The Findlay Market Parade may not have the opulence and national recognition of Pasadena’s Rose Parade or Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City, but it meets their tradition on a local scale.
Findlay Market (in its own right) is a Cincinnati institution. In earlier times, the city had many markets, but Findlay Market is the sole survivor and now listed as a National Historic Landmark. Located in the historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, Ohio’s oldest continuously operated market has its named attached to a parade associated with Opening Day. (You may recall from this post last week that I went into the city for the ambiance of the day.)
2014 was the Cincinnati Reds’ 133rd Opening Day and the 95th Findlay Market Parade. The parade route is several miles along with rows of people lining the entire journey … and many more people watching in city center.
The Reason for the Annual Celebration
Although records show this year’s parade had over 180 floats, a float is definite as any wheeled vehicle that carries people. A truck pulling a long trailer loaded with people dressed in red (with some holding a plastic glass) is a float. In other words, it’s a cheesy parade featuring local celebrities, organizations, businesses, trucks, horses, marching bands, a lawn mower drill team, and more. This parade is not opulent, but it is a beloved Cincinnati tradition and the reason why people will stand and watch for 2 hours. Enjoy the parade.
People love to participate in this parade
Do you remember this post about Teddy?
He was the Honorary Grand Marshall (as a Reds great from the past was the Grand Marshall)
I strolled to Fountain Square where crowds were the biggest.
Do you see Cincinnati’s leading lady with her outstretched arms in the background?
Looking back at Fountain Square from the Skywalk
For those who want a closer look at the lady on Fountain Square
Others in the parade
It’s a float!
Cheers to Cincinnati’s beer tradition and their salute to Guapo
A Frank Angle 
We never attended that parade the year we spent in Cincinnati. Then again, if it was on a weekend, I was probably working. (I worked evening and weekend clinics to avoid childcare. That way Dad had some one-on-one time, too. 🙂 )
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Carrie,
Odds are it was on a Monday .. and truly a grand event!
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Well, then I have no excuse!
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…. as an out-of-towner, you didn’t realize.the significance.
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What exactly is “a lawn mower drill team”, Frank? There must be a YouTube video somewhere of that. Is there a Graeter’s float? This celebration almost make me want to cheer for the Reds. Almost.
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Lame,
Think of a lawn mower drill team as a group of people with lawn mowers that do a variety of movements. Mowers can be riding, push with a motor, or even the push, no motorized. YouTube has numerous groups, so here’s one for you.
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Nothing beats Spaniards flaunting their lawn mowing skills to disco Bee Gees Frank.
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At least now know that lawn mower skills are taken to a new level.
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Such local traditions are great, cheesy or not! As is stated in Mel Brooks’ movie “To Be Or Not To Be” when someone was asking if an outsider knew of the theater group’s lead, “Well, he is world famous in Poland.”
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Patti,
As we know, Mel Brooks knows how to deliver a good line!
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i love a good baseball city. did i tell you that my daughter’s dorm in boston is about a 7-minute walk to fenway?
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Rich,
I didn’t know that. Awesome for when dad goes to visit! Is she at BU? Interestingly, BU’s football stadium in on the site of the Boston Braves stadium …. and even uses part of the original structure.
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yes, at BU. planning to visit soon and take in a game, will look for an afternoon game, and will NOT wear my yankees hat.
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Did you know the factoid about their football facility? The old ticket booth also remains.
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not a chance i would know that. but it’s good to now know. their football team isn’t much to crow about. i don’t think. hockey is bigger up there, a sport to which you’re no stranger.
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I initially spotted the ticket booth when as the T passed … so I got off another day to look around … as one who enjoys the scoop on the old parks, it was a good moment. Here’s the Wikipedia scoop … http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braves_Field
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Absolutely love a parade…even though for some dim reason marching bands make me cry…for happy. P.S. You continue to be a prince. Thank you for the smiles you gave me today. R.
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Jots,
Cheers to your love for a parade and marching bands!
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Always had a soft spot for the Reds… cool parade. I can’t say I know much about Cincinnati or its traditions, but seems like a good place to be.
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Trent,
Cincinnati is a smaller city than people realize. Like anyplace, it has pluses and minuses … and this tradition is one of its best …. and it has one of the best Octoberfest celebrations in the world … but Opening Day is uniquely Cincinnati.
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You should come to Kitchener-Waterloo in Ontario where I live… we have the largest Octoberfest outside of Germany. Much German culture up here.
I did not know that about Cincinnati. My apologies, but I mostly identify that city with the Big Red Machine and WKRP.
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We love the Turkey Drop episode here!
