The Cal Ripken World Series opens with a big night at Cal Sr.'s Yard and ends with the world watching the championship at the same ballpark. And in between, there is fantastic baseball.

It's all in our back yard, and it's all free.

The only thing missing: a big, downtown parade.

Missing, no more.

Aberdeen will host a parade to kick off the international youth baseball tournament at 11 a.m. on August 11.

"The teams will meet at Festival Park. We’ll invite the community. We’ll have hot dogs, chips and soda for everybody," Mayor Michael Bennett said Monday. "The community will be invited to attend for the next week and a half the Cal Ripken World Series."

The parade will follow the same route as the Christmas Street Parade—Law Street to West Bel Air Avenue to Festival Park.

Bennett said businesses and community organizations will be able to join in the parade via the appearance and preservation commission. Streets will be closed off in an identical fashion to the Christmas Street Parade.

The 2012 Cal Ripken World Series will be held Aug. 10-19.

TELL US: Would you like to participate in the Cal Ripken World Series parade? Leave a comment.