Nuxhall All-Stars to Shine in April 18 Opening Day Parade
- NuxhallMiracleLeague
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
FAIRFIELD, OH (April 3, 2026)—The all-stars at the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields are takin’ it to the streets to celebrate the start of a brand new season!
The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields Opening Day Parade is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 10:00am. The parade route begins at Sacred Heart Church in Fairfield and winds its way through the local neighborhood (primarily along Mississippi Drive) before ending with a short on-field ceremony at The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields.
This year, Larry and Debi Handley of Little Brown Dog Productions will serve as grand marshals of the parade. Larry, a former Cincinnati meteorologist, and his wife, Debi, have poured their hearts and talents into the mission of The Nuxhall Foundation, directing the organization’s video content and productions since the facility was built in 2012. The Handleys will lead a crew of more than 250 Nuxhall Miracle League all-stars and their families in the celebration of a new season of baseball.
“The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields represent all things good, positive, and encouraging, and have for more than a decade,” said the Handleys. “It’s no wonder they start every year with an exciting, love-filled parade. We are proud and honored to be the Grand Marshals for the 2026 edition!”
“Larry and Debi have helped us tell our story in powerful ways over the years,” says Kim Nuxhall, President and Board Chairman of The Nuxhall Foundation. “Their videos have inspired others to share in our mission, get involved, and give. I still get chills and tears when I watch the videos they have created for us. The only thing bigger than their talent? Their giving hearts. We can’t wait to celebrate all the good they’ve done for us.”
Larry and Debi Handley will be followed by hundreds of special needs all-stars from the Great Miami Valley YMCA Youth League and the Therapeutic Recreation for the Disabled (TRD) Adult League, marching alongside community members and organizations including: 2022 Nuxhall Humanitarian Award Winner and Cincinnati Reds batboy Teddy Kremer, JNMLF mascot Joey The Can-Do Kangaroo, Mr. Redlegs of the Cincinnati Reds, the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings vintage baseball team, local celebrities, and others.
The 2026 parade will also feature live bands and performances, including the Fairfield High School Marching Band and The Pack Rats.
The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields Opening Day Parade is a reflection of The Nuxhall Foundation’s mission to provide big-league experiences for special needs athletes in Greater Cincinnati, creating magical and memorable moments for the community at every opportunity.
“Just like the Reds and the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade, we want to celebrate the start of a new season and the athletes who give us all so many reasons to smile,” says Nuxhall. “There’s no better way to open our Joy Factory for more miracles than with a parade, and we are thankful to the community that always shows up in a big way to cheer on our all-stars.”
Parade participants are encouraged to line up at Sacred Heart Church in Fairfield beginning at 9:15am (no early arrivals; those who arrive early will be asked to return later). Parade staff will organize the units into a parade line, which begins its march towards the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields at 10:00am. Upon arrival at the facility, a brief on-field ceremony will recognize Larry and Debi Handley and Miracle League all-stars from both the youth and adult league. Local vocalist Kim Beatty will perform the national anthem.
Fairfield and Greater Cincinnati residents are encouraged to line the streets along the route, make signs, and join in the celebration.
“Our all-stars and their families feed off the energy from our supporters,” says Tyler Bradshaw, Executive Director of The Nuxhall Foundation. “That march through our local neighborhood in Fairfield is one of the most moving and memorable moments of the entire year because we see how many people loved Joe and how they continue to love our mission. We are in awe of how our community comes together to cheer on our all-stars, and we can’t wait to see the crowd again this year!”
About The Nuxhall Foundation
The Nuxhall Foundation is the legacy foundation for former Major League Baseball pitcher and longtime Cincinnati Reds broadcaster, the late Joe Nuxhall. The Nuxhall Foundation carries forward three important legacy projects. A central project of The Nuxhall Foundation is The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields—an entirely accessible baseball and recreational facility where every player with every challenge gets every chance to play. Historically, nearly 300 athletes with physical and developmental disabilities aged 4 to 80 participate in programs at the Miracle League Fields. The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Scholarship (in conjunction with the Fairfield Community Foundation) provides more than $40,000 per year in scholarship money to student athletes at all 14 Butler County high schools. Very soon, the Joe Nuxhall Memorial Scholarship will cross the million-dollar mark in scholarship money awarded. The Joe Nuxhall Character Education Fund pitches good character to young leaders throughout Greater Cincinnati by delivering and supporting programs that stress the importance of integrity, humility, respect, and kindness. In 2024, The Nuxhall Foundation launched a $12 million capital campaign to construct The Hope Center, a year-round recreational facility for athletes with special needs that will help to create the world's most comprehensive athletic campus for individuals with disabilities.
For more information, visit http://www.nuxhallmiracleleague.org.
Parade Details:
The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields Opening Day Parade
Saturday April 18, 2026
10:00am
Schedule:
9:15 Parade Lineup (Sacred Heart Church, 400 Nilles Road, Fairfield)
10:00 Parade Departure
~10:45 Parade Arrives at The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields
~11:15 On-Field Ceremony & Introduction of All-Stars
For Participants:
All parade participants must celebrate and reflect the spirit and mission of The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields.
Shuttles will be available for all-stars and families from the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields beginning at 9am. These shuttles will transport participants to Sacred Heart Church (the parade lineup site). No return shuttles are available.
Youth and adult league all-stars will have the option to ride on vehicles provided by the parade organizers.
No early arrivals are permitted before the 9:15 scheduled lineup (early arrivals will be asked to return later).
Parade participants will be organized randomly by parade organizers.
No handouts of any kind are permitted along the parade route.
For More Information, Contact:
Leigh Lutz, Parade Coordinator
Phone: (513) 374-3404
E-mail: lutzfamily2003@yahoo.com
For all media inquiries or to schedule an appearance, please contact:
Tyler Bradshaw
Executive Director, The Nuxhall Foundation
(513) 839-6164
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