BLINK Cincinnati
October 8–11
Back for its fifth edition, BLINK is a four-day citywide art and installation festival spanning more than 35 blocks from OTR to NKY—the nation’s largest free public art event. There will be many events to accompany BLINK, as well as logistical changes around the event. Click here to go to the official website for more information about the event itself.
Official Events
Tuesday
BLINK Run the Night
Elm Street Plaza, 7:30
Nighttime run through downtown Cincinnati, complete with an immersive 2.6 mile journey through light, art, music, and creativity. Registration includes early access to select BLINK installations, commemorative finisher medal, opportunity to collaborate on an interactive art display, premium vendors, and more.
Register here
Thursday–Saturday
Asianati Night Market
Court Street Plaza
Asian cuisine, entertainment, games, and activities
Thursday
Opening Ceremony
Central Parkway between Liberty Street and W 14th Street (with TQL Stadium as a backdrop), 4–9p
Immersive opening celebration with interactive installations, live performances, hands-on creative experiences, and opportunities to create and wear your own light art.
Free admission
BLINK Parade
Mehring Way, 8p
The parade will start at Paycor Stadium and end at Great American Ball Park.
Click here to watch a video of the route
Mystic Eye Drone Show: First Sight
8:30p over TQL Stadium
Friday–Sunday
Mystic Eye Drone Show: Dimensions of Wonder
8p and 10p over the Ohio River
Additional Events
Dates to most official BLINK events and events coinciding with the four-day festival have not yet been announced. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.
September 11, 18, 25, and October 2
Glimpse at Elm Street Plaza
Elm Street Plaza, 6–8p
Get excited for BLINK! Control and become part of the art with a celebration of light, music, and public interactive art. Each night they’ll be creating a fully interactive projection mapping display on the fly incorporating live video, sound activation, laser light shows, and music.
Free admission
Thursday–Sunday
BLINK Party at the Museum
Cincinnati Fire Museum, 7–11p
Celebrate Cincinnati as the birthplace of firefighting with four nights of a laser light show, artwork by Cedric Michael Cox, dance groups, projection mapping light Show, live music, DJ, and more.
BLINK Tasting Tours
Findlay Market
Lunch tour: 12:30–2p
Happy hour tour: 3:30–5p
Take a full historical of tour of Findlay Market and the new and existing BLINK murals in the neighborhood. You will stop at 5 participating businesses along the way to enjoy food and drinks.
Tickets
Friday
BLINK Neon Party
Bar 901 at the Brittany, 8p–2:30a
Neon party with black lights and music by DJ Castle.
Saturday
Fall Cov Craft
Sixth Street Promenade in Mainstrasse, 10a–4p
Covington’s Curated Makers Market hosted by Handzy Shop + Studio and sponsored by BLINK, this market is all about creativity, community, and local love. Shop a curated lineup of makers and artists, sip on beer from West Sixth Brewing, and treat yourself to local food.
Free admission
Transit
The most preferred mode of transportation to get to BLINK would be to find a park and ride and take the fare free Metro (free from 6p–midnight each night of the event). And, while it is encouraged for all visitors to use public transportation to get to the event, there are many different parking options and all parking garages outside of the BLINK footprint will be open at event pricing. This year you are also able to reserve parking. For all things parking and accessible transit, click here.
Tip: Park on the outskirts of the BLINK festival footprint and walk, bus, Redbike, e-scoot, or take the streetcar to get to your destination.
Butler County Regional Transit Authority (BCRTA)
CincyLink, an express bus from Butler County to Cincinnati, will shuttle attendees from Park and Rides to the Riverfront Transit Center from 5:30–11p each night of BLINK. The last shuttle will depart from the RTC at 11:30p to return to the Butler County Park and Rides.
Cincinnati Metro
Routes will be disrupted during BLINK weekend (October 17–20) and all service from Government Square will be moved to the Riverfront Transit Center. All Metro service will be fare free from 6p–midnight each night of BLINK.
Cincinnati Red Bike
Nonprofit station-based bike share system with dozens of stations around downtown and NKY. Download the Red Bike app to ride.
The Connector
Fare FREE streetcar providing ADA accessible transport from north of Over-the-Rhine south to The Banks.
Electric Scooters
Bird and Lime scooters available for rent seven days a week from 6a to 11p. Download one of their respective apps to ride.
Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK)
Including the Southbank Shuttle, a public trolley system that serves the cities of Bellevue, Newport, and Covington in Northern Kentucky; traveling to and from downtown Cincinnati in Ohio. The cost to ride the shuttle is $1 each trip. All TANK service will be fare free from 6p–midnight each night of BLINK.
Note: The Southbank Shuttle will be on a detour for all four nights of BLINK after 6p. It will connect BLINK goers with one stop in Newport, one stop in Covington, and a stop at the Riverfront Transit Center.
Tip: You can download the Transit app while you are in town to help you navigate the bus and streetcar. You can also pay for bus fare in the app.
Accessibility
BLINK festival planners, led by Accessibility Director, Holly Maniatty, have partnered with All In Events to ensure inclusivity and to provide access for patrons with disabilities, including accessible:
- Viewing areas
- Drop-off and pick-up points throughout the festival
- ASL interpreting for events and music
- and so much more
Click here for complete information regarding accessibility at BLINK.
Entertainment
There is a full lineup of entertainment all four days of the festival, featuring dozens of musicians AND performances, at several different venues. Click here for complete information.
Unofficial Guides
Blinkfoot
Custom routes, including family friendly and date night options.
BLONK Cincy
An unofficial app for a rogue guide to BLINK.
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