Cincinnati’s biggest show is happening now!

BLINK, the exclusive Cincinnati light and art festival, lit up the night sky Thursday for its first of four nights. More than two dozen streets shut down to vehicular traffic, letting people walk all over the city without fear. Expect to see art from Findlay Market all the way down to Covington. Just pick a spot on the map and go.

Special highlights for this year include a skatepark set up on the corner of Liberty and Elm, Asianati’s “Night Market” featuring all sorts of Asian food and culture at Court Street Plaza, a light-based fashion show at the Black Music Walk of Fame and a polka dot-themed block party at the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

The post PHOTOS: Cincinnati comes alive as BLINK takes over the streets appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

It’s finally here. We’ve talked extensively about BLINK here at CityBeat, as our first issue in October is all about the festival. But now the event is just days away, so you’re probably wondering: what do I actually need to know?

We’re glad you asked.

So what is it?

BLINK is a light and art festival that’s only in Cincinnati. Over two million people are expected to attend the four-day event, which has slowly become Cincinnati’s signature showcase and one of the region’s most significant economic drivers. Streets shut down to vehicular traffic, letting people walk all over the city without fear. Expect to see art from Findlay Market all the way down to Covington. Just pick a spot on the map and go.

When does it start?

Thursday! An Olympics-esque opening ceremony titled ‘Ready, Set, BLINK!’ will gather everyone on a five-block stretch of Central Parkway just outside TQL Stadium, with plenty of live performances and interactive art stations scattered about. As the sun goes down, festival organizers will do a live countdown where they “flip the switch,” and the crowd will see the Queen City light up around them.

What should I expect to see?

Honestly, everything. BLINK is a one-of-a-kind experience where you never know what lies just around the corner. You might see a field of fluorescent yarn, a light show utilizing 1,750 recycled paint cans, or a giant pyramid covered in 360-degree cameras.

Special highlights for this year include a skatepark set up on the corner of Liberty and Elm, Asianati’s “Night Market” featuring all sorts of Asian food and culture at Court Street Plaza, a light-based fashion show at the Black Music Walk of Fame and a polka dot-themed block party at the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

Wait, so how do I get there?

Good question. All parking garages outside the BLINK area will be open for business, but good luck finding a spot without showing up hours in advance. Thankfully, Cincinnati Metro and Kentucky’s TANK will once again be running their usual “Park and Ride” service all over the area. Just park far away and hop on a bus to get right to the action. (More info on that here.)

So what streets are closed?

A whole lot of ’em.

These streets are closed the entire week:

• Freedom Way- closed between Race Street and Marian Spencer Way (Rosa Parks Street will remain open during non-event hours)
• Plum Street- closed between Ninth Street and Eighth Street
• Court Street- closed between Race Street and Walnut Street (Vine Street will remain open during non-event hours)
• Jackson Street- closed between Twelfth Street and Thirteenth Street
• Elder Street- closed between Campbell Street and Elm Street

On Tuesday, October 6, the list is as follows from 6 to 9 p.m. to allow for the BLINK marathon:

• Elm Street- closed between Fourth Street and Fifth Street (Closes at 4:30 p.m. for start/ finish line construction)
• Elm Street- closed between Fifth Street and Mehring Way
• Fifth Street- closed between Central Avenue and Race Street
• Fourth Street- closed between Race Street and Plum Street
• Third Street- westbound closed between Race Street and Plum Street
• Second Street- closed between the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge and Race Street
• Central Avenue- southbound closed between Seventh Street and Fifth Street
• Central Avenue- northbound closed between Third Street and Fifth Street
• Freedom Way- closed between Elm Street and Race Street
• Mehring Way- closed between Central Avenue and E Pete Rose Way
• Johnny Bench Way- closed
• E Pete Rose Way- closed west of Broadway.

And on Thursday, the following streets will be closed for the opening ceremony:

• Central Parkway- closed between Liberty Street and Ezzard Charles Drive (closes at 6 a.m. for block party construction)
• Central Parkway- closed between Liberty Street and Elm Street
• Fourteenth Street- closed west of Elm Street
• Magnolia Street- closed west of Elm Street (Local access maintained but no access to the Central Parkway)
• Fifteenth Street- closed west of Elm Street (Local access maintained but no access to the Central Parkway)
• Odeon Street- closed west of Elm Street (Local access maintained but no access to the Central Parkway)
• Wade Street- closed west of Elm Street (Local access maintained but no access to the Central Parkway).

