The Washington Nationals may not be among the favorites to win the World Series in 2025, but the team is making sure fans still leave Nationals Park as winners. With an expanded lineup of food vendors, exciting off-field entertainment, and new family-friendly features, Nationals Park is leaning into what they can control: the ballpark experience.Nationals Park has built a reputation for exceptional stadium food, even winning awards for its culinary offerings. The team is stepping it up this season, with 11 new local vendors joining over 30 others already in the mix. Visitors can expect bold flavors, global fare, and creative dishes that reflect the D.C. area’s diverse and dynamic food culture.Among the newcomers is Kam & 46, bringing Hawaiian and Filipino street food vibes with offerings like tuna tartare and sisig nachos. Taqueria Picoso, run by Mexico City natives, is serving up homestyle tacos and tortas, while Mush caters to plant-based eaters with veggie-forward sandwiches, bowls, and sides.
In addition, Phowheels, one of the original Vietnamese food trucks in the DMV, is now dishing out banh mi, egg rolls, and Vietnamese tacos at Section 140. Fans can also enjoy Lucky Danger, the popular American-Chinese takeout spot from Chef Tim Ma, which offers dumplings, lo mein, and orange chicken bites.Thirsty fans won’t be disappointed, either. Cotton & Reed, a Union Market rum distillery, will mix up tropical cocktails like strawberry daiquiris and dark ‘n’ stormies. Meanwhile, Electric Cool-Aid is offering boozy slushies at multiple locations. For those with a sweet tooth or craving a quick snack, the stadium’s new marketplace stands include items from veteran-owned Dog Tag Bakery, flavor-dusted mini-pretzels from Moore Crunch, and Thai-style popcorn from Party Of Popcorn. Roaming the concourse is a Maracas Ice Pops bicycle cart offering refreshing Mexican-style fruit and cream popsicles.The team chose its new vendors through a “Pitch Your Product” competition, a “Shark Tank”-style event where 23 DMV-based businesses presented their fare to a panel of judges. It’s the second time the Nationals have hosted the competition, the first being in 2015, which led to the debut of popular vendors like Haute Dogs & Fries.“Fans visiting Nationals Park this season will have even more local flavors to enjoy,” Washington Nationals Communications wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Judges looked for creativity, approachability, scalability, and deliciousness—knowing full well that food would have to hold up across 81 home games, outdoor weather conditions, and high-volume demand.“I love seeing the real D.C. win,” one social media user wrote on X in a repost about the park’s new food offerings. Entertainment Beyond the Game While fans are eating well, they’re also being treated to an entertainment schedule worthy of a headliner tour. The Nationals Postgame Summer Concert Series returns in 2025, allowing fans to enjoy live performances by artists like Nelly, Sam Hunt, Ja Rule, and Ashanti—free with a game ticket. Concerts begin about 30 minutes after the final out.
Sundays at Nationals Park offer a full slate of activities. Each Sunday home game features Signature Sundays, where two Nationals players sign autographs for fans atop the dugout. Vouchers, distributed at Section 103 when gates open, are required to participate. Families can also take part in Story Time at Nationals Park, where kids can read along with a Nationals player and receive a free book. These events, in partnership with the Library of Congress, Smithsonian National Postal Museum, and National Geographic Kids, begin at 12:15 p.m. in the Kennedy Conference Room.One of the most beloved traditions continues with Kids Run the Bases. After every Sunday afternoon home game, children ages 4 to 12 are invited to take a lap around the bases. The run begins approximately 20 minutes after the game ends, and this year, the event takes place entirely inside the ballpark. Kids start at first base and make their way to home plate, while one adult per child is permitted to enter the field to drop them off and meet them at the finish line. MVP members of the Jr. Nationals Kids Club get front-of-line access.In 2025, the Nationals are also introducing $5 Tuesdays, with ballpark staples like beers, hot dogs, nachos, pretzels, popcorn, and sodas all priced at just $5. Tickets start at $12, offering fans one of the season’s best deals.
Further, for fans who want to start the party early, live DJs will spin tracks before Thursday and Saturday home games that begin at 4:05 p.m. or later.During games, the youngest Nationals fans have their own space too. The Nationals Park Kids Zone, located near the Right Field Gate, features a play structure for children 10 and under. It’s open every home game from when the gates open until the end of the seventh inning, weather permitting. Adults must supervise their children, and the area may close at the discretion of park officials.In addition, no trip to Nationals Park would be complete without a photo with the Racing Presidents or the GEICO Gecko, who make appearances during the fifth inning near Section 131.“We want to win a World Series every year, but we can’t control that,” said Lisa Marie Czop, senior vice president of ballpark operations. “We can make sure people come to D.C. and fall in love with the ballpark, regardless of what’s happening.”
Source: Washington Informer
