Tailgate Party On May 4th To Benefit Elliot Hospital Pediatric Emergency Department

The Manchester Wolves invite their young fans and those who are young at heart to join them for a special pre-game extravaganza on May 4th featuring complimentary children's entertainment and other activities, with proceeds going to the future Pediatric Emergency Department at Manchester's Elliot Hospital.

Elm Street, the main thoroughfare in the city, will be closed to traffic and the big tailgate party will be held in front of the Verizon Wireless Arena where the arenafootball2 team plays all of its home games on Brady Sullivan Field. The free event is open to the public.

The tailgate, which will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., features face painters and children's amusements including a moonwalk, rock wall, kiddie obstacle course and an inflatable slide provided by Dwight Damon Entertainment. Chill Day Spa in Manchester will offer special services and the music will be courtesy of WZID Radio and The Mill. T-Bones Restaurants will offer menu selections with a portion of the sales benefiting the future pediatric unit and additional sponsors include Oakhurst Dairy and Racing Limos.

For those 21 and older, Murphy's Taproom, which is across the street from the arena, will be the scene for a pre-game party with beverage and food specials.

Following the big tailgate party, the Wolves will host the Daytona Beach Thunderbirds in an af2 match-up at 4:00 p.m. For the contest, Wolves players will all wear jerseys specially designed by children in the current pediatric unit at the hospital, and after the game, the team will literally give the shirts off their backs.

The actual game jerseys will be auctioned to fans in attendance with the proceeds going to fund the future Pediatric Emergency Room at the Elliot Hospital.

"Elliot is proud of our affiliation with the Manchester Wolves and is looking forward the event," said Susanna Whitcher, vice president of public affairs and marketing for the hospital. "As a local non-profit, we rely on the generosity of our community to support the development of a new Pediatric Emergency Department. The Wolves appreciate the need for emergency care geared specifically for children, and with this event, they are helping Elliot to realize our vision."

During the tailgate party, pediatricians from the Elliot Hospital will be on hand to mingle with the fans and the hospital will staff a booth.