The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will fly over Las Vegas Ballpark at about 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2026, opening Battle For Vegas. The Thunderbirds Las Vegas flyover also begins a night built around Reilly Smith, who will host the event and captain Team Reilly.
Battle For Vegas opens its schedule with gates at 6 p.m., then A Home Run Derby presented by the Athletics at 7 p.m., before first pitch at 8 p.m. The event has raised more than $1.2 million for local nonprofits since 2019, and the 2026 proceeds will go to the Battle For Vegas Foundation and community partners Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada and Cure 4 The Kids Foundation.
Las Vegas Ballpark and America250
The flyover is part of the America250 celebration, which marks the nation’s 250th anniversary and honors Southern Nevada’s role in America’s story. Las Vegas Ballpark is one of ten landmarks and neighborhoods across the Las Vegas Valley taking part in that citywide effort.
That schedule gives the flyover a dual role: it serves both as a public marker for the America250 celebration and as the official start to a charity event that has turned into a steady fundraiser since 2019. For people planning to attend, the sequence is straightforward — arrive before 6 p.m. if they want to catch the opening, and be in place before 7:30 p.m. for the flyover.
Reilly Smith and Team Reilly
Reilly Smith is hosting Battle For Vegas and will serve as captain of his team. Nick Carter will perform the National Anthem before taking the field as a member of Team Reilly.
Tickets start at $40, while premium experiences, including suites, are limited. James Sullivan is the contact for group tickets, suites and sponsorships, which are still available for the event.
Candlelighters and Cure 4 The Kids Foundation
The charity structure is the part that frames the night’s practical value. Battle For Vegas is not only a one-night sports event; it is also a funding source for the Battle For Vegas Foundation and its community partners, with the 2026 event extending that model to Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada and Cure 4 The Kids Foundation.
For readers choosing whether to go, the immediate decision is timing: the flyover starts the program, the Home Run Derby follows an hour later, and first pitch comes at 8 p.m. Anyone aiming for the full event needs to plan around that sequence, because the opening moments are part of the draw, not an afterthought.
