BLINK is coming to Northern Kentucky once more.
Officials involved with the public art and light event gathered for a press conference in Covington Tuesday to make the announcement.
“We are thrilled and honored to be welcoming BLINK back to Covington,” Julie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of meetNKY. “We believe in the power of this event and how it connects us. We look forward to welcoming the millions of visitors to our region for this epic event.”
BLINK was last in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area in 2019. The event returns Oct. 13-16, 2022.
“In 2019, the extension into Northern Kentucky was a grand experiment to make BLINK a regional event,” said Brendan Cull, president of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. “We are excited to build upon that connection through the support of MeetNKY, cities of Covington and Independence, and the region as a whole.”
Along with an installation on the Covington riverfront, plans are underway to connect the event from Roebling Point, throughout Downtown Covington, stretching installations to the central business district.
“We are so excited to celebrate the cultural vibrancy and history of the region by bringing a world-class art experience to the streets of Covington,” Justin Brookhart, executive director of BLINK. “We’ve begun working with some incredible partners in the region to light up their buildings as well as highlighting institutions doing important work in the city.”
In order to bring the show across the river this year, Kirkpatrick and Justin Brookhart led a fundraising effort to raise the $2 million needed.
Each NKY city was asked to donate $1 per resident.
Covington, Fort Mitchell and Independence have officially asked for invoices, Kirkpatrick said, solidifying their financial commitment to BLINK. Other corporate donors — along with meetNKY, which is committing $500,000 — helped pull together the $2 million needed to bring the light show to Northern Kentucky.