On top of those, the following streets will be closed nightly from 7 to 11 p.m. while the festival is running:

• Roebling Suspension Bridge
• Elm Street- closed between Central Parkway and Findlay Street (Liberty Street remains open to east-west traffic)
• Race Street- closed between Central Parkway and Findlay Streets (Liberty Street remains open to east-west traffic)
• Vine Street- closed between Third Street and Central Parkway (Third Street, Fifth Street, Sixth Street, Ninth Street remain open for east-west traffic)
• Walnut Street- closed between Third Street and Central Parkway (Third Street, Fifth Street, Sixth Street, Ninth Street remain open for east-west traffic)
• Main Street- closed between Second Street and Twelfth Street (Second Street, Third Street, Fifth Street, Sixth Street, Ninth Street and Central Parkway remain open for east-west traffic) (Main Street will close to maintain the streetcar)
• Jackson Street- closed between Twelfth Street and Central Parkway
• Fourth Street- restricted between Main Street and Race Street. The street will remain open as long as possible but may close due to crowd congestion.
• Seventh Street- restricted between Main Street and Race Street. The street will remain open as long as possible but may close due to crowd congestion.
• Charles Street- closed between Central Parkway and Elm Street
• Twelfth Street- closed to through traffic between Main Street and Central Parkway
• Fourteenth Street- closed between Central Parkway and Vine Street
• Grant Street- closed to through traffic between Central Parkway and Elm Street
• Magnolia Street- closed to through traffic between Central Parkway and Elm Street
• Odeon Street- closed to through traffic between Central Parkway and Elm Street
• Wade Street- closed to through traffic between Central Parkway and Elm Street
• Green Street- closed to through traffic between Vine Street and Elm Street
• Elder Street- closed between Vine Street and Central Parkway.

In addition, these Covington streets will be blocked off:

• Roebling Way
• Park Place from Scott Street to Greenup Street (beginning Oct. 3)
• Court Street (beginning Oct. 3)
• Tobacco Alley from Madison Avenue to Scott Street (beginning Oct. 5)
• E. 3rd Street from Scott Street to Greenup Street
• Electric Alley from E. 4th Street to E. 5th Street
• W. Pike Street from Washington Street to Madison Avenue
• E. 4th Street from Madison Avenue to Greenup Street
• Scott Street from E. 3rd Street to E. Fifth Street
• Madison Avenue from E. 4th Street to E. 8th Street
• W. 7th Street from Washington Street to Madison Avenue

Where can I learn more?

You can keep reading our coverage here at CityBeat, which will run all week long, or visit the official BLINK website.

The post Your guide to BLINK: attractions, special events street closures and more appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

The start of Cincinnati’s biggest event is just hours away. Roughly 30 blocks will soon be shut down for BLINK, the nation’s largest display of light and art, but unless you’re good at reading a map, getting around can be confusing. There’s no official app yet for BLINK. But that’s where BLOOP comes in.

BLOOP, a brand-new app from local developer Nathan Bolender, provides an interactive map of BLINK installations and attractions along with event and music information, search and filtering tools and walking directions. In addition, the app works offline when cell reception is poor, allowing users to navigate through the festival regardless of how busy it gets.

But BLINK is only the beginning. Unlike other apps created for the festival, BLOOP is designed to remain useful long after BLINK ends. The app already includes a guide featuring more than 180 public murals from 1001 Colors, allowing users to discover Cincinnati’s murals year-round. More guides to public art and cultural attractions are planned for the app in the future, and users can submit their own art installations to be displayed on the app, as well.

“BLOOP is about making it easier to explore Cincinnati,” Bolender said. “BLINK is an incredible place to start because there’s so much to see and experience, but Cincinnati has an amazing public art scene year-round. We wanted to build something that could help people discover both the festival and the art that’s here every day.”

The app’s guide-based design allows visitors to switch between different collections of places and experiences while keeping the map focused on what they’re currently exploring.

