Opening Week Highlights

Opening Day on Thursday, Kids Opening on Saturday, 99th Findlay Market Parade on Monday.

March 27th, 2018

Cincinnati Reds 2018 Opening Week Highlights
142nd Opening Day in Cincinnati - Thursday, March 29 - Reds vs. Washington Nationals, 4:10 p.m. (gates open at 2:10 p.m.) 
• Reds Community Fund Charity Block Party: The seventh annual Opening Day Block Party kicks off at 11 a.m. on Joe Nuxhall Way, Freedom Way and Walnut Street. Admission is free. New for 2018: The Opening Day Block Party Concert Stage will be located just south of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center on Freedom Way - with expanded viewing area and tailgate games on the "Sing the Queen City" event lawn. For a street map of the block party and more information on food, beverages and entertainment, please visit reds.com/BlockParty.
• Rally Towels: All fans in attendance will receive Reds rally towels courtesy of Kroger, Cincinnati Bell Fioptics and MSA Sport.
• Military Appreciation Ceremony: Five local veterans will be honored on the field during pregame ceremonies in salute to their service and the sacrifice of all who have served and continue to serve in our Armed Forces. Joining the veterans on the field will be U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH). 
• American Flag: Over 100 men and women from the Cincinnati Fire Fighters Union Local 48 will hold a giant 150-foot by 300-foot American flag in the outfield during pregame ceremonies.  
• In Memoriam: Prior to the singing of the National Anthem, the Reds will pause to remember the lives of members of the Reds family who passed away during the offseason. 
• National Anthem: Singer/songwriter Nicki Bluhm will sing the National Anthem. Ms. Bluhm will be performing at the Taft Theatre on April 17 and has a new record coming out June 1 on Compass Records. 
• Flyover: The pregame flyover will be performed by two F-16 Fighting Falcons of the 112th (one-twelfth) Fighter Squadron "Stingers" from the 180th Fighter Wing Ohio Air National Guard Base in Toledo, Ohio.
• Ceremonial First Pitch: Olympic silver medalist Nick Goepper will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. The Lawrenceburg, Indiana native competed in the men's slopestyle competition at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. The ball that Nick will throw will be delivered by the World Famous Budweiser Clydesdales. 
• Game Ball Delivery: Reds Hall of Famer Eric Davis will deliver the official game ball.
• Honorary Captain: Former Reds pitcher Randy Myers, one-third of the famous "Nasty Boys" from the 1990 World Series champions, will serve as the Honorary Captain of the game.
• Cincinnati Bell Hometown Hero: Dr. Jay Johannigman will be honored as the Cincinnati Bell Hometown Hero of the game. Dr. Johannigman is a colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve, professor of surgery at the UC College of Medicine and the chief of the Division of Trauma and Critical Care. 
• Kroger First Responder: Lockland firefighter Michael Allen will be honored as the Kroger First Responder of the game. 
• Toyota Tundra Sweepstakes Ceremony: Eight lucky finalists who entered the second annual Toyota Tundra Sweepstakes will be recognized on the field at the end of the first inning. After a spin of the prize wheel, one of the finalists will win a 2018 Toyota Tundra Double Cab 4x4 truck. 
• God Bless America: John Driskell Hopkins of the Zac Brown Band will perform "God Bless America" during the 7th inning stretch. The Zac Brown Band will be playing a concert a GABP on August 4.
Saturday, March 31 - Reds vs. Washington Nationals, 2:10 p.m. (Kids Opening Day; gates open at 12:40 p.m.)
• Kids Opening Day: Fans should arrive early for the third annual Kids Opening Day presented by Frisch's Big Boy featuring a red carpet parade starting at 10:30 a.m. with Reds players and mascots plus activities for kids and families.
• Block Party & Player Parade: All fans are invited to a free block party at The Banks beginning at 10 a.m. The mascot parade begins at 10:30 a.m. (with 30+ mascots) and Reds players will walk the red carpet starting at 11:30 a.m. A full list of all Kids Opening Day events and activities can be found at reds.com/KidsOpeningDay. 
• Kids Reds Cap Giveaway: Fans 14 and younger will receive a free kids cap, presented by Frisch's Big Boy.
• 2018 Team Calendar Giveaway: The first 20,000 fans will receive a free 2018 Reds calendar, presented by Kroger. 
• Run the Bases: Kids can line up after the game to run the bases, presented by Entenmann's Little Bites. 
Sunday, April 1 - Reds vs. Washington Nationals, 4:10 p.m. (Family Sunday; Gates open at 2:40 p.m.)
• Magnetic Schedule Giveaway: The first 20,000 fans will receive a 2018 Reds Magnetic Schedule/Car Magnet, presented by PNC Bank.
• Easter Bunny: The Easter Bunny will make appearances around the ballpark with the Reds mascots.
• Tom Browning in The Handlebar: Fans can dine and watch the game in The Handlebar for just a $55 upgrade, which includes a buffet meal. Plus, meet "Mr. Perfect" Tom Browning from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Monday, April 2 - Reds vs. Chicago Cubs, 4:10 p.m. (Findlay Market Game; Gates open at 2:10 p.m.) 
• Findlay Market Parade: The 99th Findlay Market Parade kicks off at Noon with former Reds pitchers Danny Graves and Sam LeCure serving as parade Grand Marshals.
• Magnetic Schedule Giveaway: The first 20,000 fans will receive a 2018 Reds Magnetic Schedule/Car Magnet, presented by PNC Bank.
• Findlay Market Basket: During pregame ceremonies, representatives from Findlay Market will make their annual "Findlay Market Basket" presentation to Reds Manager Bryan Price.
• Honorary Captains: Findlay Market Parade Grand Marshals Danny Graves and Sam LeCure will serve as Honorary Captains of the game. 
 
