Akron RubberDucks 2024 promotion schedule includes bobbleheads, fireworks and hijinks

The Akron RubberDucks will play 69 regular season games this season at Canal Park.

And it all starts at 7:05 p.m. Friday, April 5, against the Altoona Curve.

When the post-game opening night fireworks go off, it will mark the first of 26 such displays planned for the season.

Like past seasons, each home game will have a theme and many nights will feature giveaways.

There will be seven T-shirt Tuesdays and 12 Saturday premium giveaways that include seven bobbleheads.

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Some of the bobbleheads include actress Sean Young, actor Gil Bellows, RubberDucks mascot Webster and the recently removed iconic smokestacks, which pay homage to Akron’s Rubber City roots.

“We are excited to announce the highly anticipated 2024 promotional schedule,” RubberDucks President and General Manager Jim Pfander said in a statement. “From continuing our Only in Akron series with the White French and Barberton Fried Chicken & Hot Rice rebrands to all of our exciting giveaways and theme nights, I think there is something each night everyone will enjoy this season. I can’t wait to see everyone back in the ballpark on April 5 for the start of another memorable season.”

There are a few quirks in this season's schedule, including a handful of mid-week day games.

School buses will fill the streets of Akron for the Education Game with a 11:05 a.m. start on Tuesday, May 14.

The annual Big Splash Day game with water activities will be at 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20.

There will be a pair of games for folks who work downtown to play hooky with 12:05 p.m. starts on Aug. 20 and Aug. 27.

And Sunday games will feature a new start time of 1:05 p.m. with the exception of the final two Sundays of the season that have a 6:05 p.m. start.

The final regular season home game is Sept. 15.

“We have been hard at work all offseason planning these great promotional nights for our amazing fans,” said RubberDucks Manager of Promotions & Community Relations Austin Stephens in a statement. “We are excited to once again honor the Akron Black Tyrites as we salute Akron’s contribution to the Negro Leagues and continue to grow our Perros Calientes brand, our COPA identity. We are also excited to give a blast from the past and giveaway an Akron Aeros Youth Jersey this season.”

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The team will also switch its name and jersey styles for one night for a few home games this season.

The RubberDucks will become the Barberton Fried Chicken & Hot Rice on June 21 and will be the Akron White French salad dressing on July 19.

They will once again be the Black Tyrites on Aug. 23 and there will be five Los Perros Calientes games throughout the season.

The team also plans to mark the upcoming dedication of the Sojourner Truth statue and her historic “Ain’t I A Women?” Akron speech.

The first 1,000 fans on May 18 will receive a replica Sojourner Truth mini statue of Akron artist Woodrow Nash’s creation.

For tickets and more information, visit akronrubberducks.com.

RubberDucks 2024 promotion schedule

April

April 5: Opening Night Celebration presented by State & Federal Communications – Magnet Schedule Giveaway presented by Union Home Mortgage (First 5,000 fans) – Postgame fireworks presented by State & Federal Communications

April 6: Driving Me Nuts! – RubberDucks License Plate Giveaway presented by Ohio Laborers’ Union (First 1,000 fans) – Postgame fireworks presented by Downtown Akron Partnership

April 7: Ghostcatchers

April 16: T-Shirt Tuesday (First 1,000 fans) – RubberDucks Grand Prix

April 17: Cleveland Basketball Night

April 18: Thirsty Thursday™ - Karaoke Night

April 19: Travis Loudin Appreciation Night (RubberDucks season ticket holder) – Postgame fireworks presented by Ohio Laborers’ Union

April 20: Pillow Fight!! – RubberDucks Pillowcase Giveaway presented by FirstEnergy (First 1,000 fans) - Postgame fireworks presented by FirstEnergy

April 21: The Best Underwater Fry Cook

April 30: T-Shirt Tuesday (First 1,000 fans) – AI Night

May

May 1: Bark in the Park No. 1, bring your dog to the game presented by Camp Bow Wow – Los Perros Calientes game

May 2: Thirsty Thursday™ - Third Wheel Night

May 3: Look My Hot Dog is Green! $1K Giveaway – Postgame fireworks

May 4: Akron History Night – Don’t Blow Your Smokestack! – Bobble Smokestacks Giveaway presented by Union Home Mortgage (First 1,000 fans) – Postgame fireworks

May 5: Cinco de Mayo

May 14: Education Day presented by Champions® Before-and After-School Programs – 11:05 a.m. start

May 15: RIP Vine

May 16: Thirsty Thursday™ - Sick Tat Bro! Tattoo Night

May 17: Malmo Oat Milkers Night – Postgame fireworks

May 18: Salute to Sojourner Truth – Sojourner Truth Mini Statue Giveaway presented by State & Federal Communications (First 1,000 fans) – Postgame fireworks