Key features of the app include:

• An interactive map of BLINK 2026 installations and attractions
• Up-to-date event and music information
• The ability to favorite attractions and keep track of places you’ve visited
• Search and filters to quickly find specific types of art and attractions
• Walking directions and navigation between locations
• An offline-first experience, allowing users to continue exploring even when cellular service is limited or unavailable
• Regularly updated information as festival details and events change
• Guides covering past BLINK editions, public murals from 1001 Colors, and future topics such as local architecture and history.

The app is completely free to download now on BLOOP’s official website.

The post Wanna get around BLINK easier? Try BLOOP appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

If you haven’t heard — and how haven’t you, if you’re a CityBeat reader? — BLINK, the city’s largest event, is this weekend. As far as “things to do” go, it’s hard to top 30 blocks of the city being shut down for a giant festival. But that doesn’t mean that’s all there is to do in Cincinnati this weekend.

If you’re looking for even more to do on every day of the week, visit the CityBeat events calendar.

BLINK

All weekend, all over the city

It’s finally time. Every night this weekend, the city will transform into a dazzling display of light and art as two million people descend on the downtown Cincinnati area. For your guide on getting around BLINK, click here. To find out what’s new this year, click here. And for the rest of our extensive coverage, click here.

Asianati Night Market

All weekend, Court Street Plaza

While this is technically part of BLINK, it feels like it’s special enough to warrant its own mention. Asianati’s “Night Market,” which showcases Asian food vendors, cultural entertainment, local makers, art installations and family-friendly activities, will begin Oct. 8 and run nightly throughout the festival. The market will open each night on Court Street Plaza at 5 p.m., two hours before BLINK turns the lights on. For more information, click here.

The Beach Boys

Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Riverbend Music Center, Anderson Township

The now Mike Love-led Beach Boys are touching down in Cincinnati this weekend. Regardless of how you feel about his overall contributions to the band — “Kokomo” and “Surfin’ USA” aren’t awful, right? — you’ll still get to hear some of the best songs ever written played live, even if he had no hand in the matter. Attendees can enjoy two free hot dogs for showing up to the concert area early, too.

HallZOOeen

Saturday-Sunday, noon – 5 p.m., Cincinnati Zoo, Avondale

The Cincinnati Zoo’s Halloween event returns. Get some trick-or-treat candy. Ride the Pumpkin Express. Maybe you’ll even get to see Fiona crush a pumpkin in her jaws- who knows?

Queen Bee Half-Marathon

Saturday, 7:30 a.m., Reading and Pendleton Street, downtown

The little sister of the Flying Pig returns this weekend. Run a half-marathon or a four-mile race through the city, and claim your victory medal at Sawyer Point.

Mary Poppins JR

Friday – Saturday, Children’s Theatre, Over-the-Rhine

Audiences can head to the Emery Theater in Over-the-Rhine for a new adaptation of the Broadway and West End hit. The production promises “colorful characters, an irresistible score, high-flying theatrical effects and the Emery Theater’s immersive stage technology” for an all-ages show that brings the unforgettable Banks family and the magic of Cherry Tree Lane to the stage. Read more here.

Mike Epps

Friday, 8 p.m., Hard Rock Casino, Pendleton

Legendary comedian Mike Epps performs a set at Hard Rock Casino this weekend.

Vinoklet Wine Festival

Sunday, Vinoklet Winery, 11069 Colerain Road, Colerain Township

One of the largest wine festivals in the region continues. Head up to Vinoklet Winery to see several different performers and shop various vendors as you drink wine to your heart’s content.

Heist

Friday – Sunday, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Rouse Theatre, 962 Mt. Adams Circle Dr., Mt. Adams

Inspired by movies like “Ocean’s Eleven,” “Now You See Me” and “The Usual Suspects,” this theatrical caper is a high-tech mystery for the stage. When Marvin assembles a team of professional thieves to pull off one last job, the heist goes sideways into a web of danger, betrayal and double crosses. What follows is a high-octane production that will keep you on the edge of your seat with lasers, aerial stunts and state-of-the-art projections.

