The first real sign of spring in Cincinnati is here: We now know who will be the grand marshals of the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade.
The Opening Day Parade steps off from Findlay Market at noon on Thursday, March 28 ahead of the Cincinnati Reds’ Opening Day game against the Washington Nationals at 4:10 p.m. Parade organizers, Reds officials and city leaders gathered for a press conference at Findlay Market Tuesday morning to share what’s happening in 2024’s parade.
This year, Jim Scott, a longtime Cincinnati radio personality, will serve as the honorary grand marshal. Scott was diagnosed with ALS in 2022 and was not able to make it to the announcement Tuesday, but parade co-chairperson Neil Luken says Scott’s determined to make it to the parade on March 28.
“He is so determined to make this parade. To see someone with that willpower, he is literally — he is bound and determined to make this parade, and I think he will make it,” Luken said at the press conference.
“We are deeply missing Jim Scott being here with us today,” echoed Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval. “Jim has been right here year after year to help us kick off the season and serve as the voice of Opening Day. We are all sending him our love and we know that he’ll be back here to cheer on the Reds as the season begins.”
Joining Scott as grand marshals will be former Reds players Dmitri Young and Pokey Reese. Both played on the beloved 1999 team that set records and enthralled fans. Young was an outfielder and first baseman for the Reds from 1998 to 2001, and Reese played as a second baseman and shortstop from 1997 to 2001.
“Every so often, a team comes around that connects with fans in a real special way. Twenty-five years ago, the Reds had a likable group of characters who were exciting and became household names, and they connected with fans in a real special way,” said Rick Walls, executive director of the Reds Hall of Fame. “And they still remain one of the best and most likable teams in history. And that year, over 2 million people came out to see one of the best clubs in the history of the Reds to not make the playoffs.”
That year, the Reds set numerous records, including some that still stand today. The team made 209 home runs — the second-most in franchise history. They also had a 10-game win streak and set several records in a game against the Colorado Rockies, including most hits, most doubles, most extra-base hits and most total bases. And on Sept. 4 of that year in a game against Philadelphia, the Reds set a franchise record of nine home runs in a single game, which still stands today.
Young and Reese are also still very involved in the team to this day, making regular appearances at Redsfest and in the annual Reds Caravan. They were also recently Reds Fantasy Camp coaches, says Walls.
“We know that Cincinnati baseball has been the thread that has been woven through this community together forever, for generations. Opening Day has become one of the great traditions in Cincinnati and is a superb example of how this city and baseball are intertwined,” Walls said.
In addition to the grand marshals, the Opening Day Parade will also feature 17 local high school bands, three college bands, the Anthony Muñoz Foundation, Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman and many former Reds and Bengals players.
“That’s what makes Opening Day so great is all the people that participate. It’s not Findlay Market; it’s not the Reds; it’s the people that all come out and watch it and the people that participate in it. We’re so lucky to have to support of our local businesses and the local, surrounding community. They love the Reds; they love Findlay Market, and we couldn’t be any happier to be a part of this event,” Luken said.
“Findlay Market and the Reds are two of Cincinnati’s oldest and proudest and most beloved institutions, and it’s only fitting that each year they come together for Opening Day,” Pureval said. “Because individually, they’re cornerstones of our rich history, of our culture, and they’re an irreplaceable part of what makes us so special as a city.”
Cincinnati City Manager Sheryl Long also encouraged residents to come downtown on Opening Day to see everything the city has to offer, whether they’re attending the game or not.
“This is such an exciting time of year and a wonderful showcase of what Cincinnati is all about. Reds fans are fun, they’re passionate and they appreciate a good tradition. Opening Day is a symbol of what my hometown is all about,” Long said. “So this time next month, let’s get together and show the world what a Cincinnati party looks like.”
To learn more about the parade and see its route, visit findlaymarket.org.
You can see the Reds’ 2024 schedule here.
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This article appears in Feb 21 – Mar 5, 2024.