CINCINNATI — For the first time in two years, thousands of fans lined the streets from Findlay Market to Fountain Square to watch float after float, act after act ride through the city, with Reds Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin leading the way as Grand Marshal.
A few weeks later than expected, Reds’ Opening Day made a comeback for 2022, and along with it came all the celebrations and traditions fans have missed since the pandemic began.
The tradition of the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade dates back to 1920 to celebrate the Reds, the city and the businesses, programs and people that make Cincinnati unique.
That’s why locals like Henry O’Hara and his wife said they come out to watch the festivities year after year.
“Every year it’s something different,” he said. “It’s wonderful.”
Though in 2020, the pandemic canceled all opening day festivities, and in 2021, because of capacity limits at Great American Ballpark, parade organizers postponed the events yet again.
The announcements came as a disappointment to fans and performers alike, as one annual group, the Wapakoneta Breakfast Optimist Club, said making the trek to Cincinnati for the parade was something they looked forward to all year.
“It’s the Reds Team opener, but it’s also our team opener,” Captain Tom Meier said.
Every year the group brings their “Precision Lawnmower Drilling Team.” Meier leads a dozen or so men with custom lawnmowers (blades removed) through a series of choreographed drills along the parade route.
“Instead of just marching through we get the crowd kind of working with us and we just have a really good time with it,” he said.
Meier said he and his team have been a part of the opening day parade for more than 25 years, so when the parade returned, they were grateful to be a part of the festivities again.
“Parades had been canceled all over the state and we had to go into temporary retirement there,” he said. “But now we’re back and ready to have a good time.”
Other performers and floats included local high school marching bands, Cincinnati Sister Cities Partnership, a few Bengals alumni and a representation of Findlay Market itself.
After the parade, fans filed into Great American Ballpark or one of many downtown watch parties set up at Fountain Square and around the DORA district at the Banks and as the crowds settled in, O’Hara said it felt like old times.
“It’s great to take the day off of work and come out here and party with everybody,” he said. “It’s nice to see everybody out. It’s awesome.”