Cincy Whiskey Fest

Sunday, 1 – 4 p.m., Northern Row, Over-the-Rhine

If you’re a whiskey fan, there might not be a better place to go this weekend than Northern Row. The Over-the-Rhine brewery and distillery is hosting a whiskey festival this weekend inside the taproom, which will bring together 11 local and regional distilleries for an afternoon of whiskey tasting, judging and celebration of the growing distilling scene across the region. Read more about it here.

The post 10 things to do in Cincinnati this weekend (Oct 9 – 11) appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

While The Birdcage may have flown the coop, the building will finally return to its roots when a new LGBTQ+ bar opens at the same address later this month.

The Corner, as the bar is now called, plans to open near Halloween at 927 Race Street downtown. It is owned by Pride Holdings Group, a publicly-traded company that specializes in LGBTQ+ hospitality venues.

As queer Cincinnatians likely remember, The Birdcage closed without warning on Christmas Eve 2024.

The closure came after a failed expansion attempt into the former 7,000-square-foot Rebel Mettle Brewery space downtown on Central Avenue in June 2023; that space closed shortly after opening in February 2024, and The Birdcage returned to its original location.

The bar’s final closure was announced on Christmas Eve 2024 via a Facebook post, and despite many rumors of acquisitions and reopenings, the building has sat unused — until now.

CityBeat toured the space on Monday night with Pride Holdings Chief Operating Officer Joshua Cooper, who was hard at work on construction to get the space in tip-top shape.

He shared that the bar would be open on afternoons and most weekdays, unlike many other queer spaces in the area. Two major differences between The Birdcage and The Corner will be a larger stage for performances and a giant LED screen placed on the back wall — although those two elements won’t be ready in time for the bar’s opening.

Currently, there are already plans for karaoke, drag bingo, movie nights, special Bengals watch parties and more.

“The Corner represents the first of many organic openings by Pride Holdings Group,” said Tim Majors, the company’s CEO, in a statement. “Joshua Cooper has done a wonderful job getting this location ready for opening and demonstrating our commitment to creating thriving and inclusive LGBTQ+ spaces.”

After Cooper completes “phase 1” of opening — that is, getting the main bar up and running — he’ll transition to work on a second phase in the winter, where he’ll transform The Birdcage’s former dressing room into another bar.

This bar will be a small, speakeasy-style lounge with couches. He joked that since his husband is a DJ, he’s constantly surrounded by music and likes having a place to relax that isn’t so loud. He hopes that this second bar will provide something similar for people who want to go to a queer space but aren’t necessarily interested in a ‘club’ vibe that night.

While it’s anyone’s guess whether The Corner will reach its projected opening date of “October 2026,” Cooper was brimming with confidence that the bar will be open by then —and even if it doesn’t, whenever it arrives, it’ll be filling a major hole in Cincinnati’s LGBTQ+ community.

CityBeat will have more information on The Corner later this month. In the meantime, visit The Corner’s official Instagram page.

The post Former Birdcage space to get new life as LGBTQ+ bar The Corner appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

BLINK is almost here! The massive international event will come to both sides of the river starting this Thursday evening from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. and will continue every subsequent night through Sunday, Oct. 11.

If you’re attending the event on the Covington side, you’ll need to plan ahead to get into town as some typical entryways into the city will be closed.

From Cincinnati

The Roebling will be closed to vehicle traffic every night of the event, but it will remain open to pedestrians. If you’re driving from Cincinnati, you’ll need to arrive using either the Brent Spence Bridge or the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge.

From Newport

If you’re coming from Newport, the city recommends using the 12th Street Bridge, also known as the Girl Scout Bridge, to traverse the Licking River into the city. TANK’s Licking River Link shuttle service, established in the wake of the 4th Street Bridge demolition to help travelers go back and forth between Covington and Newport, will also be running during the event. Pedestrians and bike riders will be able to access the Licking River Link for free.

What if you’re not using your own car

TANK’s regular routes, which you can learn about here, will be running normally throughout the event. The bus service will also provide a park and ride service from NKU’s campus on Friday and Saturday. Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft will be active, but keep in mind that pedestrian traffic will be heavy.

GEST carts will also be active throughout the event. GEST’s NKY Connector will run regularly between Newport and Covington. Rides are free, but tips are appreciated.

