The Silver Knights are hosting what amounts to baseball-softball youth festival at Holman Stadium on Saturday. (Graphic/photos courtesy of Nashua Silver Knights)

NASHUA – Saturday Holman Stadium will be the site of what is basically a baseball-softball celebration, courtesy of the Nashua Silver Knights.

Players from local youth baseball and softball leagues or just interested youths from the area or beyond are expected to descend upon Holman to take part in a parade, shagging flys, a whiffle ball Home Run Derby, fielding grounders, etc. Just about every baseball/softball activity one can think of from about 10 a.m.to at least 1 p.m.

Oh, that includes eating free hot dogs.

“It’s something John (Silver Knights owner Creedon, Jr.) and I have been talking about doing for awhile,” Silver Knights general manager Cam Cook said. “The snow clears and the next thing you know high school baseball is starting up, so it’s always been something tough to time up. We got a little bit lucky that the stadium’s in good condition, the public works people have been chipping away, and the playing surface itself looks unbelievable. “It’s hard because fields are closed, then they’re open and you’re playing game after game and you don’t stop because of snow or rain.

“But we got a nice little window because Cal Ripken and Little League haven’t started yet, the high schools aren’t using the field until next week. So it’s kind of like a nice day out at the ballpark to kick off the spring season for everybody.”

Some high school baseball and softball players from Nashua North, South and Bishop Guertin are likely to be on hand to run some activities. Plus youths can run the bases.

Cook says he’s not sure what to expect.

“There could be 200 people or 2,000 people,” he said. “I have no idea what the turnout is going to be but it looks like the weather is going to cooperate.”

Cook says whoever comes in, the staff will get them all together and have a parade around the infield and out along the warning track. Then there will be a couple of brief speeches and then the youths will break off into groups to whatever activity they want. The Kids Zone will also be open.

Cook says it’s also a chance for younger youths who normally don’t get a chance to play at Holman a chance to experience it.

“The Little Leaguers and those guys don’t get to play on that field so it’s a big deal for them to get to play at Holman Stadium,” Cook said.

Cook says the Silver Knights have reached out to not only the local youth leagues but the middle schools as well.

“Far and wide,” he said. “You know what, we want Holman to be the kingpin of all of southern New Hampshire if not New Hampshire baseball. It we get kids from Merrimack and Hollis and Manchester, awesome, that’s great.”