May 19: Left-Hander Appreciation Day

May 28: T-Shirt Tuesday (First 1,000 fans) – Halfway to Thanksgiving

May 29: Who Wants Leftovers? – It’s The Day After National Hamburger Day

May 30: Thirsty Thursday™ - Washed Up Night

May 31: Military Appreciation Night – Postgame fireworks presented by Discount Drug Mart

June

June 1: “Your Gun is Digging into My Hip” – Sean Young bobblehead Giveaway presented by Distillata (First 1,000 fans) – Sean Young VIP appearance presented by State & Federal Communications – Postgame fireworks presented by Ohio Savings Bank

June 2: Sunday Cartoons

June 18: T-Shirt Tuesday (First 1,000 fans) - Over the Line!!! – Bowling Night

June 19: Teacher Appreciation Night – Los Perros Calientes game

June 20: Thirsty Thursday™ - Your Mom – Honoring the World’s Greatest Moms

June 21: Barberton Fried Chicken & Hot Rice Night – Postgame fireworks presented by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

June 22: Halfway to Christmas – Rubberta Elf on the Shelf Giveaway presented by Summa Health (First 1,000 fans) – Postgame fireworks presented by Summa Health

June 23: Youth Sports Day

July

July 1: Oh Waiter! – Salute to the Food Industry Workers

July 2: T-Shirt Tuesday (First 1,000 fans) – RubberDucks Summer Games

July 3: Independence Day Eve presented by Kaulig Companies – 7:05 p.m. start – Postgame fireworks

July 19: Akron White French Night – Postgame fireworks presented by Miller Lite

July 20: “What Are You in For?” – Gil Bellows bobblehead Giveaway presented by Summa Health (First 1,000 fans) – Gil Bellows VIP appearance presented by State & Federal Communications – Postgame fireworks presented by Summa Health

July 21: Lazy Sunday

July 23: Big Splash Day – 12:05 p.m. start

July 24: Appreciation for All the Short Kings – Los Perros Calientes game

July 25: Thirsty Thursday™ - Wrestling Night

July 26: ZOOperstars! – Postgame fireworks

July 27: Aeros Night – Akron Aeros Youth Jersey Giveaway presented by Ohio’s 529 CollegeAdvantage (First 1,000 fans) – Postgame fireworks presented by Stanley Steemer

July 28: Autism Awareness Day

August

Aug. 6: T-Shirt Tuesday (First 1,000 fans) – Battle of the Bands

Aug. 7: Akron Pride Night

Aug. 8: Thirsty Thursday™ - Irish Appreciation Night

Aug. 9: The Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Disorders Celebration – Akron Children’s Hospital Game – Postgame fireworks presented by Akron Children’s

Aug. 10: “Most of These Guys Never Had a Prime” – Mystery Bobblehead Giveaway presented by MCA of Akron/UA Local 219 (First 1,000 fans) – Postgame fireworks

Aug. 11: What’s Your Gamer Tag? – eSports Day

Aug. 20: Businesspersons’ Special presented by State & Federal Communications – 12:05 p.m. start

Aug. 21: Bark in the Park No. 2, bring your dog to the game presented by Camp Bow Wow – Los Perros Calientes game

Aug. 22: Thirsty Thursday™ - Red Flag Night

Aug. 23: Akron Black Tyrites Night – Postgame fireworks presented by National Interstate Insurance

Aug. 24: Cleveland Football Night – Mystery Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Cleveland Clinic Akron General (First 1,000 fans) – Postgame fireworks

Aug. 25: GOALLLLL – Soccer Day

Aug. 27: Work from Home (Plate) – 12:05 p.m. start

Aug. 28: Bad Luck Night

Aug. 29: Thirsty Thursday™ - THE GAME – Buckeyes vs. The Team Up North

Aug. 30: $1,000 Cash Dash presented by KeyBank – Postgame fireworks presented by KeyBank

Aug. 31: RubberDucks Comic Con – Webster Bobblehead Giveaway presented by WBNX-TV (First 1,000 fans) – Postgame fireworks presented by KeyBank

September

Sept. 1: Man…. That Aged Poorly – 6:05 p.m. start – Postgame fireworks presented by KeyBank

Sept. 10: T-Shirt Tuesday (First 1,000 fans) – ASL Night

Sept. 11: First Responders Night presented by Stark State College

Sept. 12: Thirsty Thursday™ - Lean Into It – Los Perros Calientes game

Sept. 13: No Sweat Over/Under – Postgame fireworks presented by FedEx Custom Critical

Sept. 14: STEM Night – Mystery Bobblehead Giveaway (First 1,000 fans) – Postgame fireworks presented by Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations

Sept. 15: Fan Appreciation Night – 6:05 p.m. start

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Everything you need to know about the Akron RubberDucks 2024 season