Benton Harbor Youth Sports Association to Host Opening Day Health and Wellness Festival

The festival will feature fun activities and community resources to support families and kick off the new baseball season.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 4:00pm

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A minimalist illustration in the style of Keith Haring, depicting a group of children playing baseball with vibrant, glowing neon outlines against a dark background, capturing the energy and community spirit of the health and wellness festival.The Benton Harbor Youth Sports Association's Opening Day Health and Wellness Festival will bring the community together to celebrate the start of the baseball season and promote overall well-being.Benton Harbor Today

The Benton Harbor Youth Sports Association is planning an Opening Day Health and Wellness Festival on May 2 at Union Park to celebrate the start of a new baseball season and connect the community with resources to live healthier lives. The festival will feature activities like a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, a bounce house, and a live DJ, as well as community organizations providing support services for families.

Why it matters

The Benton Harbor Youth Sports Association aims to support young people holistically, recognizing that sports are about more than just physical activity. By hosting this festival, the organization is bringing together the community to promote overall wellness and provide valuable resources to families.

The details

The Opening Day Health and Wellness Festival will include fun activities like a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, a bounce house, and a live DJ. The association also plans to bring in community organizations such as Present Pillars and Corewell Health to provide support services and resources for families. The festival is part of the association's efforts to launch a new baseball season focused on teamwork and sportsmanship for ages 4 through 14.

  • The festival will take place on Saturday, May 2 from 12 to 5 p.m. at Union Park in Benton Harbor.
  • The Opening Day celebration will be held from 12 to 1 p.m.

The players

John Sams

The director of the Benton Harbor Youth Sports Association, which is organizing the Opening Day Health and Wellness Festival.

Benton Harbor Youth Sports Association

A community organization that provides sports programs and holistic support for young people in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

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What they’re saying

“We like to really support our kids holistically — mind, body, and soul — and we try to do something very special every year around opening day, because for us, it's more than a sport.”

— John Sams, Director, Benton Harbor Youth Sports Association

“We're going to bring in resources from the community so our parents can get support, such as Present Pillars. We have a healthy drink combination. Corewell Health should be on the scene. Just making sure that we have resources for our families. That's where we can support our kids, and it's more than just sports.”

— John Sams, Director, Benton Harbor Youth Sports Association

What’s next

The Benton Harbor Youth Sports Association is seeking to launch a new baseball season focused on teamwork and sportsmanship for ages 4 through 14, and the festival will be a great way to kick off the season and bring the community together.

The takeaway

By hosting a holistic health and wellness festival to celebrate the start of the baseball season, the Benton Harbor Youth Sports Association is demonstrating its commitment to supporting young people and families in the community beyond just sports, recognizing the importance of overall well-being.