Once a summer, the Red Sox Foundation turns Fenway Park over to kids and families for an afternoon that flips the usual ballpark rules: after watching the Sox play, guests walk out onto the outfield grass itself for a barbecue on the field. There are mascots working the crowd, World Series trophies to pose with, and live entertainment set up where the outfielders normally roam.

The picnic doubles as one of the Foundation’s signature fundraisers, supporting its work on health, education, and recreation for kids, families, and veterans across the region. Attendance is limited and arranged in advance — Fenway’s grounds crew only lets so many sneakers onto the grass — so this is less a drop-in festival than a bucket-list afternoon. For any family raised on the Sox, standing in the outfield where the games are won is the whole draw.