Former Cincinnati Reds third baseman Chris Sabo and two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip will lead the 2025 Findlay Market Opening Day Parade as grand marshal and honorary grand marshal, respectively.
The annual parade, a longstanding Cincinnati tradition, will begin at noon on Thursday, March 27, ahead of the Reds’ home opener against the San Francisco Giants at 4:10 p.m.
The announcement took place Friday during a kickoff celebration at Findlay Market in Over-the-Rhine, which is the starting point for the annual march down Race Street. The emcee was Mo Egger, the spokesperson for the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade and a local sports radio personality.
Sabo, who played for the Reds from 1988-1993 and again in 1996, was a three-time All-Star and the National League Rookie of the Year in 1988. A key member of Cincinnati’s 1990 World Series-winning team, he led the club in home runs, doubles, and runs scored that season. His standout performance in Game 3 of the World Series included two home runs and three RBIs. Sabo was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 2010.
Waltrip, a native of Owensboro, Kentucky, made over 1,000 NASCAR Cup Series starts before transitioning into a broadcasting career with FOX NASCAR. His selection as honorary grand marshal coincides with FOX’s upcoming coverage of the inaugural MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 2, where the Reds will face the Atlanta Braves.
The 106th Findlay Market Opening Day Parade will feature more than 160 participating groups, including 16 marching bands and nearly 50 horses. Highlights will be appearances from the Smoothie King Bengals Alumni Unit, the Anthony Muñoz Foundation and Miss Ohio, as well as a showcase of 10 Olympians with Cincinnati ties, including 2024 Olympic swimmer Carson Foster.
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