Orioles to celebrate the Oriole Bird's birthday at Kids' Opening Day on April 7

The Orioles today announced plans to celebrate the Oriole Bird's birthday at the fifth annual Kids' Opening Day presented by Weis Markets, on Sunday, April 7 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards when the Orioles host the New York Yankees at 1:05 p.m. ET. Hatched on April 6, 1979, out of a giant egg at Memorial Stadium, the Oriole Bird became the official mascot of the Baltimore Orioles, and has since delighted and entertained fans at Oriole Park, Ed Smith Stadium, and throughout the community.

In honor of his milestone birthday, the Oriole Bird will be joined by friends from the Mid-Atlantic region, including Poe from the Baltimore Ravens, Sherman from the Delmarva Shorebirds, Ferrous from the Aberdeen IronBirds, Louie from the Bowie Baysox, Testudo from the University of Maryland, True Grit from UMBC, and others. The Bird and his mascot friends will celebrate with fans before the game in the Kids' Corner by Gate C with a giant birthday cake.

In addition to the birthday celebrations, Kids' Opening Day will feature a kids-only Orioles Lunch Bag presented by Weis Markets, available to the first 7,500 fans ages 14 and under. Additionally, all fans ages 4-14 will be able to participate in a postgame Kids Run the Bases, presented by Weis Markets. It will be the first of 14 Sunday home games when kids can round the bases like their favorite Orioles.

Among the most exciting elements of Kids' Opening Day are opportunities for children ages 14 and under to be selected to participate in pregame experiences. On their way into the ballpark, nine randomly selected young Orioles fans will be chosen to take the field with the Orioles starters for the national anthem, and one child will help deliver the lineup card during the pregame exchange at home plate.

Sunday's Birdland Community Hero will be Tyler Stallings, a seven-year-old from Halethorpe, Md. Recently featured on NBC's Little Big Shots, Stallings assists veterans by creating "hero packs," which provide hygiene products and other necessary items to homeless veterans.

Kids and their families can enjoy a pregame, on-field musical performance from independent country recording artist, Renee Blair. Originally from St. Louis, Blair has spent the past few years writing in Nashville. She returns to Oriole Park after performing last season as part of the "Friday Fireworks & Music" series. Blair will also perform the national anthem prior to the game. Elle Walasavage, a 13-year-old from Schuylkill Haven, Pa., will perform "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch.

Children are also strongly encouraged to show their Orioles spirit with costumes and signs, and some of the most-supportive young fans will receive Orioles autographed items for their efforts.

Kids' Opening Day is one of many affordable, family-friendly experiences available at Oriole Park this season, including the return of club's groundbreaking program, "Kids Cheer Free," which invites parents to bring children ages 9 and younger to Oriole Park free of charge with purchase of an Upper Deck ticket. In addition to offering one of the most flexible food and beverage policies in the sports industry, the Orioles offer a variety of concessions sizes at reasonable price points. The Orioles also host many events for children and families, such as Kids Run the Bases on Sundays, Student Nights on Fridays, Friday Fireworks & Music from June through August, and the Junior Orioles Dugout Club. For more information on family-friendly programs, visit Orioles.com/kids.