What to Expect on Your First Day at Cooperstown All Star Village

The first day at Cooperstown All Star Village is exciting, busy, and honestly a little overwhelming. Between checking in, carrying what feels like a mountain of baseball gear, finding the bunkhouses, watching the skills competitions, and trying to figure out where you’re supposed to be next, arrival day can feel like a whirlwind.

Before our trip, I spent months trying to picture what that first day would actually look like, but I couldn’t find a guide that walked families through everything from arrival to Opening Ceremonies. The morning ended up being the most hectic part of our week. There was a lot of waiting, a lot of walking, and so much going on that it was hard to know if we were exactly where we were supposed to be. Even so, we really enjoyed watching the skills competitions, cheering on our son in the speed competition, and seeing all of the boys finally arrive in Cooperstown.

Even with all of the chaos, there was excitement in the air from the moment we arrived. Everywhere we looked, players were trying on uniforms, meeting teammates, trading pins, and counting down the hours until Opening Ceremonies. Watching more than 1,000 players from 94 teams march onto the field behind their banners while families filled the stands was one of the most exciting moments of the entire day. It finally felt like the week everyone had been looking forward to had officially begun.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly what happens on your first day at Cooperstown All Star Village so you’ll know what to expect from the moment you pull into the parking lot until Opening Ceremonies come to an end.

Arriving and Checking In at Cooperstown All Star Village

We arrived around 9:00 a.m., while our coach got there even earlier. Even then, it was already incredibly busy. Our coach had a long wait during team check-in, and families were already filling the parking lot. The parking lot is huge, but there is a shuttle available if you don’t want to make the walk.

One thing I’d recommend is not bringing all of your player’s luggage right away. You won’t be able to check into the bunkhouses until noon, so there’s no reason to haul suitcases around all morning. Most of the boys on our team just brought a small backpack or their pin binder. Players competing in the skills competitions also carried their bat or glove.

One of the first things we noticed was players already trading pins. My son immediately ran back to the car to grab his pin binder so he could join in. It was also a great time for teammates to meet up before the day’s activities officially got underway.

If your player is new to the tradition, pin trading explains how it works, how many pins to bring, and our best tips after a week of trading.

While the players started trading, parents had plenty to do. There was already a very long line to pick up preordered merchandise. Since I had preordered the photo package, I also checked in for that. The photo package line is separate from the merchandise line, although I accidentally waited in the wrong one for a few minutes because they look like they’re together. Once I found the correct line, the wait was about 15 minutes.

After the coaches finished checking in, they received the team uniforms. Uniform numbers are assigned by Cooperstown All Star Village, so don’t expect your player to receive the number they normally wear. Coaches have a short window to exchange uniforms if something doesn’t fit, so our team gathered together to hand everything out. The boys immediately changed into their jerseys before heading to the skills competitions.

Before the competitions started, our entire team went to the gift shop to purchase the upgraded fitted hats. We waited until we got there so everyone could try them on and make sure they had the right size. While we were there, I also tried to buy my son one of the tournament T-shirts with all of the team names on the back, but they were already sold out of every size close to what he wears. It was disappointing because he really wanted one. If that’s a souvenir your player has their heart set on, I’d highly recommend preordering it instead of waiting until arrival day.

If you’re wondering which keepsakes are actually worth bringing home, best Cooperstown souvenirs shares the items our family thought were worth the money after our week at Cooperstown.

One thing I’d definitely do differently is eat breakfast before you arrive. We didn’t, and we definitely regretted it. There is so much happening that morning that it was quite a while before we had a chance to eat. There were food trucks where we grabbed coffee and a few snacks, but having a good breakfast beforehand would have made the morning much easier.

If you’re wondering where players eat or what options parents have throughout the week, my Cooperstown All Star Village food guide covers the dining hall, food trucks, concessions, and nearby restaurants.

Skills Competitions

Once everyone had their uniforms, the skills competitions officially kicked off. This was one of our favorite parts of the morning. Parents lined the fields cheering while teammates encouraged each other, and you could feel the excitement building as the tournament officially got underway.

Our son competed in the speed competition, with three players from each team participating. Hearing his teammates cheer him on made the experience even more memorable. It was fun watching players from all over the country compete while families filled the fences to support them.

