how to do this, here is what we believe is hands down the best option for attending both events.

(We want to reiterate and make crystal clear that the fair and ballgames only overlap for the FIRST FOUR NIGHTS of the fair. If you want to attend the fair during the last seven nights, the normal procedures/specials/parking all apply as listed on Kissel Entertainment’s website.)

FIRST, forget about the fair for a minute and go to TRASHPANDASBASEBALL.COM and buy baseball tickets. If you want a seat and actually want to watch the game, grab box seats like normal. If you’re looking for the best value tickets though, select the BERM tickets (grassy hill) and pay just $10.72 per ticket ($8.72 + $2 fee).

NEXT, you have two options for parking. A.) You pay for parking at the stadium like normal ($6 ahead of time via the Clutch app or $10 at the lot when you arrive) or B.) Park FOR FREE at Hexagon (two miles away) and ride a handicap-friendly, air-conditioned 25-passenger bus to the stadium. These buses will be running back and forth CONSTANTLY for the fair and ballgame. 

All Things Madison | Go Back and Forth Between the Trash Pandas Home Games and the Big 'Ol Ballpark Fair: HERE'S HOW

THEN, head to the game. Enjoy the ballpark as usual!

All Things Madison | Go Back and Forth Between the Trash Pandas Home Games and the Big 'Ol Ballpark Fair: HERE'S HOW

BUT, now you want to head over to the fair. GREAT! Your admission back and forth between the ballpark and the fair is TOTALLY FREE since you bought a ballpark ticket. Your FREE admission into the fair allows you to walk around and watch the two excellent shows (Sea Lion Splash and Dominguez Circus).

NEXT, your kids are ready to ride some rides. Find a kiosk and purchase either single-ride tickets OR an unlimited rider wristband ($30 on Thursday or $35 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). 

All Things Madison | Go Back and Forth Between the Trash Pandas Home Games and the Big 'Ol Ballpark Fair: HERE'S HOW

IMPORTANT NOTE: Single-ride tickets and wristbands are ONLY available to purchase at the fair. You cannot buy these ahead of time. Not a big deal; Just find the kiosk and buy them there!

The fair and ballgames only overlap for the FIRST FOUR NIGHTS of the fair. If you want to attend the fair during the last seven nights, the normal procedures, specials, and parking all apply as listed on Kissel Entertainment's website.

All Things Madison | Go Back and Forth Between the Trash Pandas Home Games and the Big 'Ol Ballpark Fair: HERE'S HOW

In summary, here’s what this would look like for our family of five on FRIDAY night (two adults + three children):

  1. We go to TrashPandasBaseball.com to purchase five Berm tickets online. ($10.72 x 5 = $53.60)

  2. We park at Hexagon and ride the bus to the stadium (FREE!)

  3. We use the restroom and grab ballpark food within the stadium.

  4. We head over to the fair and purchase an unlimited rider wristband for each of our kids (Friday night = $35/wristband for a total of $105). We also grab a single-ride ticket for my husband and me to do a ride with our kids (just for the fun of it!)

  5. We all five watch the Sea Lion show, the circus, AND the baseball game.

  6. When the kids need to use the restroom or we want to grab food/drink, we go back to the ballpark since the food/drinks may be more affordable AND the bathrooms are clean.

  7. Catch the Friday night fireworks after the game!

  8. Take the bus back to Hexagon and call it a wonderful night!

All Things Madison | Go Back and Forth Between the Trash Pandas Home Games and the Big 'Ol Ballpark Fair: HERE'S HOW

If you have no interest whatsoever in going to the game, you are welcome to head to KisselEntertainment.com to buy a combo package (admission + wristbands) ahead of time. You’ll park at Hexagon (if it’s Thursday-Sunday of the home stand).

All Things Madison | Go Back and Forth Between the Trash Pandas Home Games and the Big 'Ol Ballpark Fair: HERE'S HOW

If you are NOT planning to attend the fair while it’s overlapping with the Trash Pandas games, go to KisselEntertainment.com for all of your ticketing information and to buy packages ahead of time.

All Things Madison | Go Back and Forth Between the Trash Pandas Home Games and the Big 'Ol Ballpark Fair: HERE'S HOW

PARKING, PARKING, PARKING

Parking is FREE at Hexagon throughout the four days that the games and the fair overlap. Paid parking ($10) will still be available at the stadium for those with baseball game tickets. If you are attending the fair ONLY during those days, you will park at Hexagon (free).

Once the ball games are over, parking will be $10/car at the stadium from Monday, April 29th-Sunday, May 5th for those attending the fair.

Here is a round-up of the Trash Pandas’s schedule during the four games that overlap the fair:

Thursday, April 25: Trash Pandas vs. Smokies – Gates open at 5 PM for Happy Hour, first pitch at 6:35 PM; Big Ol’ Ballpark Fair open from 4 PM to 10 PM

Friday, April 26: Trash Pandas vs. Smokies – Gates open at 5:30 PM, first pitch at 6:35 PM, postgame fireworks; Big Ol’ Ballpark Fair open from 4 PM to 10PM

Saturday, April 27: Trash Pandas vs. Smokies – Gates open at 5:30 PM, first pitch at 6:35 PM, postgame fireworks; Big Ol’ Ballpark Fair open from 1 PM to 10 PM

Sunday, April 28: Trash Pandas vs. Smokies – Gates open at 1:30 PM, first pitch at 2:35 PM; Big Ol’ Ballpark Fair open from 1 PM to 10PM

More information can be found on TRASHPANDASBASEBALL.COM AND KISSELENTERTAINMENT.COM.

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All Things Madison | Go Back and Forth Between the Trash Pandas Home Games and the Big 'Ol Ballpark Fair: HERE'S HOW