BOSTON, MA - The Red Sox will present their Opening Day Ceremonies before the commencement of their 118th home season, and their 107th at Fenway Park, this Thursday, April 5, starting at approximately 1:30 p.m. Fans are asked to be in their seats by 1:15 p.m. The team plays the Tampa Bay Rays at 2:05 p.m.
Before the game, the two teams will be introduced along the base lines. With Hanscom Air Force Base presenting the colors, the national anthem will be performed by R&B/Soul artist Ruth Pointer of The Pointer Sisters, and punctuated by a fly-over of four F-16's from the 134th Fighter Squadron from Burlington, Vermont's Air National Guard ("The Green Mountain Boys").
Before the home opener festivities, an Air Force swearing-in ceremony will take place at Fenway Park for 44 Air Force recruits at 9 a.m. on the warning track near "Canvas Alley." 
Fenway Park gates will open two hours before the game on Thursday. For the rest of the season, gates open 1 ½ hours before game time. Consistent with prior years, season ticket holders and Red Sox Nation members may enter at Gate C 2 ½ hours before each game.
Metal detectors will screen all fans entering the ballpark. To expedite screenings at the gates, fans are asked to remove cell phones, cameras, and other large metal objects before walking through the metal detectors. Fans do not need to remove smaller objects, such as wallets, coins, keys, jewelry, eyeglasses, shoes, and belts.
Children are invited to enter through Gate K (for Kids) near Gate B, a gateway to the Kids Concourse. From the 3rd through the 7th innings, Wally's Clubhouse, presented by L.L. Bean, located in the Kids Concourse offers an in-game play area for children featuring visits from Wally and Tessie. 
The Red Sox encourage fans to use public transportation to Fenway Park. In addition to the popular T stop in Kenmore Square, the commuter rail trains arrive at Yawkey Station, just 511 feet from the doorstep of Fenway Park. Yawkey Station is part of the commuter rail's Framingham/Worcester line, which runs from Worcester to South Station. For more commuter rail information, visit mbta.com.