Parking

There are several public parking garages near the festival, including the River Center Parking Garage, Kenton County Parking Garage, Midtown Parking Garage, and City Center/Hotel Covington Parking Garage. You can reserve a spot in the Midtown and River Center garages using the ParkWhiz app.

Meters within the city’s entertainment destination centers (see below) will be shut down from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. every night of the event. Find out more about parking in Covington at the Covington Motor Vehicle Parking Authority’s website.

Entertainment destination centers

Finally, several areas, dubbed “entertainment destination centers” or EDCs, will be set off as public consumption areas. Attendees will be able to carry open containers of alcohol purchased from participating businesses in those areas in specially marked cups. More than a dozen Covington businesses have agreed to participate. You can find a full list of the participating businesses as well as a list of which roads will be closed in the EDC by reading the city’s announcement.

The post How to get into Covington for BLINK this year appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

This story originally appeared in our Sept. 30 – Oct. 13, 2026 print edition. Check out the edition online here and find where you can get a print edition near you here.

It’s bigger than Taste. It’s bigger than Opening Day. It’s bigger than Oktoberfest, and it’s not even close. BLINK, the nation’s largest immersive art experience, returns to Cincinnati on October 8. Over two million people are expected to attend the four-day art festival, which has slowly become Cincinnati’s signature event and one of the region’s most significant economic drivers.

“People from cities across the globe call us on a regular basis and say ‘how in the world did Cincinnati make this happen?’” said Leslie Mooney, vice president and executive director of BLINK. “The first four iterations of BLINK have established us on a national, even global scale as a tech forward and innovative city. It is a tremendous feat of organizational strategy. We’re putting ourselves on the map, and we’ve become the model for a lot of other cities and festivals trying to do ambitious things.”

BLINK began in 2017, as a way to show off what a “future city” could look like. For four nights, the streets of Over-the-Rhine and the Central Business District closed to traffic as people walked around and experienced several interactive art installations. It was an immediate hit, gathering one million visitors, which was at the time the most people who had ever been in downtown Cincinnati all at once.

Since then, the biennial festival has only grown larger and larger, spanning across the river to let Northern Kentucky join the fun while introducing several signature sub-events — like Asianati’s “Night Market,” which brings late-night Asian food and culture to Court Street Plaza. This year’s BLINK is the fifth edition, and the city is going all-out to celebrate. 

For example, gone is the usual kick-off parade that scatters viewers across the city. Instead, an Olympics-esque opening ceremony titled ‘Ready, Set, BLINK!’ will gather everyone on a five-block stretch of Central Parkway just outside TQL Stadium, with plenty of live performances and interactive art stations scattered about. As the sun goes down, festival organizers will do a live countdown where they “flip the switch,” as it were, and the crowd will see the Queen City light up around them.

“It’s a fun and interesting experience where we can really interact with each other, as opposed to a more passive kind of involvement. Imagine the dropping of the ball in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, or the lighting of the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center,” Mooney said. “We’re working with an artist to create a structural piece where they place a symbolic orb inside, so that everyone will see us ‘turning on the lights’ to celebrate the beginning of this year’s BLINK weekend.”

Installations at this year’s festival — which spans 30 blocks — include everything from a field of fluorescent yarn at Elm Street Plaza, to a light show utilizing 1,750 recycled paint cans at Findlay Market, or a giant pyramid located at the riverfront covered in 360-degree cameras. And it wouldn’t be BLINK without some permanent art additions, either; ten new murals will go up around Findlay Market, and ten more will be scattered around Covington. Attendees of the previous few festivals likely know that the festival’s 80+ art installations being too spread out was a common complaint, which Mooney says shouldn’t be a problem this year now that they’ve got more areas to showcase than ever before.

“I think the intention or the concern was, like, how will people feel after so many years of social distancing? And so, things were spread out on purpose,” she said. “That was one of the things, frankly, that even I felt in 2024 coming down to the parade was that we didn’t have much going on in between the river and Fountain Square. We’ve been very intentional about that and have … spent a lot of time and energy on it.”

