Cardinals-Themed Holiday Weekend To Kick Off 2026 Season
ST. LOUIS, Mo., January 13, 2026 – The 29th Cardinals Care Winter Warm-Up and the Cardinals Caravan highlight a busy Cardinals-themed holiday weekend that kicks off the 2026 season.
Winter Warm-Up—the annual fan festival and fundraising event for Cardinals Care, the team’s charitable arm—will be held at Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village Saturday, January 17 and Sunday, January 18, with appearances from over 50 players, coaches and alumni. Admission, Autograph and Photo tickets are still available. For the most complete schedule and up-to-date Winter Warm-Up information, visit cardinals.com/WWU.
The 2026 Cardinals Caravan, presented by Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance, departs Busch Stadium on Friday morning. Over the course of the weekend, a combination of more than 35 current and former players, minor league prospects, and team broadcasters will visit 15 cities throughout Cardinals Nation along five different routes before returning to St. Louis on Monday night. For complete information on all caravan stops, visit cardinals.com/caravan.
The 66th annual St. Louis Baseball Writers’ Dinner takes place at the downtown Missouri Athletic Club on Sunday, January 18. Attendees will enjoy a night of fun and entertainment as the dinner celebrates top Cardinals performers from 2025 and honors those who have made long-lasting contributions to the organization and sport. The evening will be highlighted by special guests, including a roundtable with members of the 2006 World Series Championship team, and the presentation of the Red Schoendienst Medal, St. Louis Baseball Man of the Year and Darryl Kile Award. Visit stlouisbbwaa.com to purchase tickets or for more information.
Below are highlights of the 2026 Winter Warm-Up weekend:
Friday, January 16, 2026
- Cardinals Caravan: The 2026 Caravan kicks off with stops in Jefferson City and Springfield, Mo., and Peoria and Champaign, Ill.
Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Winter Warm-Up: The two-day event kicks off, and is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Gates at Busch Stadium open at 8:45 a.m. Ballpark Village and the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum open at 9:00 a.m.
- Autographs:
- UMB Champions Club (Busch Stadium) – Jon Jay, Gordon Graceffo, Jordan Walker, David Freese, Oliver Marmol, Blaze Jordan, Matt Adams, Iván Herrera, Daniel Descalso, Matthew Liberatore, Andre Granillo, Scott Spiezio, Riley O’Brien
- Budweiser 703 Club (Busch Stadium) – Liam Doyle, Jimmy Crooks, Nathan Church, Joshua Baez, Richard Fitts, Ryne Stanek, Quinn Matthews, David Eckstein
- Cardinals Nation Level 2 (Ballpark Village) – Alan Benes, Andy Benes, John Rooney, Bernard Gilkey, Chaim Bloom, Polo Asencio, Greg Amsinger, John Costello
- Photos (Community America Cardinals Club at Busch Stadium) – Red Jacket Photos with Ozzie Smith and Al Hrabosky
- Main Stage (Ballpark Village): The Main Stage will feature a live auction, presentations and live interviews throughout the day. Priority seating for Winter Warm-Up Ticket holders is available. New for 2026, Main Stage programming will be live streamed on com. Scheduled events include:
- 9:15 a.m. – Player Chat with Nathan Church, Joshua Baez and Blaze Jordan.
- 10:00 a.m. – Player Chat with Richard Fitts
- 10:30 a.m. – Redbird Rookies Saigh Scholarship presentation.
- 11:00 a.m. – Live auction where fans can bid on the opportunity to visit the Cardinals TV Booth during a 2026 Cardinals Home Game, an Adam Wainwright Autographed Canvas, and the opportunity to visit the KMOX radio booth during a 2026 Cardinals Home Game (fans must be present to bid and win an auction item and all items must be paid for and picked up at the close of each auction).
- 11:20 a.m. – Q&A with President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom led by Cardinals Radio Play-by-Play announcer John Rooney
- 12:00 p.m. – Q&A with Cardinals Manager Oliver Marmol hosted by Cardinals Spanish Radio Play-by-Play announcer Polo Ascencio
- 1:00 p.m. – Kids Only Player Press Conference with Gordon Graceffo and Jordan Walker – all can attend, but kids ask the questions!
