The Findlay Market/Opening Day Parade is now a two-day event. The Parade Committee is committed to bringing those members from or those that have been a part of the Cincinnati area that have made us cheer for their athletic skills, music and other forms of entertainment or heroics. In doing so, we sometimes have to fly people in from around the country and put them up in hotels for a few days. We decided to come up with an idea where we could show our appreciation to the Celebrities who join the parade and those that fund the travels of these Celebrities with an evening where they can meet each other and also get some exposure on local news stations. Those in attendance are provided with some great drinks produced by a local brewery/distillery and fine food provided by the vendors of Findlay Market along with quality live music. Prior to the 2022 Meet & Greet, Northern Row, which produces 5 Stories spirits, gave a tour of the distillery and then provided our VIPs the opportunity to bottle their own bottle of Gin. Even those who do not partake in the consumption of these fine spirits, enjoyed having teammates and others sign their bottles. This was a very fun event for all. As can be seen in the photo gallery, everyone took pictures with everyone. We also had two news stations come in to do interviews. See Local 12's coverage. At the end of the event, Smoothie King presented Ickey Woods with a $1,000 donation to the Jovante Woods Foundation.
The Special Guest list of those in attendance for the Meet and Greet included:
Olympians: - George Wilson - Gold at 1964 Tokyo - Basketball - Darrell Pace - 2 Gold (1976 Montreal, 1984 LA), 1 Silver (1988 Seoul) - Archery - Joe Hudepohl - Gold 1996 Atlanta; Gold & Bronze 1992 Barcelona - Swimming - Mary Wineberg - Gold at 2008 Beijing for US Track - 4X400-meter relay - David Payne - Silver 2008 Beijing - 110 m hurdles - Nick Goepper - Silver & Bronze 2018 Pyeongchang; Bronze 2014 Sochi - Freestyle Skiing
Former Bengals Superbowl members: - Super Bowl XVI: Louis Breeden (All Pro) & Jim Breech - Super Bowl XXIII: Ickey Woods (1988 NFL All-Rookie Team), David Fulcher (3x Pro Bowl, 3x All Pro), Jim Breech, Joe Kelly & Kevin Walker
Other Special guest: - Otis Williams of Otis Williams and The Charms - Patti Collins - President of Bootsy Collins Foundation - Nicole Wess - Miss Ohio USA 2021 - Omar Cummings - retired FC Cincinnati - Betty Wietmarschen - 2022 Bockfest Sausage Queen - Beard Barons (Patrick Fette, Taxi Phil, David Neiheisel) - Cincinnati Vintage Base Ball Club (in uniform)
A special thanks to those who made this happen: Findlay Market Opening Day Parade Committee Members - Neil Luken, Kevin Luken, Debbie Gannaway, Jeffrey Gladish and Kelly Lanser. Northern Row - David Berger and Joe Maas Photographer - Earl Stanfield Music by - Food provided by Findlay Market operators: - Mediterranean Imports - Greekish - Grayson's - Maverick Chocolates - Mama Made It - Gramma Debbie's Kitchen
The Findlay Market/Opening Day Parade is now a two-day event. The Parade Committee is committed to bringing those members from or those that have been a part of the Cincinnati area that have made us cheer for their athletic skills, music and other forms of entertainment or heroics. In doing so, we sometimes have to fly people in from around the country and put them up in hotels for a few days. We decided to come up with an idea where we could show our appreciation to the Celebrities who join the parade and those that fund the travels of these Celebrities with an evening where they can meet each other and also get some exposure on local news stations. Those in attendance are provided with some great drinks produced by a local brewery/distillery and fine food provided by the vendors of Findlay Market along with quality live music. Prior to the 2022 Meet & Greet, Northern Row, which produces 5 Stories spirits, gave a tour of the distillery and then provided our VIPs the opportunity to bottle their own bottle of Gin. Even those who do not partake in the consumption of these fine spirits, enjoyed having teammates and others sign their bottles. This was a very fun event for all. As can be seen in the photo gallery, everyone took pictures with everyone. We also had two news stations come in to do interviews. See Local 12's coverage. At the end of the event, Smoothie King presented Ickey Woods with a $1,000 donation to the Jovante Woods Foundation.
The Special Guest list of those in attendance for the Meet and Greet included:
Olympians:
- George Wilson - Gold at 1964 Tokyo - Basketball
- Darrell Pace - 2 Gold (1976 Montreal, 1984 LA), 1 Silver (1988 Seoul) - Archery
- Joe Hudepohl - Gold 1996 Atlanta; Gold & Bronze 1992 Barcelona - Swimming
- Mary Wineberg - Gold at 2008 Beijing for US Track - 4X400-meter relay
- David Payne - Silver 2008 Beijing - 110 m hurdles
- Nick Goepper - Silver & Bronze 2018 Pyeongchang; Bronze 2014 Sochi - Freestyle Skiing
Former Bengals Superbowl members:
- Super Bowl XVI: Louis Breeden (All Pro) & Jim Breech
- Super Bowl XXIII: Ickey Woods (1988 NFL All-Rookie Team), David Fulcher (3x Pro Bowl, 3x All Pro), Jim Breech, Joe Kelly & Kevin Walker
Other Special guest:
- Otis Williams of Otis Williams and The Charms
- Patti Collins - President of Bootsy Collins Foundation
- Nicole Wess - Miss Ohio USA 2021
- Omar Cummings - retired FC Cincinnati
- Betty Wietmarschen - 2022 Bockfest Sausage Queen
- Beard Barons (Patrick Fette, Taxi Phil, David Neiheisel)
- Cincinnati Vintage Base Ball Club (in uniform)
A special thanks to those who made this happen:
Findlay Market Opening Day Parade Committee Members - Neil Luken, Kevin Luken, Debbie Gannaway, Jeffrey Gladish and Kelly Lanser.
Northern Row - David Berger and Joe Maas
Photographer - Earl Stanfield
Music by -
Food provided by Findlay Market operators:
- Mediterranean Imports
- Greekish
- Grayson's
- Maverick Chocolates
- Mama Made It
- Gramma Debbie's Kitchen