Speaking of the art, this year’s festival had over 800 qualified submissions. Selected applicants hail from every corner of the world, whether it’s right here in downtown Cincinnati or all the way from Besançon, France. 

“Word on the street in the art community is that this is truly a festival for artists, right? We don’t put a lot of constraints on artists as far as the content, the subject matter. They have a lot of artistic freedom and creativity, which is why it’s so attractive,” Mooney said. “And I think that’s something BLINK has done really well, as evidenced by how many artists we have that submit. Many artists are flying in from overseas, have maybe never been in the United States, and certainly have never been to Cincinnati.”

And in 2024, BLINK drew huge crowds who wanted to see it all, as the festival generated a whopping $200,000,000 of direct economic impact for the city — with approximately 20% of that  coming from out-of-towners. This time, that number should be even higher now that festival organizers visited places like Paris and London to speak about the event internationally.

“We are looking forward to … welcoming well above 25 to 30% of total attendees from out of the market,” said Julie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of MeetNKY and interim president and CEO of Visit Cincy. “When you’re talking about something that delivers more than $100 million of economic impact to a community, that helps our hotels, that helps restaurants, that helps bars, but more than that, it puts new eyes on a destination, and that’s what we really want.”

More than anything, though, Mooney wants people who live in the city to take pride in the festival’s existence as an only-in-Cincinnati experience.

“Celebrating our history is super important. Having the first professional baseball team, great. Having the longest-running outdoor market, awesome. But we also need to think about what we want for the future of this city, too, and that’s really what BLINK was established to do,” she said. “I want the folks that are coming from the region to feel proud. I want them to be proud to live in Cincinnati. I want them to come down here and just be absolutely mesmerized and blown away. People come to BLINK and say ‘oh my gosh, I have come every year, and every year, I have seen something new, something I’ve never seen before.’ And that will be achieved this year too.”

Check out all of CityBeat‘s BLINK coverage by clicking here.

The post What’s new and notable at this year’s BLINK appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

Can you believe it’s already October? Here’s what’s going on in the Queen City this weekend.

If you’re looking for even more to do on every day of the week, visit the CityBeat events calendar.

Cincinnati Art Week

All week

The inaugural Cincinnati Art Week begins this Saturday. BLINK alumni Cincy Nice and No Standing are partnering with ArtsWave and Fifth Third for a weeklong event designed for artists by artists that invites residents and visitors to explore the creative communities across Cincinnati through a week of exhibitions, conversations, creative experiences and public programming. Exhibitions are littered all throughout downtown and Over-the-Rhine. Read more here.

Bengals vs. Jaguars

Sunday, 1 p.m. Paycor Stadium, downtown

The Bengals take on the 2-1 Jacksonville Jaguars at home this weekend. Hopefully the team doesn’t repeat what happened at last week’s Steelers game — the less said about that one, the better.

Art on Vine Tailgate

Sunday, 9 a.m., Elm Street Plaza, downtown

Speaking of the Bengals, Art On Vine is turning Elm Street Plaza into a one-stop gameday destination to close out its 14th outdoor summer residency, with over 80 different vendors on site while an official tailgate and watch party happen simultaneously. Read more about it here.

Fabio Frizzi

Friday, 6 p.m., Hoffner Ballroom, 4120 Hamilton Ave, Northside

One of horror’s most famous names is making a rare appearance in the U.S. this Friday, and it’s right here in Cincinnati. Fabio Frizzi, the legendary composer known for his work on many of Lucio Fulci’s iconic horror films like “Zombi 2,” “The Beyond,” and “City of the Living Dead,” is performing his unique brand of synth-focused scores at the Hoffner Ballroom in Northside this Friday. Read our preview of the event here.

Freya Skye

Saturday, 8 p.m. Andrew J. Brady Music Center, downtown

Immensely popular 16-year-old singer Freya Skye is stopping in Cincinnati on her ongoing Stars Align tour. Alex Sampson opens.

Dent Schoolhouse

Friday – Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Dent Schoolhouse, 5963 Harrison Ave, Green Township

With it being the first weekend of October, you might be ready for spooky season. Look no further than the most famous haunted house in the Midwest. The Dent Schoolhouse’s 30th anniversary is this year and it’s being celebrated in several major ways, which you can read more about from us by clicking here.