Not every player competes in every event. Each team sends one player for the home run derby, while the rest of the team heads to the outfield to shag baseballs. The Turn Two competition features four infielders showing off their defensive skills. Players who qualify for the finals return later in the day to compete again.

Even if your player isn’t participating, I’d still recommend walking down and watching the competitions. They were a fun way to kick off the week and gave everyone a chance to cheer each other on before the games even started.

We ended up discovering even more things to do around the complex as the week went on.

Moving Into the Bunkhouses

At noon, the bunkhouses officially open, and families can finally help players move in. Check-in runs until 4:00 p.m., so you have plenty of time to get your son settled.

Be prepared for a lot of walking. Cooperstown All Star Village is very hilly, and you’ll be carrying luggage, baseball equipment, and everything your player packed for the week. A wagon would definitely be helpful, although we managed without one. If you’re still getting ready for your trip, my Cooperstown packing list covers everything we were glad we brought (and a few things we wish we had).

Parents are welcome to help players unpack, make their beds, and get organized before saying goodbye. Our son has been going away to summer camp for years, so he was pretty independent and didn’t need much help. Once he was settled, we headed to our Airbnb to check in and relax for a little while before returning for Opening Ceremonies.

If you’re wondering what the bunkhouses are really like, inside the bunkhouses shares photos, what surprised us most, and everything families should know before move-in day.

While Your Player Gets Settled

After we got our son settled in his bunkhouse, we headed to our Airbnb to check in, grab lunch, and relax for a little while before returning for Opening Ceremonies.

While we were away, the players completed the required fire drill, ate dinner in the dining hall, explored the village, and spent time with their teammates. By the time we returned, they were ready for one of the biggest highlights of the day….Opening Ceremonies!

Opening Ceremonies at Cooperstown All Star Village

If you want a seat in the bleachers, plan ahead. We noticed families claiming seats first thing that morning by leaving blankets and other belongings on the benches before heading off to the day’s activities. By the time Opening Ceremonies began, the bleachers were completely full, so most families watched from the grassy hillside overlooking the field.

As each team is introduced, the players and coaches march onto the field while the families show off their team spirit from the hillside. This is the Spirit Competition, and every team tries to outdo the others with matching shirts, oversized signs, fatheads, cowbells, air horns, cheers, and anything else they can think of.

Our group went all out with outfits, fatheads of each player, cowbells, air horns, and a cloud of blue powder as our team was announced. Watching the boys walk onto the field while all of the families cheered from the hillside was one of my favorite moments of the week and one of those parenting moments I’ll never forget.

If you’re looking for ideas for your own team, Cooperstown spirit gear shares everything we brought along with lots of inspiration from other Cooperstown families.

Looking out at more than 1,000 players from 94 teams standing together on the field really put the size of the tournament into perspective. After months of planning, fundraising, and practices, it finally felt like Cooperstown had officially begun.

For the latest schedules, event information, and tournament updates, visit the official Cooperstown All Star Village website before your trip.

Wrapping Up the First Day

After Opening Ceremonies, it was time to say goodnight to the boys. While they headed back to the bunkhouses with their teammates, many of the parents gathered at the restaurant overlooking the field to grab dinner and a drink, relax, and talk about everything that had happened during the day.

Since no games were scheduled, kids from all over the country were out on the open fields playing pickup wiffle ball together. My son’s team joined in too, and before long they were playing with boys they had just met a few hours earlier. It perfectly captured what makes Cooperstown so special.

By the time we headed back to our Airbnb, everyone was exhausted. The first day is a whirlwind, but once it’s over, you’ll feel settled in and ready for an unforgettable week of baseball.

Final Thoughts on the First Day at Cooperstown All Star Village

The first day at Cooperstown All Star Village goes by fast. Between check-in, skills competitions, moving into the bunkhouses, Opening Ceremonies, and saying goodnight to your player, there’s a lot packed into a single day.

Hopefully this guide gives you a better idea of what to expect so you can spend less time wondering what’s next and more time enjoying the experience. Before you know it, you’ll be cheering from the sidelines, making memories with your team, and watching your own Cooperstown adventure begin.

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Our family travel photography © Stack the Miles. All family and attraction photos were captured during our travel sports. Select scenic and landmark images courtesy of trusted stock sources and tourism archives.

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