Attendees are encouraged to use public transportation, automobiles
CINCINNATI – The City of Cincinnati is excited and proud to once again bring the nation’s largest inclusive event, BLINK®, back to our city. Festivities begin on Thursday, October 13, 2022, with the Blink Parade. To accommodate this parade, the following streets will be closed at the times listed below. Some traffic restrictions will be in place during the evenings of October 13 to 16, i.e. city center and Rhine streets.
Commuters and visitors are encouraged to use public transportation due to anticipated traffic and limited parking.
Metro and TANK offer free bus service after 18:00 during BLINK. For more information, including details about Park & Ride options, visit: Go to the Metro or Tanker bus.
The connector is adding additional trams during BLINK. The Cincinnati Police will move forward as an escort for the streetcar. All 18 stations will be open. Station stations are wheelchair accessible with level boarding and accessible seating on every tram.
Public and private parking garages and surface areas will be open in areas surrounding the event location.
For more information about the event, please visit blinkcincinnati.com.
EVENTS MAP LINK
BLINK: Vehicle entry points
Through traffic will be allowed with police assistance on some major roads while BLINK is taking place on each of the four nights. They include the following:
East West:
- Freedom Road
- Central Parkway
To the west:
- Third Street
- Fourth Street
- Sixth Street
- Ninth Street
Eastward:
- Second Street
- The fifth street
- Seventh Street
North South:
- Vine Street north of Second Street to Sixth Street
- Vine Street north and south between Central Parkway and Liberty Street
Please note: Although these roads will be open with police assistance, drivers should allow extra time due to expected delays at all crossings due to the large number of pedestrians who will be walking the road to watch the event.
BLINK: Road closures
The following roads will be closed while BLINK is taking place from approximately 6.30pm-11pm each night.
Over the Rhine: Findlay Market in Washington Park
- Elm Street: 12th Street north to McMicken Street
- Raceway: 12th Street north to McMicken Street
- Pleasant Street: Liberty Street north to 14th Street
- Dunlap Street: Findlay Street north to McMicken Street
- Elder and Findlay Streets: Central Parkway east to Vine Street
- Green Street: Vine Street east to Logan Street
- Wade, Odeon and Magnolia Streets: Central Parkway to Elm Street
- 15th Street: Walnut Street west of Central Parkway
- 14th Street: Central Parkway east to Sycamore Street
- 13th Street: Vine Street at Sycamore Street
- 12th Street: Vine Street to Main Street
- Central Business District: Kroger Store at Banks
- Main Street: Third Street at Liberty Street
- Walnut Street: Second Street to Liberty Street
- Vine Street: Sixth Street at Central Parkway
- Eighth Street / Garfield Place: Elm Street at Sycamore Street
- Seventh Street: Raceway at Sycamore Street
- Fourth Street: Sycamore Street at Vine Street
- Roebling Suspension Bridge
BLINK Public Hospitality Areas: OTR, Central Business District, Banks
There are some public hospitality areas that require permanent road closures in the following locations.
OTR: Findlay Market and Cincinnati Art Academy Areas
- Logan Street: Findlay Street to Elder Street
- Eton Alley: Elm Street to Race Street
- Jackson Street: Central Parkway to 12th Street
Central Business District
- Court Street: Raceway to Walnut Street
- Walnut Street: Nine to Central Parkway
- W. Eighth Street: Vine Street to Elm Street
banks
Freedom Street: Rosa Parks Street at Joe Nuxhall Street
Marian Spencer Way: Second Road to Ted Berry Road at the Roebling Bridge
BLINK Parade: Fifth Street between Broadway and Central Avenue
Fifth Street will be closed between Central Avenue and Broadway beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 13, for the parade. Through traffic will also be detoured one block north and one block south of each intersection along Fifth Street at Lawrence, Broadway, Sycamore, Main, Walnut, Vine, Race and Elm streets.
Local access to garages along the road will be maintained.
Please note: For safety reasons, the tram will not operate on the downtown circuit during the parade. Service at OTR, however, will continue.
In addition, the following roads will be closed for float equipment and stages starting at 4:00 p.m. until approximately 10:00 p.m.
- Sentinel Street between Fifth Street and Eggleston Avenue
- Reedy Street between Broadway and Eggleston Avenue
- Seventh Street between Broadway and Culvert Street
- New road between Broadway and Culvert Street
- Culvert Street between Reedy Street and E. Fifth Street
Additional information:
- Local access to residents will be maintained with the assistance of Cincinnati Police officers on site.
- Cincinnati Police may close additional roads as needed, depending on traffic volume.
- Government Square will be closed starting at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 13. Patrons should catch their buses through the public entrances to the Transit Center along Second Street.
For the latest information from the City of Cincinnati Department of Transportation and Engineering, check @RoadmapCincy on Twitter.
