***Attention! Important! Harlem Globetrotters tour has been put on hold due to Corona virus

The Harlem Globetrotters are in town March 20-21 and in perfect timing for basketball fans enjoying March Madness. I remember going to a Harlem Globetrotter game when I was in kid and it was so much fun!  When it comes to spending quality time with family, it’s great to get out to an event that promotes laughing together and making fond memories. This is exactly why I was excited that I finally had the chance to take my own kids last year. I’m equally thrilled to take them back again and even host a giveaway so another local family can enjoy it too. Like most kids, my boys love sports and just started getting into basketball! More now than ever since its March Madness and daddy has been hyping up the NCAA tournament. What I love most about The Harlem Globetrotters is that it’s a great way to get kids interested in watching basketball live. You don’t have to be a huge sports fan to enjoy this game though. The comedy and theatrics were entertaining and really make this a great family outing for fans of all ages and interests.

WHY WE LOVE THE HARLEM GLOBE TROTTERS

The Harlem Globetrotters appeals to the kids because the team involves and engages the whole audience. The show is very interactive, even if you aren’t pulled down to participate on the court, you are encouraged to get out of your seat to dance, clap and cheer on the team and even catch free t-shirts from launchers. Here is a look at past experience, in hopes that it can help with your planning.

We arrived early to enjoy Magic Passes (additional cost) an hour before the show. This is a special pre-game event in which you get to meet the Globetrotters. There were tons of fun games and stations set up for kids to show off their skills. The Globetrotters and opponent team members assisted and encouraged little ones in shooting hoops. It was adorable to see my little guys try to toss a ball into the huge professional sized basketball hoop. They found it cool that their all star friends would assist to make the basket. There were also autograph and photo op stations; I got some adorable photos of their favorite players giving high-fives.  You can purchase an official Harlem Globetrotter basketball for $25 which is great for getting autographs on. The players will also spin the ball on your finger during photo ops!

After the Magic Pass pre-game event we purchased a few snacks, used the facilities and made our way to our seats. You want to make sure that you get to your seats on time, if not a little early. Before the game starts entertainment takes the court, Globie the teams mascot made a special appearance and even involved the audience by pulling a few fans down to participate in activities like musical chairs and a dance competition. Globie and Big G…danced, did tricks, and got the crowd fired up! Watching the team warm up was my favorite part of the night;  I enjoyed watching the Globetrotters show case their tricks and talents.

From the moment the Harlem Globetrotters step on the court the laughter and entertainment begins. There were hilarious pranks and completely amazing tricks! My oldest son’s favorite prank was watching Ace the teams female player climb up on top of the rim to block opponents shoots. My youngest son seemed to think it was really cool to watch players handle two balls at once. It was pretty crazy to watch the player’s maneuver around the court dribbling and spinning multiple balls without missing a beat.

The game itself was entertaining and fun to watch. A few of the Globetrotters are equipped with microphones so they can add funny commentary throughout the game and heckle other plays and even the ref. Throughout the game there were continuous purposeful interruptions  by team members to distract the other team and engage the audience. A few times they would bring kids down from the audience to help play. My boys got really excited when a boy their age made a 2 point shoot.  It was also funny to watch the players take a snack break to eat the team’s official donuts Edmonds. I see that it is beneficial to purchase court side tickets, as a lot of the fans in front row seats got to high five players, won a box of donuts, were pranked on by team members and invited onto court.

Lastly, I  want to add that I was happy to see the Harlem Globetrotters are all about families and supporting local causes. At our game last year the National anthem was played by a local youth band and a youth dance team performed during half time. Also a collection bucket for Red Cross was passed around.

TIPS & TRICKS

  • I definitely encourage preparing your kids prior to the game so they can get a sense of what to expect and get excited about. Before heading to the show we watched a few videos that show cased the Globetrotters in action.
  • After the game, Globetrotters will stay on court to sign autographs and take photographs with the kids.  So plan to stay a little longer if this is something your kids would enjoy.
  • If your little one is sensitive to noises bring ear protection click here.Save money by using a discount code…Save $7 per ticket by using the promo code COURT! Purchase tickets at ticket master.
  • For additional information on press release visit here.This is a personal preference, I recommend seeing the Harlem Globetrotters at the Eagle Bank Arena because it doesn’t cost money to park and is super easy to get in and out of. We love spending the day in Fairfax. The kids love visiting Fair Oak Mall to play in the kids play area and eat at Cheesecake Factory!

SHOW INFORMATION

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS

Date/Time/Location:

  • March 20, 2020 @ 7:30 PM – Eagle Bank Arena – 4500 Patriot Cr. Fairfax, VA
  • March 21, 2020 @ 7:30 PM – Eagle Bank Arena – 4500 Patriot Cr. Fairfax, VA
  • March 21, 2020 @ 1:00 PM – Capital One Arena – Washington, DC

Details: The world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, featuring larger than life entertainers, are bringing their ALL-NEW show, “Pushing the Limits” to Eagle Bank Center on March 20th and 21st and Capital One Arena on March 21st. Don’t miss your chance to get up close and personable with a star-stuffed roster including Big Easy Lofton, Hi-Lite Bruton, and woman stars TNT Lister, Swish Sutton, and Torch George*. Every show features a blend of hilarious hijinks and incredible basketball skills including ball handling, high flying dunks, and a new record-breaking attempt. The Harlem Globetrotters are a one-of-a kind experience putting a new spin on family time. You won’t want to miss these memories worth repeating! 

Event Type: Sports/Entertainment

Age Group: All Ages- Family Friendly

Cost: Start at $25

Ticket Link- EagleBank Arena

Ticket Link- Capital One Arena

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

One lucky fan will be randomly drawn to win 4 tickets to the Harlem Globetrotter show of their choice! To enter:

  • LIKE the post.
  • COMMENT or GIF your favorite basketball trick or move.
  • SHARE help spread the word, tag a friend and if they win maybe they will let you tag along.
  • Giveaway ends March 6, 2020 @ 9 AM.
  • Giveaway not FB affiliated.

***The Playful Parent does not receive payment to write articles, all information and opinions shared are my own. The Playful Parent is a 501c3 and would like to thank The Harlem Globetrotters for their generous ticket donation for the giveaway.***