Fun Fest brings back sixth annual youth Wiffle Ball tournament

Fun Fest is putting youth players front and center again by bringing its sixth annual Wiffle Ball tournament back to The Sandlot in Gray with a 15-and-under field, six-player minimum rosters and all balls and bats supplied. The setup keeps the game organized enough to feel competitive while staying simple enough for kids, families and small local groups to jump in without much equipment or expense.

The tournament is scheduled for July 17, 18, 20, 21 and 25 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., with the championship game on July 25 moving to Miracle Field in Kingsport. Registration costs $25 per team, closes July 15, and sign-up is available through Fun Fest or at the Fun Fest store. Teams must carry at least six players, and no cleats are allowed.

The Sandlot Wiffle Ball Park sits at 280 Hales Chapel Rd. in Gray, behind Hales Chapel Christian Church, and the venue has already built a reputation as a place where youth sports feel personal rather than overbuilt. Fun Fest’s own archive identifies this as the 6th Annual tournament, tracing the event back to its launch in 2021. Vaughn Burgess, who said, "We started playing wiffle ball in 1972," pushed the idea into Fun Fest after telling the group, "Hey I got an idea, let’s get some young people involved." He added, "And so, the Fun Fest Wiffle Ball Tournament was born."

That origin still fits the event’s shape. Burgess said the field has hosted birthday parties and church youth groups, and the tournament now gives the park a summer showcase built around the same easygoing, low-barrier appeal that makes Wiffle Ball work so well for younger players. A short roster, shared equipment and a familiar festival calendar make the event an easy entry point for kids who want a taste of competition and for parents who want something more structured than a pickup game.