Nationals announce #NatsCaveCrasher Instagram contest

The Washington Nationals will host a first-of-its-kind, interactive Instagram contest, the third of four social media promotions hosted this season in an effort to provide the ultimate interactive fan experience at Nationals Park. Nationals fans can enter the contest by posting a photo to Instagram using the designated hashtag #NatsCaveCrasher. Five finalists will be selected on a rolling basis, with one submission picked on Aug. 12, Aug. 14, Aug. 16, Aug. 19 and Aug. 21. All five finalists will be invited to attend the Nationals-Mets game on Saturday, August 31, where they'll serve as Nationals photographers for the day and compete for the Grand Prize - an all-expenses paid trip for two to New York City to see the Nationals play the Mets and visit the MLB Fan Cave, Major League Baseball's one-of-a-kind space mixing baseball with music, popular culture, media, interactive technology and art. All finalists will receive pregame field passes to batting practice and postgame field access to cover the NatsLive Postgame Concert for themselves and one guest, as well as exclusive access to the Nats Fan Cave throughout the evening. In addition to the Grand Prize, one runner-up will receive four PNC Diamond Lounge tickets to a 2014 Nationals home game. Each finalist will also receive a commemorative poster featuring a collage of their contest photos as well as official Nationals Instagram photos. For more information about the #NatsCaveCrasher Instagram Contest, visit nationals.com/natscavecrasher. The finalists will be tasked with a list of photography assignments throughout the August 31 game and the subsequent NatsLive Free Postgame Concert featuring Gavin DeGraw. Their Instagram photo galleries will be shared on the Nationals Curly W Live Blog at nationals.com/curlyw and fans of all ages will be invited to vote for their favorite gallery from Sunday, September 1 to Tuesday, September 3. The #NatsCaveCrasher Instagram Contest is just one of the many innovative social media promotions the Nationals have hosted in 2013. Other events include: NATIONALS ANNUAL BLOGGER DAY: June 22 Before, during and after the Nationals-Rockies game, Nationals bloggers were invited to a full day of events at Nationals Park, including the first release of news regarding the #VoteNats Tweet-up. #VOTENATS TWEET-UP: July 3 In addition to an exciting evening of baseball and fireworks, Nationals tweeps were given exclusive access to an on-field pregame meet and greet as well as a Q&A with Nationals pitcher Tyler Clippard, broadcasters and front office executives. @Nationals Twitter followers in attendance also received event-only giveaways, including promotional posters and T-shirts, as part of the second annual Tweet-up. FACEBOOK FAN APPRECIATION DAY: September 19 The final social media event of the season will recognize fans' loyalty on Facebook. More details about Facebook Fan Appreciation Day will be available in the coming weeks, including the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets.