zsportslive@yahoo.com

CINCINNATI — I had a chance to be a volunteer for the annual Reds Fest in Cincinnati over the Dec. 8 weekend.
The Duke Energy Center in downtown Cincinnati was electric that weekend as the Fest attracted more than 25,000 of the team’s fans.
The event was dubbed as the biggest ever with current and Reds alumni were on hand to greet fans.

The 2012 event had an added third floor for Kidz Zone events and the children were treated to story time read by some of the players, including current Reds players like J.J. Hoover, Xavier Paul, shortstop Zach Cozart and Sean Marshall, reading a baseball-themed book to dozens of kids as mascots Gapper and Mr. Redlegs sat with them. There was also a video arcade, basketball hoop, putting green and place for the kids to run themselves ragged at the Steal Home Challenge.