The Padres host Athletics on Saturday, May 23 at 6:40 PM with a postgame Star Wars Fireworks Spectacular — one of only three fireworks nights at Petco Park all season.
The Padres host game two of their Star Wars Weekend series against the Athletics on Saturday, May 23, 2026, with first pitch at 6:40 PM at Petco Park. The big draw isn't just the baseball — it's what happens after the final out, when the downtown San Diego sky lights up with the Star Wars Fireworks Spectacular, one of only three fireworks nights at Petco Park all season.
Saturday is the night the casual fans, the families, and the diehards all show up together. If you've never stayed past the ninth inning at Petco Park, this is the game to do it.
Friday gets the official kickoff. Sunday gets the families. But Saturday is the game where everything that makes Star Wars Weekend at Petco Park work peaks at once — packed crowd, full costume turnout from the 501st Legion, and a postgame fireworks show that genuinely competes with the best of San Diego's nightlife views.
Here's what makes the fireworks worth staying for: there are only three postgame fireworks nights at Petco Park in all of 2026. Opening Series on March 28, this Star Wars Spectacular on May 23, and the End of Summer Spectacular on August 22. That's it. If you miss Saturday, you don't get another shot at fireworks night until late August.
The Padres describe it as "the battle between the Jedi and the Sith ends with a Star Wars-themed fireworks spectacular lighting up the night sky." The show starts a few minutes after the final out, and all fans are invited to stay — you can even move down to better seats for viewing once the game ends. Watching fireworks against the San Diego skyline from inside Petco Park is the kind of thing that gets shared on Instagram for days afterward.
A few practical things worth knowing:
Party in the Park starts at 4:00 PM in Gallagher Square, two hours and 40 minutes before first pitch. Fans purchase Friar Funds ($5 value tokens) to grab discounted drinks at concessions throughout the ballpark, and there's live music throughout. The earlier you arrive, the better — by 5:30 PM, the Square is packed.
The atmosphere builds from the moment gates open. Members of the 501st Legion and other Star Wars cosplay groups wander the concourses in screen-accurate costumes — dozens of Stormtroopers, Jedi, and bounty hunters available for photos from gates opening through the sixth inning. These aren't costume shop knockoffs. These are the cosplayers who take this seriously, and on Saturday the costume turnout is at its peak.
Petco Park rolls out Star Wars-themed concessions for the weekend — blue milk boba, cosmic chaos dogs, and other limited-run items that sound ridiculous but actually hit. They're available throughout the ballpark, not just at one location, so you don't have to hunt them down.
If you bought a theme game ticket for Saturday, you'll get the exclusive Jackson Merrill and Grogu (Mandalorian) bobblehead — the Padres' star center fielder paired with the iconic Star Wars character. Theme game packages for the weekend sold out in advance, so if you didn't snag one, the bobblehead isn't available at the gate. Resale sites will have them, but expect to pay a premium.
Saturday night games draw the biggest crowds of any Padres home game, and parking is going to be tight. More than 27,000 parking spaces exist within walking distance of the ballpark, with 9,000 designated specifically for Petco Park fans. But parking costs range from $15 to $55 depending on how close you want to get.
The three official Padres Preferred lots open four hours before first pitch:
You can't buy parking passes within four hours of the event, so plan ahead.
The trolley is the smart play for a fireworks night. MTS Trolley service costs $5 round-trip with free parking at transit lots, and they typically run increased post-game service for fireworks games — meaning you skip the post-fireworks traffic gridlock that can stretch an hour. The 12th & Imperial Station and Gaslamp Quarter Station sit within one block of Petco Park. Street parking meters charge $10 per hour during games.
Drop-off zones operate on both sides of the ballpark — west side uses 6th Avenue and K Street, east side is 10th Avenue and Park Boulevard. For tickets and stadium questions, call the Padres at 619-795-5000.
Saturday, May 23 is the peak of Star Wars Weekend at Petco Park — full costume turnout, packed crowd, and one of only three fireworks shows all season closing out the night. Get to Gallagher Square by 4:00 PM, plan your transportation ahead, and don't leave early. The postgame fireworks are why people circle this date on the calendar.
Want to know what's happening Friday and Sunday too? Check out our Star Wars Night Friday preview and our Sunday KidsFest guide.
Q1. What time does the Saturday Padres game start?
The Padres vs. Athletics Saturday game begins at 6:40 PM on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Gates to Gallagher Square open at 4:00 PM for the Star Wars pregame Party in the Park.
Q2. Are there fireworks after the Saturday game?
Yes — Saturday, May 23 is one of only three fireworks nights at Petco Park all season. The Star Wars Fireworks Spectacular starts a few minutes after the final out, and all fans are invited to stay. You can move down to better seats for viewing.
Q3. Can I still get the Jackson Merrill / Grogu bobblehead on Saturday?
The bobblehead is only available with a theme game ticket package, which sold out in advance for the weekend. If you didn't purchase one before, the bobblehead won't be available at the gate on Saturday.
Q4. Will the 501st Legion characters be at Saturday's game too?
Yes — Star Wars characters in screen-accurate costumes appear at all three games of the series. Saturday typically has the highest costume turnout of the weekend, with dozens of Stormtroopers, Jedi, and bounty hunters available for photos from gates opening through the sixth inning.
Q5. What's the best way to get to Petco Park for fireworks night?
The MTS Trolley is the best option for fireworks games. Service costs $5 round-trip with free parking at transit lots, and MTS typically runs increased post-game service after fireworks shows — meaning you avoid the worst of the post-fireworks traffic. The 12th & Imperial Station and Gaslamp Quarter Station are within one block of Petco Park.