Just blocks north from downtown Cincinnati in Over-the-Rhine is Findlay Market, a treasured jewel of Cincinnatians since 1852. Attracting diverse crowds of locals and visitors, it is the state of Ohio’s oldest public market and it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places June 5th, 1972.
Findlay Market is open Tuesday through Sunday year round with over three dozen indoor merchants selling meat, fish, poultry, produce, flowers, cheese, deli, ethnic foods and other various products. From April through November on Saturdays and Sundays, there are dozens of outdoor vendors and numerous street performers and artists. There are also several special events at this iconic establishment.
One of the most honored traditions the city of Cincinnati has is coordinated by the market, the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade. Since 1920, the merchants of Findlay Market have organized the Opening Day Parade and continually bring fans together, not only to celebrate Cincinnati Reds baseball, but to celebrate community.
This time-honored tradition will be celebrated on Monday, April 1st and the Findlay Market Association is working hard to make this year’s festivities more time efficient. “The parade has grown significantly and we have to limit the participants from 240 units to 200 to keep the parade under two hours”, says Neil Luken the Parade Committee Chair. But don’t worry, the crowd favorites will still be there including the Budweiser Clydesdale horses.
The parade route starts at the Race Street entrance of Findlay Market and heads south down to Fifth Street, then East on Fifth Street and on to Broadway. Former Grand Marshals leading the way along the parade path have been Aaron Boone, Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, Frank Robinson, Cesar Geronimo, Eric Davis and Mario Soto, just to name a few.
Visit Findlay Market for a nostalgic experience and the freshest and most unique products around. While shopping at the Findlay Market, don’t forget to thank the vendors for continuing Cincinnati’s Opening Day tradition.
A Local Treasure and Tradition – Findlay Market