FIELD OF DREAMS

T-Mobile Park Courtesy Seattle Mariners

The Midsummer Classic will pit a selection of top National League players against luminaries from the American League on Tuesday, July 11 at T-Mobile Park (1250 First Ave S), home of the Seattle Mariners, with the roster finalized through fan votes, player votes, and manager choices.

In what has become a multiday festival to celebrate the sport, Major League All-Star Week will feature a variety of fun events and games. This year the MLB launches the HBCU Swing-man Classic on Friday, July 7, highlighting players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities; former Mariners great Ken Griffey Jr. is helping to select the 50 college superstars for this game.

Rounding out the rest of the week are three perennial All-Star favorites. A celebrity softball game takes place on July 8 and raises money for charity. The same day, the All-Star Futures Game spotlights top prospects in an exciting preview of baseball’s future top talents. And July 10, during the Home Run Derby—an event that last year saw Mariners rookie phenom Julio Rodriguez (J-Rod) make it to the final two—you can watch balls fly out of T-Mobile Park.

Baseball lovers will also find plenty of activities at the Play Ball Park, a fan festival across the street at Lumen Field (800 Occidental Ave S;), otherwise known as the home of Seattle’s NFL football team, the Seahawks, as well as professional soccer’s Sounders and OL Reign. With exhibits and games, photo ops, and specialty shops, it’s like a baseball amusement park. Guests can test their skills at pitching and hitting—in real life or virtual reality—plus get tips at clinics run by pros. Autograph tables and auctions give fans the chance to score some amazing souvenirs.

Though All-Star Week falls during the heart of the season, the Mariners play at T-Mobile Park from the end of March through October 1—and even beyond, if their playoff dreams are realized a second year in a row. With its retractable roof, T-Mobile Park is a perfect place to watch a game come rain or shine, and its eclectic dining scene is a veritable feast—from Hawaiian plate lunches to nachos topped with real toasted grasshoppers.

The stadium sits at the intersection of a few dynamic neighborhoods, all packed with sports bars and dining spots. SoDo has its classic Hooverville Bar (1721 First Ave S) with pinball and peanut shells on the floor; Pioneer Square has upscale dining like Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar (410 Occidental Ave S) and the diner classic 13 Coins (255 S King St). To the east, Chinatown–International District has the terrific Japanese restaurant Maneki (304 Sixth Ave S) and sleek Chinese dumpling spot Dough Zone (504 Fifth Ave S).

Easy Access

T-Mobile Park and Lumen Field are a short walk from downtown hotels, and scooter, bike, and rideshare options make it a snap to get here from farther away. The parks are also served by buses and streetcars as well as two Sound Transit Light Rail stations: Stadium (by T-Mobile Park) and International District–Chinatown (near Lumen Field). See visitseattle.org/getting-around for more.