Patch Picks: Opening Day

Welcome to the best unofficial holiday in the bi-state area. It's Opening Day in Cardinal Nation and the Wentzville Patch is bringing you five things to know for today.

1. Festivities begin early in the day but game time is 3:15 p.m.
2. There is a watch party in Wentzville. The is holding an opening day/business after hours party at . There will be a projection screen and a concession stand.
3. St. Louis Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter is making the sixth opening day start of his career. He will face Tim Stauffer of the San Diego Padres.
4. The theme of the 2011 season is "We are Cardinal Nation."
5. March opening days are rare. 

According to the St. Louis Cardinals, the following is the schedule of events for Opening Day festivities.

11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Cardinals' pre-game pep rally: The Cardinals will host a pre-game pep rally located in the Ballpark Village Lot, located directly across from Busch Stadium, at the corner of Clark Street and South Broadway.

1:15 p.m. 

 Gates open

2:30 p.m. 

• Pre-game ceremonies begin with an appearance by the Budweiser Clydesdales. Cardinals Hall-of-Famers and the 2011 Cardinals will be introduced via a Ford Motorcade around the warning track.
• Introduction of  former Cardinals' players Andy Benes, Scott Cooper, Tom Henke, TJ Mathews, Kerry Robinson, Ted Savage and Mike Shannon.
• American Bald Eagle flight, courtesy of the World Bird Sanctuary
• Color Guard, presented by the U.S. Army St. Louis Recruiting Company.
• A moment of silence for the victims of the earthquake in Japan and Pacific tsunami.
• A moment of silence to honor deceased former Cardinals hitting coach Mitchell Page, former Cardinals shortstop Marty Marion and former Cardinals owner Andrew Baur.
• Nikko Smith, son of Cardinals great Ozzie Smith and star of American Idol, will sing the Star-Spangled Banner.
• U.S. Marine Corps Flyover with C-130 transports.
• The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by former Cardinal Jim Edmonds.

3:15 p.m.

Game time!