A New Salamanders Era Begins This Week as Summer Baseball Returns to Holly Springs
The Holly Springs Salamanders open the 2026 season Friday night with a redesigned identity, themed promotions, and a packed Memorial Day weekend schedule at North Main Athletic Complex Stadium.
Holly Springs, NC, May 19, 2026 — Summer baseball returns to Holly Springs this week as the Holly Springs Salamanders prepare to open the 2026 Coastal Plain League season with a redesigned brand identity, multiple themed events, and a full lineup of promotions aimed at families and local fans. The season opener Friday night at North Main Athletic Complex Stadium will mark not only the beginning of another summer baseball season in Holly Springs, but also the public debut of what the organization is calling “a new Salamanders era.”
TICKETS
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The buildup to Opening Night begins Wednesday evening with a preseason meet-and-greet event at Salem Street Pub in Apex. The “Meet Your 2026 Salamanders” gathering is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20th, at 6 p.m. at the restaurant at 113 N. Salem St. The event is an informal opportunity for residents to meet players and staff ahead of the season and to kick off the summer baseball schedule with the team.
The Salamanders officially begin the regular season Friday, May 22nd, at 6:30 p.m. with Opening Night presented by Kimi’s Carpets Plus. For many local families, the first home game has become part of the rhythm of summer in Holly Springs since the franchise debuted in 2015. The team has spent more than a decade building a community-centered atmosphere around affordable baseball, family entertainment, and themed events at North Main Athletic Complex Stadium.
This season, however, the organization is pairing that familiar experience with a significantly updated visual identity. After using the same blue-and-gold branding since the team’s inaugural season, the Salamanders have unveiled a brighter and more animated look centered around a cartoon-style salamander character swinging a baseball bat. The updated identity replaces the franchise’s earlier realistic salamander imagery and reflects the increasingly bold, mascot-driven branding trends seen throughout baseball.
Opening Night promotions will include a schedule magnet giveaway while supplies last, an appearance by Champ the Bat Dog, and a postgame Kids Run the Bases event. The organization is also teasing “a surprise” involving mascot Sal during Friday night’s opener as part of the season launch festivities.
The opening homestand continues throughout Memorial Day weekend with several themed nights that blend baseball with entertainment and community activities. K-Pop Night is scheduled for Saturday, May 23rd, at 6:30 p.m. and will feature K-pop music throughout the evening, themed entertainment, and Korean hot dogs available at the ballpark.
Star Wars Night follows Sunday, May 24th, at 5:05 p.m. and is expected to be one of the organization’s larger promotional nights of the season. The event will include specialty Star Wars jerseys, themed beer bats, costumed guests, and another Kids Run the Bases opportunity following the game.
The Salamanders then return Monday, May 25th, at 5:05 p.m. for a Memorial Day game featuring $1 hot dogs and additional family-focused entertainment as residents close out the holiday weekend. Another major early-season promotion, Princesses & Pirates Night presented by Bricks ’n Brews, is scheduled for Sunday, May 31, at 5:05 p.m. and will include themed guests, music, and activities geared toward younger fans and families.
The Holly Springs Salamanders are members of the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate summer baseball league that includes 15 franchises across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia. Since the league’s founding, more than 1,800 CPL players have been selected in the MLB Draft, and more than 200 alumni have reached Major League Baseball. Notable former CPL players include Justin Verlander, Ryan Zimmerman, Kevin Youkilis, Chris Taylor, and Alec Bohm.
As the organization prepares for another summer season in Holly Springs, the Salamanders are clearly betting that the combination of baseball, themed entertainment, and a refreshed brand identity will help strengthen the franchise’s role as one of the town’s recurring summer traditions.
Upcoming Home Games
Opening Night presented by Kimi’s Carpets Plus
Friday, May 22 | 6:30 p.m.K-Pop Night
Saturday, May 23 | 6:30 p.m.Star Wars Night
Sunday, May 24 | 5:05 p.m.Memorial Day Game
Monday, May 25 | 5:05 p.m.Princesses & Pirates Night presented by Bricks ’n Brews
Sunday, May 31 | 5:05 p.m.