Tuesday, April 3 - Reds vs. Chicago Cubs, 6:40 p.m. (Gates open at 5:40 p.m.)
• Magnetic Schedule Giveaway: The first 20,000 fans will receive a 2018 Reds Magnetic Schedule/Car Magnet, presented by PNC Bank.

Ticket Offers For This Homestand
• Family Sundays: For every Sunday home game, families can get up to three half-price tickets with purchase of a full-price ticket, presented by Klosterman Bakery: reds.com/Family (Some restrictions apply)
• Findlay Market Ticket Package, April 2: Celebrate the annual Findlay Market Parade with this special ticket package that includes your ticket to the April 2 game plus a $10 gift certificate for participating Findlay Market merchants. Ticket packages start as low as $15: reds.com/FindlayMarket. (available day of game at GABP ticket windows) 
 
Reds Hall of Fame & Museum
• Reds Threads Exhibit: Explore the evolution of Reds and MLB uniforms in Reds Threads, the feature exhibit for 2018 at the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum presented by Dinsmore. Reds Threads presented by Dinsmore features over 120 uniform items including jerseys, jackets, pants and caps, and traces the history of Reds uniforms back to the 1869 Red Stockings. Also featured in the exhibit are displays that explore unique and unusual uniform styles from throughout baseball history. Plan your visit at RedsMuseum.org.
• Danny Graves, March 31: Meet Reds all-time saves leader Danny Graves at the Reds Hall of Fame on Saturday, March 31 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. In celebration of Kids Opening Day, the first 100 kids 14 and younger will receive a free photo of Graves to have signed during the autograph session (autograph ticket still required). Photos with Graves are available at no charge. Autograph tickets are $10 per item for Hall of Fame members and $15 per item for non-members, in addition to museum admission. Limit three items per person.

Reds Community Fund
• Scooter's Scooter Sweepstakes: Fans can enter "Scooter's Scooter Sweepstakes" for a chance to win Scooter Gennett's Yamaha Zuma 125 scooter. The one-of-a-kind scooter was presented to Scooter in recognition of his 5 hit, 4 home run and 10 RBI game on June 6. Only $10 per entry. All proceeds benefit the Reds Community Fund. See official rules at www.reds.com/Scooter. The sweepstakes sales end April 15.