If you’ve been to the Premier Girls Fastpitch Nationals before, you’ve seen how the PGF throws a great Opening Ceremony party.

Last year, as shown in the video below I shot, there’s everything from carnival games to food to entertainment to legendary softball speakers. Last year, it was Jessica Mendoza and Sue Enquist; this year it’s Jennie Finch among others).

I have a 14-year-old daughter who attended with me last summer and she swooned at the boy band Midnight Red, who’s back again this year and is the music you’ll hear in this video clip:

There are actually two Opening Ceremonies, both in the same park—Huntington Beach (Calif.) Central Park. The two events are on the Mondays of the respective weeks of PGF Nationals—next Monday it is for the 14U and 16U championships; the following Monday it’s for the 18U Premier and Platinum tournaments as well as for the 12U age group.

And as important as all the competition on the field and fun off of it, a major component of the PGF Nationals is the tie-in with the John Wayne Cancer Institute, based in Orange County.

The Nationals will help generate tens of thousands of dollars that will go to the Institute and word has it that John Wayne’s son, Patrick Wayne, will be speaking at this Monday’s ceremonies to catch everyone up on the progress being made to combat cancer, particularly breast cancer.

And that’s a cause that all the softball community can rally behind.

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Here’s a look at the flyer sent out today promoting the extravaganza to be held next Monday, July 21: