It’s one of the most quintessential Cincinnati events of the year.
The Findlay Market Opening Day Parade draws fans from across the region to celebrate spring and the start of another season for baseball’s oldest professional team. (For details about the parade, visit its website.)
It poses some challenges, too. Some of those fans don’t get downtown or to Over-the-Rhine much, and they may not have honed some key urban skills — like spotting that lone parking space — or know where to get the best view of the parade’s 175 units. Or a soft drink and a bag of chips. Or where to go when nature or an empty wallet calls.
We thought we’d help. The map below offers a list of helpful sites to make your Opening Day experience as smooth as possible. It’s not meant to be encyclopedic: It includes hardly any sit-down restaurants, for example. You’ll have more fun discovering those on your own, especially along Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine.
There are road closures (scroll down for a detailed list) and parking options you might not have known about, though, easy-access retailers who can supply your parade-watching needs and quick-service eateries to quiet a rumbling belly. The two big public spaces along the route, Fountain Square and Washington Park, are offering special activities, and they have public restrooms. And don’t forget: There will be plenty of street vendors out, too, with bottles of water and snacks at the ready.
You’re armed with knowledge and Reds spirit. Now it’s up to the weather.
Follow Thomas Consolo on Twitter: @tconsolo_news.
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Road Closures
The following streets will close at 8 a.m. Monday:
- Race Street: closed between Liberty and McMicken streets
- Elm Street: closed between Liberty and McMicken streets
- Findlay Street: closed between Central Parkway and Vine Street
- Elder Street: closed between Central Parkway and Vine Street
- Green Street: closed between Vine and Logan streets
- Henry Street: closed between Race and Dunlap streets
- Dunlap Street: closed between Findlay and McMicken streets
- Logan Street: closed between Liberty and Findlay streets
The following streets will close at 11:15 a.m. Monday:
- Liberty Street: closed between Vine Street and Central Parkway
- Central Parkway: closed between Vine and Elm streets
- Race Street: closed between Liberty and Fourth streets
- Fifth Street: closed between Elm and Sentinel streets
- Fifteenth Street: closed between Republic and Elm streets
- Fourteenth Street: closed between Elm and Republic streets
- Thirteenth Street: closed between Race and Vine streets
- Twelfth Street: closed between Elm and Vine streets
- Court Street: closed between Elm and Vine streets
- Ninth Street: closed between Elm and Vine streets
- Eighth Street: closed between Elm and Vine streets
- Seventh Street: closed between Elm and Vine streets
- Sixth Street: closed between Elm and Vine streets
- Vine Street: closed between Fourth and Sixth streets
- Walnut Street: closed between Fourth and Sixth streets
- Main Street: closed between Fourth and Sixth streets
- Sycamore Street: closed between Fourth and Sixth streets
- Broadway Street: closed between Fourth and Sixth streets