Factory 52’s House of Cards Carnivale

All weekend, Factory 52, 4590 Beech Street, Norwood

Factory 52’s House of Cards Carnivale is back for its second year, transforming the area into a classic carnival full of rides, games and more. The carnival, which has a playing card theme to match the building’s status as the former home of the U.S. Playing Card Company, runs from October 1 – 11. Read more about the festival here.

Hyde Park Square Art Show

Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Hyde Park Square, 2700 Erie Ave, Hyde Park

The Hyde Park Square Art Show is the largest one-day outdoor art show in Greater Cincinnati. Now in its 60th year, the juried event transforms the entire Square into a spectacular open-air gallery, attracting over 20,000 visitors. The show exhibits original works from over 200 artists across the country, showcasing media including painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, woodcarving, glass, jewelry and fiber art.

Skateboarding Nouveau

Saturday, 6 – 10 p.m., Contemporary Arts Center, downtown

This Saturday, a new annual event for all things skateboarding will roll up to the Contemporary Arts Center. Skateboarding Nouveau, an art exhibit and trade show, brings skate-related creators and vendors together for a night to network, learn about new products and technology and support local skaters, with a specific emphasis on the unique Midwest and East Coast skateboarding cultures. Read more about it here.

Cincinnati Fall Fest

Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Washington Park, Over-the-Rhine

This artisan market will feature local vendors, live music and more to kick off the fall season.

The post 10 things to do in Cincinnati this weekend (Oct 2 – 4) appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

BLINK is fast approaching, and Findlay Market wants to be your home base for this year’s festival.

Along with plenty of new murals and exciting activations as part of the festival proper, running Oct. 8 – 11, dozens of businesses will stay open late to serve delicious food and drinks all weekend long.

In addition, the market will host an “indoor BLINK experience” at the new Coughlin Commons building, which “gives guests a place to step inside, grab a drink, take a break, and enjoy the night all while being right in the heart of Findlay Market.”

Tickets to the experience are $50 and include special merch, a glowing cookie, two free beers or a cocktail, private seating areas and a special art space.

Guests can also rent tables outside that include ten food vouchers from the market’s vendors.

The list of vendors staying open late is as follows and is subject to change:

● Artichoke: Open until 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday
● Bee Haven: Open until 9 p.m. Thursday – Sunday
● Churchill’s Fine Teas: Open until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday
● The Empanada’s Box: Open until 11 p.m. Thursday – Sunday
● Kanji OTR: Open until 10 p.m. Thursday – Sunday
● Market Wines: Open until 11 p.m. Thursday – Saturday, 10 p.m. Sunday
● Maverick Chocolate: Open until 10 p.m.
● OTR Premium Cigars: Open until 11 p.m.
● Pho Lang Thang: Open until 11 p.m. Thursday–Saturday, 10 p.m. Sunday
● The Rhined: Open until 10 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 8 p.m. on Sunday
● uGOgelato: Open until 11:30 p.m.

For more information, visit Findlay Market’s official website for BLINK.

The post Findlay Market open late during BLINK appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

This Saturday, a new annual event for all things skateboarding will roll up to the Contemporary Arts Center.

Skateboarding Nouveau, an art exhibit and trade show, brings skate-related creators and vendors together for a night to network, learn about new products and technology and support local skaters, with a specific emphasis on the unique Midwest and East Coast skateboarding cultures. It will run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday.

The event will feature everything from skating vendors to skate-related fashion to espresso shots to a badminton installation.

Eight of the vendors at the event are local: ALPHA Griptape, Archetype Wheels, Echelon Hyper Speed Bearings, Eldersbrand Footwear & Apparel, Kvell, Luke Labels, Polygon Hardware and Wind Skateboards.

“Whether you design, manufacture, or sell skateboards, accessories & apparel, operate a skate shop or launch your own products, Skateboarding Nouveau brings shine to emerging and established brands, artists, photographers, videographers, small businesses and nonprofits from the Midwest to the East Coast & beyond,” read a statement from the event’s organizers.

For more information, visit the event’s official website.

The post First-of-its-kind skateboarding market at the CAC this weekend appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.