- 1:30 p.m. – 2026 Promotion Schedule Reveal
- 2:00 p.m. – Player Chat with Liam Doyle, Jimmy Crooks, and Riley O’Brien, hosted by MLB Network’s Greg Amsinger
- 2:30 p.m. – Player Chat with Matthew Liberatore
- 3:00 p.m. – Cardinals Care Spotlight – hear from Cardinals Care Partnership Grant recipients Eye Thrive and the St. Louis County Library Foundation
- 3:30 p.m. – Player Chat with Iván Herrera and Quinn Matthews
- 4:15 p.m. – Player Chat with Andre Granillo
- Presentations (Visiting Clubhouse at Busch Stadium)
- 9:30 a.m. – Learn how to keep score with a member of the Cardinals communications team.
- 11:00 a.m. – A Day in the Life of Team Fredbird
- 11:45 a.m. - Join MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch & a panel of Cardinals beat reporters for Q&A about covering the team
- 1:00 p.m. - Learn about the St. Louis greats with Ed Wheatley, baseball historian and president of the St. Louis Browns Historical Society and Fan Club.
- 2:30 p.m. - - Road to the Red Jacket: Brittany Schelp of the Cardinals Museum shares what it takes to earn the iconic red jacket and how alumni learn that they will be inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame
- 3:30 p.m. – Open Clubhouse: Take a look inside the Visiting Clubhouse
- Cardinals Caravan: The Cardinals Caravan makes its way through Cardinals Nation with stops in Springfield and Bloomington, Ill., and Joplin and Rolla, Mo.
- Autographs:
Sunday, January 18, 2026
- Winter Warm-Up: Day two of the event is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Gates at Busch Stadium will open at 8:45 a.m. Ballpark Village and the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum open at 9:00 a.m.
- Autographs:
- UMB Champions Club (Busch Stadium) – Aaron Miles, Randy Flores, Michael McGreevy, Brad Thompson, José Fermín, Leonardo Bernal, Thomas Saggese, So Taguchi, Andre Pallante, Yohel Pozo, Masyn Winn, Kyle Leahy
- Budweiser 703 Club (Busch Stadium) – Brycen Mautz, Hunter Dobbins, Dustin May, JJ Wetherholt, Preston Wilson, Alec Burleson, Jeff Suppan, Alec Burleson, Victor Scott II
- Cardinals Nation Level 2 (Ballpark Village) – Todd Worrell, Mike Claiborne, Kerry Robinson, Chip Caray, Bengie Molina, Ricky Horton
- Photos (Community America Cardinals Club at Busch Stadium) – Player Award Photos - Alec Burleson with is Louisville Silver Slugger Award, and Masyn Winn with his Rawlings Gold Glove Award
- Main Stage (Ballpark Village): The Main Stage will feature a live auction, presentations and live interviews throughout the day. Priority seating for Winter Warm-Up Ticket holders is available. Scheduled events include:
- 9:15 a.m. – Player Chat with JJ Wetherholt
- 10:00 a.m. – Q&A with Assistant General Managers Moisés Rodríguez, Randy Flores, and Rob Cerfolio, hosted by Cardinals Radio Broadcaster, Mike Claiborne
- 11:00 a.m. – Live auction where fans can bid on the opportunity to have the Ultimate Day at Busch Stadium (including a 30-minute catch on the field), a Yadier Molina Autographed Canvas, and the opportunity to visit the Spanish radio booth during a 2026 Cardinals Home Game (fans must be present to bid and win an auction item and all items must be paid for and picked up at the close of each auction).
- 11:20 a.m. – Q&A with Team Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and President Bill DeWitt III – Hosted by Cardinals TV Broadcasters Chip Caray and Brad Thompson
- 12:00 p.m. – Player Chat with Andre Pallante and Masyn Winn
- 12:30 p.m. – Kids Only Player Press Conference with Michael McGreevy, Yohel Pozo, and Victor Scott II – all can attend, but kids ask the questions!
