BLINK Cincinnati

Oct. 17-20, 2024

The Nation’s largest immersive art event, BLINK, lights up the Cincy Region for 4 days every other year. This engaging celebration of art and light is family friendly, free, and welcomes everyone to bask in its glow.

BLINK is for the people. By the artists.

BLINK is a celebration that nurtures community and connection through public art. This festival features over 80 interactive installations by dozens of international muralists, light installation and projection artists. These local, national, and international artists create a living, breathing event that you really have to see to believe. Spanning 30+ city blocks through the urban core of Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington and Newport, Kentucky, BLINK brings the region to life in unexpected ways.

See familiar murals, buildings, and other landmarks in a new light when they are suddenly animated and aglow. Organized into easily navigated zones, you’ll be able to journey through a zone, walk to and from zones (or take transportation like the streetcar) and traverse bridges to move between Covington, Newport, and Cincinnati to see all that BLINK has to offer.

A person plays a piano on an illuminated brick patio. The piano is under a tree with long, tube lights hanging. — BLINK

Experience BLINK

BLINK is a pedestrian event where you can walk as much or as little as you would like. Strollers are strongly recommended with little ones, and the organizers request that your pets are left at home. You’ll have 4 nights to explore the installations and enjoy all the experiences BLINK brings. The best way to plan your course through BLINK is to keep it loose. We recommend picking out a zone or two for a night, parking somewhere centrally located to those, and then wandering with the crowd! This is a freeform event, with surprises around every corner. Walk the city at your own pace, and soak in the beauty that is BLINK.

Maps and Zones

As the event gets closer more information will be released on BLINK’s website including the installation map, details about any special installations and live entertainment that may be happening. Otherwise, each night will feature the same shows and art installations, which allows the freedom to pick the nights and zones that work best for you.

More information will also be released about pop-up markets as well as hospitality and food truck locations throughout the festival footprint.

Opening Parade

The BLINK parade is a cherished tradition that serves as the official kick-off to BLINK. This dazzling event illuminates the streets of Cincinnati with artists, arts institutions, and community coming together in a procession of light and art where the line between participant and spectator can become blurred. Illuminated costumes, puppets, sculptures, and props; human powered floats; music and performances all contribute to this celebration of light and art. Route and time information will be updated on BLINK’s website as we get closer to the event.

People dressed in white lights and sparkling dance as they move away from the camera down the street. — BLINK Opening Parade

BLINK Parking and Transportation

An important step in preparing for BLINK is figuring out how you will get there. There will be street closings and crowds impacting traffic flow. Since BLINK is so walkable, plan to park your car and leave it where it is for the night.

The Connector Streetcar in Cincinnati is fare free every day and a great option for navigating to the event.

TANK (Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky) and Cincinnati’s Metro bus services are another great option for getting around during BLINK. All TANK and Metro service will be FREE between 6 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. each night of BLINK. Metro will also provide FREE shuttle service to BLINK from two park & ride locations: Cincinnati State and Crossroads Oakley. The Southbank Shuttle runs a loop through Covington, Cincinnati and Newport. For more information about this special event service, click here.

GEST Carts offer FREE transportation in a limited radius. Bring cash to tip your driver! Uber and Lyft also operate in the Cincy Region.

Park in Cincinnati with multiple garage and lot options.

Park in Covington multiple garage or lot options, or metered parking on open streets.

Park in Newport at the Newport on the Levee garage, or metered parking on the street.

Glowing blue balls of light spiral in the air in front of the Cincinnati skyline during the drone show. — BLINK Drone Show

An illuminated mural by London Police. — Illumined mural during BLINK

Start Planning Now

Now that you are a BLINK expert it's time to start planning your trip. Begin by booking your home base for all your BLINK adventures. Then check out some of our other exciting arts and cultural experiences to see during the day.