Celebration will feature meet and greets with Orioles mascots, alumni appearances, and school assemblies

The Baltimore Orioles today announced that fans are invited to attend the Orioles’ Countdown to Opening Day events, a preseason celebration that will take place from March 14-22 at multiple locations throughout the region. The slate of events includes meet and greet photo opportunities, a fan rally, and school assemblies across Maryland to get Birdland excited for the upcoming baseball season.

The celebration will begin on Saturday, March 14, at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, with a mall rally. The event, which is open to fans of all ages, will feature live in-person interviews with Orioles alumni, including Orioles Hall of Famers AL BUMBRY and JOE ORSULAK and former pitchers TOMMY HUNTER and DAVE JOHNSON, along with appearances by Orioles mascots. The following day, on Sunday, March 15, Orioles fans can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the Oriole Bird as he marches in Baltimore’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Birdland’s youngest fans are invited to attend Family and Friends Story Time with The Bird on Wednesday, March 18, at Baltimore County Public Library – Cockeysville Branch. The Oriole Bird will be in attendance to help young children develop language and early literacy skills through storytelling, songs, and rhymes. Siblings of all ages and abilities are also welcome to attend. Seating for this free event is first come, first served.

On Thursday, March 19, the celebration will continue with a meet and greet with the Oriole Bird and Mr. Splash at Weis Markets in Ijamsville. Then, on Saturday, March 21, O’s fans will have the opportunity to meet and take photos with the Camden Franks, Oriole Park’s own racing hot dog mascots, at Weis Markets in Bel Air.

As part of their annual preseason matchup against their beltway rivals, the Orioles will face off against the Nationals on at Oriole Park on Sunday, March 22, at 1:35 p.m. for their first exhibition game after last year’s matchup was canceled due to inclement weather. The Nationals will then host the Orioles on Monday, March 23, at 1:05 p.m. The Orioles and Nationals will play home and away exhibition games that will continue through the 2029 season. Fans can purchase tickets to the game at Orioles.com/Tickets. 

To conclude the Countdown to Opening Day celebration, the Orioles will host a series of school assemblies from March 23-25 across five counties and Baltimore City. The school assemblies, which are not open to the public, will feature appearances by Orioles broadcasters and the Oriole Bird to get students ready for the 2026 season with high-energy teamwork-related games.

The Orioles will celebrate Opening Day at home on Thursday, March 26, when they face off against the Minnesota Twins at 3:05 p.m. Tickets for all regular season games are available at Orioles.com/Tickets.