The Cincinnati Reds play the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 28 to kick off a new season that could be the best in a while.
Thankfully, world order has been restored and the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade and Reds Opening Day game are once again taking place on the same day this year. Last year, the parade was held four days after the Reds’ home opener against the Washington Nationals because MLB scheduling changes moved the season’s start date up a week. This year, parade activities go back to their regularly scheduled programming, with events stepping off from Findlay Market at noon before the Reds take on the Pittsburg Pirates at Great American Ball Park at 4:10 p.m. This year’s parade is also an exceptionally big deal because it marks several milestones: the 100th anniversary of the parade and the 150th anniversary of the Cincinnati Reds.
These Opening Day celebrations will have everyone who bleeds Red prepared and excited for one of Cincinnati’s proudest — and most unique — traditions.
Opening Day Parade with 3 Points Brewery at the Findlay Market Biergarten — The Findlay Market Biergarten will be serving beer and breakfast where the parade begins before it steps off at noon. A special Opening Day Hudy Red Lager from Moerlein Brewing and drafts from 3 Points Brewery will be available along with breakfast from OTR Bagel Bar. Giveaways, raffles and food from the market will all be included in the fun. Later in the day, the Reds Opening Day game will be broadcast on the radio at the Biergarten. 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. Free admission. Findlay Market Biergarten, Elm and Elder streets, Over-the-Rhine, findlaymarket.org/biergarten.
Reds Opening Day Block Party — The eighth-annual Opening Day Block Party will fill Joe Nuxhall Way, Freedom Way and Walnut Street with the best and Reddest baseball fans on Earth. Anheuser Busch, Coca-Cola, LaRosa’s, Queen City Sausage, Buffalo Wings & Rings, Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Jim Beam and the series of surrounding restaurants and bars will have you covered for any food and drink needs you may have. DJ ETrayn and The Naked Karate Girls will be performing live sets from 10:30 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. and 12:05 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., respectively. Bring cash for beer purchases and tips as all proceeds go to the Reds Community Fund, a nonprofit helping to improve the lives of youth through baseball and softball outreach programs. Last year, over $180,000 was raised for the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy. 11 a.m.; last call at 3:30 p.m. Free admission. Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown, mlb.com/reds.
Arnold’s Opening Day Extravaganza — Arnold’s Bar and Grill has breakfast, prizes, a range of local beers and a list of live music and performances at their Opening Day Extravaganza. Jeremy Dubin and Justin McCombs of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company will be performing Casey at the Bat and Who’s on First at 10 a.m. and noon. Todd Hepburn will play baseball-themed songs on piano from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jim Tarbell will be playing mouth harp dressed as Peanut Jim Shelton — a local man who sold peanuts outside Reds games for 50 years. Make sure to keep an eye on the bottom of your beer cups as Arnold’s will be marking one of every five for chances to win prizes like autographed baseball cards from Reds legends Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn, Joey Votto and more. More prizes include Reds bobbleheads, jackets, baseballs dipped in Maker’s Mark wax and unopened packs of baseball cards from the 1980s. Check out the beer list for rare and one-off brew selections. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission. Arnold’s Bar and Grill, 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown, arnoldsbarandgrill.com.
Opening Day in Washington Park — There is plenty to do at Washington Park all Opening Day long. Starting at 10 a.m., live music, games, beer and food will all be available. Slice Slice Baby will be selling pizza, Quitefranklyllc will sell their hot dog and sandwiches and Mad Llama Coffee will have coffee and sandwiches for sale. Water, soft drinks, wine, mixed drinks and a selection of local favorite beers from Rhinegeist, MadTree, Taft’s Brewing and Christian Moerlein Brewing will be available at the Washington Park concession stand. This party, sponsored by Taft’s Brewing Company and Mix 94.9, is on the parade route and will be showing the Reds game on TVs on the Washington Park Deck. Make sure to arrive early to get a good view of the parade from the street as spots fill up quickly. Party begins at 10 a.m. and ends after the Reds game around 7 p.m. Free admission. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, washingtonpark.org.
Opening Day at Taft’s Ale House — Another party on the Opening Day parade route, Taft’s Ale House is opening early at 9 a.m. for breakfast and family-friendly activities like speed pitch, inflatable t-ball and a coloring station. Make sure to arrive early as the first 100 people to purchase the special Opening Day Beer will get a free Opening Day T-shirt. Front row seats to the parade right outside the bar will be given away through an Opening Day contest, so watch Taft’s Brewing on social media for information on how to win. Taft’s Ale House will be open throughout the day to continue the party and the Reds festivities. 9 a.m.- 11 p.m. Free admission. Taft’s Ale House, 1429 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, taftsalehouse.com.
