‘How to BLINK’: Tips on how to navigate event

CINCINNATI (FOX19) - BLINK officials held a press conference Wednesday morning to give tips on how to get around the free downtown light, art, and culture festival.

Spanning 30-blocks and two-states, officials say BLINK will stretch from Over-the-Rhine’s Findlay Market down through Covington, in the process transforming iconic public spaces such as Fountain Square and the Roebling Bridge with projection mapping, murals, and interactive light sculptures.

Officials went on to emphasize that BLINK is not designed as a ‘drive-thru’ event and that it is meant to be enjoyed outside of a vehicle. They pointed to parking available in neighborhoods surrounding the event, including METRO park-and-ride locations at the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, Cincinnati State and Northern Kentucky University.

The festival is designed around the route of the streetcar, they said, which will be free to ride after 4 p.m. during BLINK’s four nights.

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If you want to plan your visit before heading to BLINK, check out their website.

Held October 10-13, officials expect BLINK to be the largest event of its kind in the nation.

Cincinnati Metro says due to street closures related to BLINK®, Government Square, Metro’s downtown bus hub, will be out of service from 6:30 p.m. to the end of service each day from Oct. 10-13. Government Square will reopen each day at 4 a.m.

Riders who regularly board or exit their bus at Government Square or at stops downtown or in Over-the-Rhine will not be able to do so in the evening during BLINK from 6:30 p.m. to the close of service.

All routes will detour to the Riverfront Transit Center, located below Second Street, between Walnut and Race

The map below shows BLINK road closures:

Here is more information, provided by the Cincinnati Police Department, about vehicle access points during BLINK and a list of the road closures:

BLINK: Vehicular Access Points

Through traffic will be allowed with police assistance on several major streets while BLINK is underway from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. each of the four nights. Those include the following:

• East-West: Liberty Street, Central Parkway
• Westbound: Third Street, Sixth Street
• Eastbound: Second Street, Seventh Street
• North-South: Vine Street at 12th Street

Please note: Although these roads will be open with police assistance, motorists should allow extra time because of expected delays at all crossings due to the large number of pedestrians who will be walking the route to see the event.

BLINK: Road Closures

The following roads will be closed while BLINK is underway from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. each night.

• Over-the-Rhine: Findlay Market to Washington Park
• Elm Street: Central Parkway north to McMicken Street
• Race Street: McMicken Street south to Central Parkway
• Logan Street: Findlay Street south to Elder Street
• Pleasant Street: 14th Street north to Elder Street at Findlay Market
• Clay Street: Central Parkway north to 13th Street
• Findlay Street: Central Parkway to McMicken Street
• Elder Street: Central Parkway to Elm Street, and Race Street to Vine Street
• Green Street: Elm Street to Vine Street
• Wade, Odeon, Magnolia and Grant streets: Central Parkway to Elm
• 12th Street: Central Parkway to Main Street
• 14th and 15th: Central Parkway to Vine Street
• Central Business District: Kroger Store to The Banks
• Walnut Street: 13th Street south through Central Parkway to Second Street
• Main Street: Mehring Way north through Central Parkway to 13th Street
• Court Street: Race Street to Main Street
• Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth streets between Vine Street and Sycamore Street
• Roebling Bridge

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