- 1:00 p.m. – Player Chat with Dustin May and Hunter Dobbins
- 1:15 p.m. – Player Chat with Brycen Mautz and Leonardo Bernal, hosted by Cardinals Spanish Broadcaster Bengie Molina
- 2:00 p.m. – Player Chat with Kyle Leahy, José Fermín, and Thomas Saggese, hosted by Cardinals Radio Broadcaster Ricky Horton
- 2:30 p.m. – Cardinals Care Spotlight – Hear from Cardinals Care Partnership Grant recipient Ronald McDonald House and Ball Field Grant Recipient the Gateway Region YMCA
- 3:15 p.m. – Player Chat with Alec Burleson
- Presentations (Visiting Clubhouse at Busch Stadium)
- 9:30 a.m. – Inside MLB Authentication: Learn about collecting game-used and autographed items with Austin Heflin of Cardinals Authentics
- 11:00 a.m. – STL Baseball from A to Z: St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Benjamin Hochman teaches kids fun Cardinals history with a story for each letter of the alphabet
- 12:30 p.m. – Join Gerald Early, author of Play Harder: The Triumph of Black Baseball in America. Learn about the book written in partnership with the Baseball Hall of Fame
- 1:**45 p.m. -** Learn about sportsmanship and championship mindset during a reading of the children’s book A Bad Day of Baseball from author and traffic anchor Paige Hulsey
- 2:**30 p.m.** - Caring for your Collection: Tips for storing and displaying your personal memorabilia with Erin Pruhs, Cardinals Collections Specialist
- 4:00 p.m. - Open Clubhouse: Take a look inside the Visiting Clubhouse
- Cardinals Caravan: The Cardinals Caravan makes stops in Memphis, Tn., Centralia, Ill., and Evansville, In.
- 66th Annual St. Louis Baseball Writers’ Dinner (5:30 p.m.): The 66th annual St. Louis Baseball Writers Dinner will be held at the Downtown Missouri Athletic Club.
Monday, January 19, 2026
- Cardinals Caravan: The Cardinals Caravan makes its final stops in Jonesboro, Ar., Dyersburg, Tn., Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Paducah, Ky.
Additional Winter Warm-Up Information
Silent Auctions– Open for bids starting at 9:00 a.m., closing at 9:00 p.m. on each day of the WWU, Cardinals Care Silent Auctions feature autographed items including baseballs, jerseys, photos and more! Items will be on display inside Ballpark Village near each entrance. Fans can bid online, both at Winter Warm-Up and from home at com/WWU.
Cardinals Care Store (Cunningham Corner at Busch Stadium) - Open throughout the weekend, the Cardinals Care Store is stocked full of Cardinals memorabilia such as baseball caps, team-issued apparel, t-shirts, game-worn jerseys, autographed photos and bats, and more.
Cardinals Clubhouse Self-Guided Tours (Access from Redbird Club at Busch Stadium) - Fans with an Admission Ticket to the Winter Warm-Up can access the Cardinals Clubhouse Tour through the Redbird Club on the third level of Busch Stadium. The Clubhouse Tour is a self-guided experience that will be open during regular hours of the event each day. No additional ticket is required for this experience.
Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum (2nd Floor of Cardinals Nation at Ballpark Village) – Admission to the Winter Warm-Up includes complimentary admission to the world-class Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum.
Exhibit Hall (Redbird Club at Busch Stadium) – The Exhibit Hall features a variety of premium vendors and kid-friendly activities. Visit com/WWU for a full list of Exhibitors.
Food and Beverage - Concessions will be available for purchase at Busch Stadium in the Redbird Club. There are several dining options available at Ballpark Village during Winter Warm-Up including:
- Cardinals Nation Restaurant and Bar - WWU ticket holders receive a 20% discount when showing their wristband. The Restaurant will open daily at 10:00 a.m.
- Fan Duel Sports Network Live!