Opening Day Party 2019 at Revolution Rotisserie — Revolution Rotisserie & Bar invites everyone to join them to celebrate Cincinnati’s favorite holiday. Conveniently located on Race Street, right on the parade route, this bar is a great place to watch the parade from their patio. Revolution will be offering drink specials all morning and a best-dressed raffle to win Reds merchandise, six packs from Rhinegeist and MadTree, Revolution gift cards and a bottle of Watershed.10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Free admission. Revolution Rotisserie & Bar, 1106 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, revolutionrotisserie.com.
Opening Day at Rhinegeist — Doors open at 9 a.m. at Rhinegeist for their Opening Day pregame party. Sartre is serving breakfast and lunch, the bar will provide drinks and specialty Beermosas will be available for purchase. DJs will be bringing the music until the game starts. The rooftop bar will be open weather permitting. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission. Rhinegeist, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, rhinegeist.com.
Opening Day Rooftop Party 2019 —Top of the Park rooftop lounge at The Phelps invites the public to join them on Opening Day for drink and food specials, a screening of the Reds game, and city views of the ball park, Mt. Adams and more. The full menu and bar selection will be available, including some ballpark-themed menu items like Reds-themed shots. Noon-10 p.m. Free admission. Top of the Park at The Phelps, 506 E. Fourth St., Downtown, thephelpscincinnati.com/top-of-the-park.htm.
Rosedale OTR — More drink and food specials for Opening Day in the Queen city can be found at Rosedale OTR: $3.50 White Claws when the doors open at noon to 4 p.m., half-price happy hour from 4-7 p.m., and $5 Queen City brats and metts served with Husman’s chips. Rosedale will be screening the game on a projection screen outside, weather permitting. Noon-midnight. Free admission. Rosedale OTR, 208 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, rosedaleotr.com.
Opening Day Pre-Party at Moerlein Lager House with Q102 — Start the day in a party way with Moerlein Lager House and Q102 at their pregame celebration. The Schmidlapp Event Lawn with be filled with a party tent, beer, food, DJKarnyge and Mollie Watson of Q102 broadcasting her show live. The Moerlein Lager House Beer Garden will also be open serving their full menu with bar service featuring some new Moerlein beers. Moerlein is conveniently located just down the street from Great American Ball Park so it is right where the party is centered and the perfect way to prepare for the game if you have a ticket. Doors open 10 a.m.; party tent open from 11a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Free admission. Moerlein Lager House, 115 Joe Nuxhall Way, The Bank, moerleinlagerhouse.com.
Fifth Annual Opening Day Parade Pierogi Breakfast — Market Wines at Findlay Market invites all to start this Cincinnati celebration with the most important meal of the day. Babushka Pierogis will be serving their potato bacon cheddar pierogi, spinach and feta quiche pierogi, biscuits and gravy pierogi, and potato with rosemary and garlic pierogi for $2 each or 4 pierogis for $7. Add goetta gravy and/or a fried egg for $1 more. No ticket or reservation required. Breakfast served 9 a.m.- noon. Free admission. Market Wines at Findlay Market, 128 W. Elder St, Over-the-Rhine, findlaymarket.org..
Tin Roof Cincinnati Opening Day — Tin Roof will be opening at 9 a.m. on Opening Day for people wanting to jump-start the festivities with music and drinks. Live music from DJ Kombat, Glow Co., and the Bad Resolutions will play all day long. Step outside and be in the middle of the Opening Day Block Party. 9 a.m.-midnight. Free admission. Tin Roof, 160 E. Freedom Way, Ste 150, The Banks, tinroofcincinnati.com.
Opening Day in the Cov Street Party — Covington sports bar Smoke Justis is hosting a party with a chance to win free tickets to the Opening Day game. NASH FM 94.1 and Budweiser will be on-site to help you celebrate. Enjoy playing cornhole, giant Jenga and life-size beer pong. Live music will play for 11 straight hours. Beer and food will be available for purchase.11 a.m.- 10 p.m. Free admission. Smoke Justis, 302 Court St., Covington, smokejustis.com.
