COVINGTON, Ky — BLINK, the dazzling light and art festival brought to life by ArtsWave, has announced plans to expand the spectacle into Northern Kentucky.
A free concert, headlined by popular band Grouplove, will kick off the night Saturday, Oct. 12. in the RiverCenter parking lot in Covington.
The full festival runs from Oct. 10 - 13, and will now span 30 city blocks, with the inclusion of Covington. As with previous years, the festival features "large-scale projeciton mapping, murals by international artists, interactive light sculptures and diverse entertainment," according to a press release.
A new mural will become a permanent addition across the street from Covington's RiverCenter, with plans to light and animate the artwork during BLINK.
"Covington will be one of BLINK's most densely packed zones for art, light, music and food," said Brendon Cull, COO of the Cincinnati USA Retional Chamber, in a press release. "More than 20 installations will be featured from the Roebling Bridge to Seventh and Madison, not to mention dozens of activities and street performers."
South of the river, art fans can also see the Roebling bridge come to life as a main artery connecting the Ohio and Northern Kentucky sides of the festival. A team of artists, working with local lighting experts, will make the singing bridge really sing.
The Ascent, an integral part of Covington's skyline, will be lit and animated throughout the festival as well.
Other new Northern Kentucky art projects for BLINK include:
- A mural celebrating Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile on the back of the U.S. Bank building at 6th and Madison.
- Both sides of the Faile mural on West 6th Street, and the London Police mural on 4th and Scott Street will be incorporated into the festival.
- The Hannaford Building will be lit and incorporated.
- NKU will create a light installation that will sit on the Ohio River itself.
- The world's largest mobile disco ball, made in Ky., will return to a new home in Covington for a pop-up disco party.
BLINK will remain free and open to the public, for each night.
