Illustration by Dan Sipple
Even if you don’t have an athletic bone in your body, being a spectator is part of the experience at these three Cincinnati traditions.
Reds Opening Day
If there’s an award for “most Cincinnati thing ever,” our embrace of Opening Day wins hands-down. Red-clad folks pack downtown and Over-the-Rhine to celebrate the unofficial start of Spring and catch the now-100-year-old parade, with its funny cars, marching bands, fire trucks, and Reds stars past and present. Oh yeah, there’s a baseball game too.
The Bailey at FC Cincinnati
This chanting, singing, drumming, smoke-bombing, flag-waving, scarf-wearing section behind one of the goals is what makes FC Cincinnati games so different from other stadium experiences. Even if you don’t know a striker from a yellow card, you’ll smile and clap along the entire game. Get there early to watch the Bailey rowdies march in together.
The Flying Pig Marathon
The ultimate participation trophy goes to Pig organizers, who over 21 years have built an amazing combination of running events and spectator celebrations. You can run any length, from a mile to a full marathon, by yourself or in teams (more than 46,000 did in 2019), or offer support at huge street parties along the courses.
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