CINCINNATI (WXIX) – The official start to baseball season is here! Hundreds of thousands of fans will flood the Queen City Thursday, March 26, for Reds Opening Day and the festivities that come with it.
The fun kicks off with the annual Findlay Market Opening Day Parade, followed by family-fun happening across the city, and then the Cincinnati Reds’ first game.
Here is everything you need to know.
Where is the Opening Day Parade? When does it start?
The annual Findlay Market Opening Day Parade begins at noon and is expected to end around 2 p.m.
This 1.4-mile route will take off at Findlay Market down Race Street, turn onto Fifth Street, and end at Taft Theater.
Dozens of streets will be closed throughout the day. See the full list with times here.
Reds fans line up in downtown and Over-the-Rhine for one of Cincinnati’s biggest holidays: Reds Opening Day.(Mary LeBus/FOX19 NOW)
The grand marshal leading the parade this year is former Reds relief pitcher and now-broadcaster Jeff “The Cowboy” Brantley.
Brantley spent four seasons with the Reds, where he played one of his best seasons of his entire career. Read more about his legacy here.
Can’t make it to the parade? Watch it live on FOX19 NOW or on our Facebook and app.
Will the parade be canceled if it rains?
Rain or shine, the show must go on. And so will the Opening Day Parade.
However, if the Reds’ game is canceled, then the parade will be too.
Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson shakes a fan’s hand right before the Opening Day Parade.(Mary LeBus/FOX19 NOW)When do the Reds play?
The Cincinnati Reds will go head-to-head with the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m., but that could change depending on weather and field conditions.
Stay up to date with the latest forecast here.
If the game time changes, FOX19 NOW will update you as soon as possible.
How can I watch the Reds game?
The Reds and FOX19 NOW have a new partnership to air a select number of regular-season games for free on over-the-air television. This includes the Opening Day game.
Find the full list of Reds games FOX19 NOW will air this season.
What else is there to do on Opening Day?
The Reds Community Fund Block Party kicks off at 11 a.m. at The Banks on Joe Nuxhall Way, Marian Spencer Way and Freedom Way. Approximately 100,000 fans go to the block party leading up to the game.
DJ E-Trayn and the Naked Karate Girls will perform on the main stage from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The block party ends at 4 p.m.
Other businesses and parts of the Tri-State are also hosting Opening Day events today:
Opening Day Celebration at Washington Park10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Inflatables, yard games, vendors, food trucks, and the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile.Opening Day in the Cov Street Party6 a.m. to 10 p.m.Court Street and Park StreetLive music, outdoor bar and two live sports broadcasting shows. 21st Annual Rally on the Square10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Fountain SquareDrinks, parade viewing spot, local food vendors, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities. Opening Day Celebration on Court Street Plaza10 a.m. to 6 p.m.Live music, food and drinks, parade viewing, and family-friendly fun. JonJon and Friends Opening Day Bash and Watch PartyNoon to 8 p.m.Cincinnati Lager House and Schmidlapp Event LawnLive radio show with JonJon, Molly Wellman cocktail bar, live entertainment and more. Opening Day at Braxton Brewery in CovingtonStarts at 11 a.m.Reds cocktails and ballpark snacks, music, and watch party fun. Reds Opening Day at Newport on the LeveeStarts at 2 p.m. with a watch party at 4:10 p.m.Live DJ in Bridgeview Box Park, plus food and drink specials
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2026 WXIX. All rights reserved.