Nothing says “spring” in Boston like the Red Sox’ return to Fenway Park. (Of course, this year spring is buried under two feet of snow, but I digress.) Indeed, home games at Fenway are as much a signal of the season as budding tulips, swan boats, and college kids in jorts and flip flops.

Still, with its cooler temps and unpredictable weather, April may not seem like the best month to check out a ball game -- but that assumption is dead wrong.

Here are five reasons why April is a great time to visit Fenway.

1. You Can Actually Get Tickets. You never know how the Sox’ season will go. If they’re good, tickets will turn into hot commodities and games will sell out. If they’re terrible, tickets will be plentiful but you’ll likely end up watching a lousy game. But in April all bets are off and, when I checked the Red Sox’ site on March 21, most home games had tons of tickets left in all price ranges.

2. You Can Actually Get Cheap Tickets. Fenway is notoriously pricey, but in April many games have $10 Sox Saver seats in the bleachers. Are the seats good? Nope! They’re some of the furthest seats from the action. But hey--$10 is less than a movie ticket. As of March 21, the home games on April 28 and 29 and May 4 and 6 had Sox Saver seats available. This is also a good time to explore the resale market. When I checked StubHub I saw tickets to several weekday games starting at less than $20. Other good options include craigslist and Ace Ticket.

3. The Games Matter. April usually features several divisional matchups, so the games are often important. Getting a good start against the likes of Baltimore, Toronto, and Tampa Bay is essential if the Sox want to make a push for the playoffs. It’s also not uncommon for the Sox to host an interleague series, and this year the Washington Nationals—picked by many as a potential pennant winner—are coming to town for a three-game set.

4. Hot Cocoa. You haven’t lived until you’ve had—nay, needed—hot cocoa at a ballpark. There’s nothing like sitting in a row of frozen Sox fans sipping hot chocolate during a seventh-inning pitching change in a 8-2 snoozer. A strange bond forms between you and your fellow fan, a collective sense that being there is borderline nuts and that you should all be watching from home or a bar. But it’s the Sox and you never leave before the game’s over, so hot cocoa is essential.

5. New Faces. April is a month of potential, and the Sox are no different. From rookies to new free agent signings, April is many fans’ first look at the future. Some of the new guys might become legends and maybe even bring another championship to Boston. Some may flop completely before being shipped out of town. And, yes, some may become hometown favorites before bolting for another team. But for fans it’s all about the wide open future and figuring out who will be the next Pedroia, Ortiz, or (gulp) Jon Lester.

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