Cincinnati Welcomes Baseball Season with Reds Opening Day Parade

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Cincinnati‘s Opening Day tradition filled the streets of downtown Thursday, celebrating the start of the 2025 MLB season with a vibrant parade featuring beloved local athletes and icons. The two-hour parade, starting at noon, showcased the city’s deep-rooted passion for baseball and featured an expected turnout of over 130,000 fans.

This year’s Grand Marshal, Chris Sabo, a Reds legend known for his remarkable playing career and signature goggle style, exclaimed, “This is the first parade I’ve ever seen or been in. It’s great, and a lot bigger than I thought it was.” Sabo, who debuted with the Reds in 1988 and earned the National League Rookie of the Year award, embodied the spirit of Reds fans at the annual event.

Joining Sabo was legendary broadcaster Marty Brennaman, who has been a prominent voice for the Reds for 46 years. The franchise will honor Brennaman with a bronze sculpture to be unveiled outside Great American Ball Park this September, capturing his essence behind the radio microphone.

Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson, experiencing his fifth Opening Day and his first parade, remarked, “It’s special, the city does it right.” The enthusiastic participation of other local athletes highlighted Cincinnati’s pride, with Bengals player Ted Karras participating in the festivities, emphasizing the supportive atmosphere that spans across sports in the city.

The parade route stretched 1.4 miles from Findlay Market, turning down Race Street, left onto Fifth Street, and concluding past Government Square. Celebrities, including two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip, also made appearances, adding to the excitement.

The Reds will kick off their season later in the day at 4:10 PM against the San Francisco Giants. New manager Terry Francona, a two-time World Series champion, is set to lead the team in his first season after coming out of retirement. Elly De La Cruz, a star for the Reds, expressed optimism about the team’s prospects for 2025.

The festivities at The Banks district served as a hub for fans looking for a place to enjoy the game, while other local establishments prepared for the influx of visitors celebrating the occasion. With weather predictions estimating highs near 60°F, revelers were eager to enjoy both the parade and the game.

As traffic disruptions began at 8 AM in the Findlay Market area, and closures along the parade route commenced at 11:15 AM, transit agencies adjusted services to accommodate the significant crowds gathering downtown. The Cincinnati streetcar connected various locations but remained unavailable until the parade’s conclusion, making planning ahead essential for attendees.

With the excitement of baseball returning to Cincinnati, the city embraced its history and community spirit—a tradition that promises to continue in years to come.