- Condado Tacos
- Katie’s Pizza and Pasta Osteria
- Salt + Smoke
- Sports & Social
- Clark & Bourbon at Live! by Loews – St. Louis
- Fielder’s Choice at One Cardinal Way
- Koibito Poke
- Auntie Anne’s
Stay Updated: Be sure to enable push notifications for the MLB Ballpark App on your smartphone to receive the latest Winter Warm-Up news and event information on your mobile device!
Admission Tickets: Fans can purchase tickets for the event online at com/WWU or at the Busch Stadium box office during Warm-Up hours. Two-day tickets cost $52* for adults (fans age 16 and older) & $27* for children (fans age 4 to 15). Children under four years are free. Active military members and first responders with valid military/first responder ID can visit the Busch Stadium ticket windows on 8th Street (next to Gate 3) on the day of the event they wish to attend to receive one (1) complimentary ticket. Tickets are available while supplies last. Advance complimentary tickets are not available. *including fees
Autograph and Photo Tickets: Remaining Autograph and Photo Tickets may be purchased online at com/WWU. Every dollar donated for Autograph Tickets will benefit Redbird Rookies, Cardinals Nike RBI, Cardinals Care Ballfields, and charitable grants to support non-profit organizations that help kids. Donation amounts and updates can be found at cardinals.com/WWU.
Cardinals Authentics: The Cardinals Authentics Shop in Ballpark Village, next to the Cardinals Nation Restaurant, is offering specials during both days of WWU: Team issued hats only $10 and City Connect hats at 60% off. The Cardinals Authentics Booth, located in the Exhibit Hall in the Redbird Club at Busch Stadium, will offer deep discounts with game-used, team-issued, framed pieces and much more at 50-70% OFF original price. Stay tuned for special announcements by Cardinals Authentics via X (@CardsAuthentics) throughout the two-day event.
Official Cardinals Team Store: The Official Cardinals Team Store at Busch Stadium and the New Era Store in Ballpark Village offering the following specials during the WWU:
- New Arrivals featuring Winn and Burleson
- Introduction to the Frozen Iguanas. Ask us about them and check out our limited product offerings for the weekend.
- Select items 50-70% off
- All City Connect Hats- 70% off
- Both stores will open at 9:00 a.m. daily during the event. Stop by either location for the newest Cardinals gear!
Green Team: The team’s “4 A Greener Game” initiative will have a booth in the Exhibit Hall in the Redbird Club at Busch Stadium where fans can learn more about the Cardinals Green Team—a group of volunteers who collect recyclables from fans throughout each game at Busch Stadium. In exchange for volunteering, fans can watch the game in standing room only sections of Busch Stadium. Visit com/green for more information.
Louis Cardinals Staff Recruitment – Interested in working for the St. Louis Cardinals? Visit the Cardinals job recruiting booth in Redbird Club. Positions include Event Attendants, Ushers and Community Outreach Team. Visit cardinals.com/jobs for more information.
Social Media: Throughout the Cardinals Caravan and Winter Warm-Up, fans can stay connected by following the Cardinals on X (@Cardinals), Facebook (@Cardinals), TikTok (@Cardinals) and Instagram (@Cardinals) for the latest news, event updates and behind-the-scenes content. Fans can join the conversation and share their own photos and experiences by using hashtags #CardsWarmUp, #CardsCaravan and #CardsCare.
Traffic & Parking: For the most up-to-date alerts regarding construction and winter road conditions this weekend, fans can visit the Missouri Department of Transportation’s website at org. Winter Warm-Up event parking can be found at several locations around Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village. Fans can visit cardinals.com/WWU for a complete Winter Warm-Up Fan Guide and FAQs.
Cardinals and Cardinals Care Sponsors: Cardinals Care and the St. Louis Cardinals would like to thank the following sponsors for helping make the 2026 Winter Warm-Up possible: Ballpark Village, Live! By Loews – St. Louis, Edward Jones, In Focus Marketing, KMOV News 4, KMOX Radio 1120 AM, Rawlings Sporting Goods, Altair Travel & Cruises, FastSigns of Bridgeton, Betallic Balloons, and Kube Auction Service