Tadeo Paez is playing on the Mexico Region team at the 79th Little League Baseball World Series. Relatives trekked about 3,000 miles from Tijuana to Northcentral Pennsylvania to cheer him on.
They gathered around a stoop on Williamsport's West Fourth Street Tuesday afternoon to await the Grand Slam Parade, which welcomes the 10 national and 10 international teams consisting of athletes ages 10 to 12.
"It's really amazing for my cousin and for all the boys that are representing Mexico," Joanna Nunez said. "We saw all the sacrifice that they are making, so it's amazing, and we hope that they can be champions."
One relative, fanning herself on the steps, offered a simple two-word commentary as they counted down to the parade.
"Hace calor," she said in Spanish, meaning "it's hot."
Temperatures hovered in the 80s as the Tijuana residents waited for the parade to step off nearby.
The parade drew over 40,000 people last year, organizers said, with tens of thousands lining the barriers along West Fourth Street in anticipation of the parade, which stepped off at 5 p.m.
The 38-game tournament it celebrates is held at the Little League International Complex in nearby South Williamsport Borough. Games are split between Howard J. Lamade Stadium and Little League Volunteer Stadium.
The opening ceremony is set for 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Little League Volunteer Stadium.
A $40 million economic boost
Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter has said the yearly series generates about $40 million for the state’s economy.
For Williamsport businesses, it's a chance to showcase what they have to offer as well as the region's hospitality.
Hotels around the region were booked solid, restaurants and bars were filled, and shops along the parade route saw an uptick in foot traffic.
Francis Ciccarelli is owner of The Clothier, a West Fourth Street apparel shop that has been in business for 40 years.
He was taping up a poster and talking with visitors on Tuesday afternoon.
"Well, we have people from Mexico, people from Canada, people all across the United States ... internationally ... coming in our store. They love coming in to see what we have to offer," Ciccarelli said.
One of the things Ciccarelli offers is commemorative pins for guests, who eagerly scoop up and trade the collectables from different businesses and organizations as keepsakes of the annual festivities.
"We do the pins every year," he said.
Documentary spotlights 1956 winners
This year was the first in eight for commemorative pins from Lycoming Arts, a group that works to strengthen the region’s creative community.
Board member Cory Benay proudly held up one of the new pins, crafted in the shape of a purple octopus.
"It's representative of us having our arms, our hands in just about everything in the community," Benay said.
Among the items held by the enamelled octopus were a trumpet, a book, a paintbrush and film reels.
That last one fits into an upcoming Little League-themed screening. At 7 p.m. Aug. 28 Otto Bookstore will host a free showing of "Roswell, Where?" It commemorates the 70th anniversary of Roswell New Mexico's Little League World Series championship win.
"It's a documentary about the team that won back in 1956. They interview a handful of the players from that team, and we'll have a Q and A afterward," Benay said.
'It's a dream for him'
For the teams playing in 2026, their shot at championship glory was yet to come Tuesday as they basked in the adoration of throngs who turned out for the parade.
Series play starts Wednesday, with the championship scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 30. Admission is free.
Mexico will play Australia Thursday at noon, and Tadeo Paez's family plans to be there.
"He's really excited. He can't believe it," Nunez said. "It's a dream for him."
The family flew from San Diego to Detroit, then to New York, and finally rented a car for the last leg of the journey to see that dream come true.
"It's an honor to be here, and see him representing Mexico," Nunez said. "An honor."
For locals like Ciccarelli, the feeling is mutual.
"Williamsport always looks forward every year to events like this," he said. "We welcome everybody from all across the world."
WHAT TO KNOW
- Admission is free.
- For most games, tickets are not required, and stadium seating is available to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis. There's also seating on the hill overlooking Lamade Stadium.
- Stadium seating is limited for the following games: MLB Little League Classic Sunday (Game 19), Championship Saturday (Games 35 and 36) and the LLBWS Championship Game (Game 38). These games will utilize digital ticketing this year. Fans interested in attending should complete the ticket inquiry form. If tickets become available, selected fans may receive up to four tickets. Seating for the general public will still be available on the hill overlooking Lamade Stadium.
- The complex is scheduled to open most days at 10 a.m. and will close approximately one hour after the final out of the final game of the day, but there are exceptions.
- Clear bags and clutch purses/wristlets/belt bags (6”x 9” or smaller) are permitted. Diaper bags and medically necessary bags are also permitted but may be subject to a thorough search, with early arrival recommended.
- Parking is free and located off of East Mountain Avenue directly behind the Little League International Complex.
- New this year, Little League International, with River Valley Transit, will provide complimentary shuttle services from downtown parking lots to the Little League Complex. The Little League Express Bus Service will provide departures from Bus Bay 12 at the Trade and Transit Center (115 W. Third St.) and the Church Street Parking Garage (11 W. Church St.) every 15 minutes. Returns to both locations will depart the complex every 15 minutes. Free parking is available in the Church Street Parking Garage. The Little League Express Bus Driver must validate your parking ticket to obtain free parking.
- Click here for more details.
IF YOU GO
- The Opening Ceremony starts at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19. at the Little League Volunteer Stadium.
- The Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves will compete in the MLB Little League Classic at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, at the Historic Bowman Field. Tickets are unavailable to the general public and most are reserved for participating teams, families, volunteers and residents of Lycoming County via a ticket lottery. The game can be viewed live on ESPN.
- Williamsport Welcomes the World is from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28. The street festival has a variety of programs, including live music, kids zones with free activities and various food and merchandise vendors.
- Teams from Berwyn, Pa., and Oakley, Calif., will compete in the Challenger Division Exhibition Game at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29. WVIA-TV will broadcast the game live.
- The World of Little League: Peter J. McGovern Museum and Official Store, located at 525 Montgomery Pike (U.S. 15), is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It features historic baseball artifacts and an official merchandise shop.
- For a guide on things to do throughout Lycoming County, click here.
