BLINK organizers announce parade route, torchbearers

CINCINNATI (WXIX) - BLINK organizers announced the full details of the upcoming parade on Thursday.

The parade will start at 7:30 p.m.

Participants start the parade on Fifth Street in Downtown Cincinnati and will end at Fifth and Elm Streets.

The theme is “Together: a constellation of shared cultures and unique identities; we illuminate joy through creative expression.”

More than 2,500 participants from 85 groups will participate with thousands more expected to watch on.

BLINK partnered with ish, a Cincinnati-based community engagement organization that is centered around Jewish arts, culture, and traditions as a platform to connect artists with diverse communities, for the parade.

“ish is all about celebrating where we’ve come from,” said Marie Krulewitch-Browne, founding executive and artistic director for ish. “We wanted the parade to showcase the incredible diversity and creativity of our region - from individual torchbearers to cultural heritage performance groups and more.”

MORE | BLINK organizers release official map for 2022

For the first time, there will be torchbearers, nominated by the community, carrying BLINK torches.

Will from Make-A-Wish
Kristen Schlotmann
Toilynn O’Neal Turner
Lee Turner
Jo Martin
Ian & Jessica Orr
Gary Dangel
Charlotte Reed
Sherry Hughes
Isaac Wright

“The parade is going to be MAGICAL. This is one of my favorite events and this year’s parade will be the best one yet,” said Krulewitch-Browne. “A parade of nations, woodland creatures, constellations, light up marching bands, children, elders, dance groups, larger-than-life sized puppets, kinetic sculptures, and of course, a wacky weird glimpse at Future City inhabitants.”

WATCH: BLINK 2019 kicks off with the Future City Spectacular Parade

Parade route road closures start at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and go until about 11 p.m.:

Fifth Street- closed between Central Avenue and Pike Street
Broadway- closed between Fourth Street and Sixth Street
Sycamore Street- closed between Sixth Street and Fourth Street (Garage access maintained from Sixth Street)
Main Street- closed between Fourth Street and Sixth Street
Walnut Street- closed between Sixth Street and Fourth Street (Garage access maintained from Sixth Street)
Vine Street- closed between Fourth Street and Sixth Street (Hotel access maintained from Fourth Street)
Race Street- closed between Sixth Street and Fourth Street (Garage access maintained from Fourth Street)
Elm Street- closed between Fourth Street and Sixth Street

BLINK will take place Thursday through Sunday.

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