I learned about Kitchener-Waterloo’s Octoberfest from Archon. Interestingly, I found some ratings about both we near the top!
Cincy has a strong German heritage, … and I will feature the original German neighborhood in a future post.
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I showed the turkey drop episode to my wife. It might be the funniest bit of television I ever saw. Poor Les and his expressions, and his voice on the radio describing the slaughter… just slays me. I might have to throw that on for a good laugh.
I think that show is one of the funniest ever. The personalities were so well-drawn and so quirky. Classic in every sense of the word.
Cool, maybe we should start a joint Cincinnati-KW Octoberfest – that would be epic.
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Will have to remember that for the fall!
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PS: Here’s a Cincy classic! https://afrankangle.wordpress.com/2013/05/15/on-graeter-the-greatest/
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Never heard of it… we get so little of the good stuff across the border. But sounds and looks delicious.
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It’s not a national brand, but they have a national distribution system … and it is damn good!
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I think this looks like fabulous fun, cheesy or not.
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Val,
It was fun … and given great weather, it was even better!
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It must be a good parade given that so many turn out to watch and cheer and wave. No parade works – not even those big NYC ones – if there is no-one there to cheer! Thanks for sharing Frank – it looked like fun!
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Pauline,
As you can tell, the crowd was definitely present … and this was only a short distance along the parade route. I walked many miles, and even away from Fountain Square, people were along the street.
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Sounds fun Frank. I would stand in line to watch, however cheesy 🙂
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Madhu,
That’s the spirit!
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I love this type of parade, Frank. Americans are particularly good at putting on a great show. Yes, of course I remember Teddy.. Go, Teddy!! 🙂 The Firemen’s float is my favourite.
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Sylvia,
Now you know you must add to your travel itinerary a trip to Cincinnati for Opening Day!
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I never enjoyed mowing a lawn so I may pass on the drill team. But it takes all kinds to make a parade fun and memorable.
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TBM,
And that’s OK .. .but I know you would enjoy Opening Day in Cincinnati.
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What a fun time, Frank. And I love all the colors.
One parade we went to when we were in Geneva was quite memorable. There were lots of trucks — flatbeds like the one in your picture. Only they were peopled with ravers — folks on extacy who were dancing very robotically. Jacob was 6 and we’d gone early to get a good spot. We were in the front row because there was nobody else there. Everything was gray. Except for a large group of transvestites who were, I will admit, quite colorful!
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Elyse,
Glad to hear there is something about baseball season you can embrace. 😉 …. Oh my gosh, your Geneva story is a hoot!
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It was very funny. Jacob at that age didn’t understand why John and I were laughing so hard. But he certainly remembers the parade where he was right in the front row!
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… and he gets a good laugh now looking back at it with you.
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Your photos are terrific, but where’s one of a – MARCHING BAND?!! (probably because none this year were playing a Moody Blues tune)
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Tim,
Glad you enjoyed the photos, and I knew I couldn’t capture a marching band to meet your high expectations.
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Very cool that they made Teddy the Grand Marshal! Great shots, Frank. I love a parade.
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Cathy,
I had a chance to talk to him a little, so I know Teddy was having a great time!
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Way cool that Teddy was the Honorary Grand Marshall! 🙂
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RoSy,
Teddy loved the day … and he’s a very good ambassador!
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OMG, that lawnmower thing is a hoot!!!!! I can’t believe I never heard of that before! Hope you are well, dear Frank!
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
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Kathy,
I must admit, that is my first knowledge of them also. Cheers to human creativity! Meanwhile, all is well … and I hope the same for you.
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This is a really fun parade, Frank, and that’s what it’s all about. Keeping traditions like this are important, I think. So much in life gets thrown aside, and a few events, even “cheesy”–although I didn’t find it so, are special enough to bring people out to gather together and share some of their local history and create new memories. I really appreciate what that represents. And I’m delighted to see Teddy! I certainly do remember him!
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Debra,
Good point about my use of cheezy … maybe I should of described as a city version of a small town parade. Nonetheless, a big day here!
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I am so sorry I am late. I am having technical difficulties with my iPhone. She is being retired this weekend. I use my phone at night and desktop during the day. So I have missed a lot if posts. But enuf – I did see your opening day post and this is wonderful. I never went to this parade. Not sure why, though my mom and I use to go down to the market. It is so close to my favorite Cincy place – Music Hall. These pictures are wonderful. Making me a bit homesick;) I need to make a trip home.
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Kimberly,
Glad you enjoyed them, but I’m surprised you never made it into town for Opening Day … which means you were at school working away! That a way!!!!! …. but I imagine you would appreciate the day for as an adult.
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