Reds Opening Day is an important holiday in Cincinnati. Adults skip work, kids skip school — and there’s a city-wide parade complete with a celebrity Grand Marshall or two! This year’s Opening Day is Thursday, March 30th, when the Cincinnati Reds take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at 4:10 pm at Great American Ball Park.
But you don’t need a ticket to Opening Day to celebrate — there are lots of family friendly (and FREE!) ways to cheer on the starts of Reds season! Here are 5 family friendly ways to celebrate Reds Opening Day:
1. Findlay Market Opening Day Parade
The Findlay Market Parade is a time-honored tradition in Cincinnati — and this year is extra special, as the Grand Marshal will be former Reds Danny Graves and Bronson Arroyo. The parade steps off from Findlay Market at 12 pm and lasts about two hours. The parade travels south from the market on Race Street for about 10 blocks then heads east on Fifth Street for about 5 blocks.
2. Opening Day Storytime at Joseph Beth
- Joseph-Beth Cincinnati’s annual Opening Day Story Time is March 30 at 10:30 am. Kids are encouraged to come in their favorite jersey for the post-story-time parade around the store
3. Opening Day Celebrations at Local Parks
Washington Park: Head to OTR at 10a for a free, fun-filled Opening Day Celebration in Washington Park! Join in Washington Park on March 30th for a party that’s sure to be a homerun, with face painting, balloon animals and hats, & live music from the band Zack Attack and DJ Silverfox! Savor a food truck feast with offerings from Little Trolley Donuts, BOL Acai Truck, Fat Katz Cuisine, and We Do BBQ. Other vendors include Puppyhead Products, Coney Heads, Shorts by Sav, MaiRo & Co and Nix6 Designs! Stay all day: the 4:10 game will be shown on TVs located at the Washington Park Deck.
4. Museums
The Reds Hall of Fame Museum is a must for fans. The Museum features loads of kid-friendly activities and a rotating exhibit.
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis’ Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience is a must for little sports fans. This outdoor area just opened last year, and features kid-friendly spaces devoted to a variety of sports (including baseball).
Cincinnati Museum Center — a historic spot for the Reds. Cincinnati was home to the very first professional baseball team in the US: the 1869 Red Stockings! Read all about this ground-breaking team and their first exploits at Union Grounds (which is now the site of the CMC)! Afterwards, wander through the newly opened Public Landing and get a sense of the historical context of the 1940s Reds, who played at Crosley Field. (Check out Crosley Field in the next wave of CMC renos!)
5. Kids’ Opening Day at GABP
Skip the hullabaloo of March 30 and instead get your tickets for Kids Opening Day on April 1. This special festivities happen at a family-friendly time of 11:15a and features a pregame red carpet parade with Reds players and mascots and more fun activities for kids. Plus — all attendees under 14 get a free Reds cap while supplies last!