What time is the parade today in Cincinnati?

Organizers of Blink, illuminated by ArtsWave, have announced full details for Thursday’s upcoming parade.

One of the biggest events of the season, Blink Cincinnati 2022, returns Oct. 13-16. And it kicks off with a parade.

This year's parade theme is ”Together: a constellation of shared cultures and unique identities; we illuminate joy through creative expression.” It will feature more than 2,500 participants from 85 groups.

Starting at 7:30 pm, the parade features a new route.

Participants will light up Fifth Street in downtown Cincinnati from Broadway to Elm Street, and will culminate in a Parade Finale taking place near Fifth and Elm streets.

Blink has partnered with ish, a Cincinnati-based community engagement organization for the parade. The group centers on Jewish arts, culture, and traditions.

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“ish is all about celebrating where we’ve come from,” said Marie Krulewitch-Browne, founding Executive & 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 details and a full listing of groups participating in the parade are available on Blink's website.

For the first time, the parade features local Torchbearers, nominated by the community, that will be carrying glowing Blinktorches.

Ten Torchbearers were chosen by a committee:

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

Krulewitch-Browne said the parade will feature 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."

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Parade route road closures start at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday until approximately 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.
What time is the parade today in Cincinnati?

Starting at 7:30 pm on Thursday, October 13, the 2022 parade features a new route. Participants will light up 5th Street in downtown Cincinnati from Broadway Street to Elm Street, and will culminate in a Parade Finale taking place near 5th and Elm street.

Parade Sponsors

What time is the parade today in Cincinnati?
What time is the parade today in Cincinnati?

Parade Partner

What time is the parade today in Cincinnati?

Together: a constellation of shared cultures and unique identities; we illuminate joy through creative expression

Sponsored by Skyline Chili, the theme of this year’s parade is ”Together: a constellation of shared cultures and unique identities; we illuminate joy through creative expression.” In total, more than 2,5000 participants from 85 groups will shine a light on cultural heritage, identity and pride, the Cincinnati region, and our connections as humans throughout space and time. 

View the Parade Program

Parade Route

What time is the parade today in Cincinnati?

Torchbearers

For the first time, the parade features local TorchBearers, nominated by the community, that will be carrying glowing BLINK torches 10 Torchbearers were chosen by a committee:

  • 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 

What time is the parade today in Cincinnati?

Road Closures

Parade route road closures start at 6:30PM on Thursday, October 13 until approximately 11:00PM:

  • 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

PARADE PARTICIPANTS

  • BLINK Bright Ride by Art on the Streets 
  • BLINK TorchBearer: Will from Make-A-Wish
  • Skyline & Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber 
  • Walnut Hills High School Drumline & Color Guard 
  • P&G Design 
  • ArtsWave 
  • Fifth Third Bank 
  • Clifton Cultural Arts Center 
  • Dater Montessori 
  • The Rotary Club of Cincinnati
  • West Clermont High School Art Club
  • Cincinnati Country Day School 
  • Kilgour School 
  • Cincinnati Recreation Commission 
  • Dance Flash Fusion*
  • BLINK TorchBearer: Toilynn O'Neal Turner 
  • BLINK TorchBearer: Ian & Jessica Orr 
  • WKRQ featuring Velocity Special Needs Dance Group 
  • Kenton County Public Library 
  • Out of the Shadows Project - Our Tribe
  • Visionaries + Voices 
  • Xavier University Photo Club 
  • Winton Woods Marching Band 
  • BLINK TorchBearer: Sherry (Myron) Hughes
  • Frisch's 
  • City of Cincinati - Office of the Mayor and Office of the City Manager 
  • Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum
  • Start Up Cincy 
  • University of Cincinnati DAAP Schools of Arts & Planning 
  • Milford High School Drumline
  • ArtWorks & Golden Brown Enterprize 
  • Keep Cincinnati Beautiful 
  • Seton High School 
  • Elder High School (Panther Pull)
  • BLINK TorchBearer: Lee Turner 
  • Holmes High School - Skills USA 
  • Hive13 (Hive One Three)
  • Groove Crew of Greater Cincinnati*
  • WUBE-B105 
  • Taft Museum of Art 
  • Oxford Community Arts Center 
  • YG2G Phy'Ness Queens 
  • BLINK TorchBearer: Jo Martin 
  • Cultivate Movement Studio*
  • Asian Creative Expression - Chinese & Thai 
  • Asian Creative Expression - Filipino 
  • Indian Cultural Association 
  • Dos-Corazones
  • Woman, Life, Freedom 
  • Cincinnati Jewish Community 
  • Q-Kidz*
  • BLINK TorchBearer: Kristen Schlotmann
  • BLINK TorchBearer: Gary Dangel
  • Greater Cincinnati Water Works
  • DogFish
  • The Adventurer
  • Women are Wildflowers
  • Cincinnati Museum Center
  • Blanchester High School
  • BLINK TorchBearer: Charlotte Reed
  • Mount St Joseph University Arts
  • Cincinnati Children's
  • Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library
  • Learning Through Art, Inc.
  • Summit Country Day
  • March of the Lightsaber Brigade
  • Batavia High School Bulldog Band
  • BLINK TorchBearer: Isaac Wright
  • Cincinnati Rollergirls
  • DANCEFIX by HBDC
  • Rabbit Foot Puppetry
  • C-Change Class 17
  • The Summit Hotel
  • The Venusians
  • UC DAAP Fashion Design & Mechanical Engineering
  • Mutual Dance Theatre & Arts Centers
  • Melissa Hughes Levitation Wand
  • Cincinnati Flow Arts Collective
  • My Nose Turns Red Youth Circus
  • Merrie Hularingo
  • Comet Skippers
  • Pride of Princeton Marching Band & Art Club*
  • Pride of Princeton Marching Band & Art Club
  • Cincy HorsePlay
  • Revere Dance Studio/Wonder on Wheels
  • Groove Crew of Greater Cincinnati
  • Dance Flash Fusion
  • Q-Kidz
  • St Xavier High School Choir
  • Cultivate Movement Studio (Anaya Belly Dance, Cincinnati Kung Fu, Akela Island Dance
  • Ella Vaughn
  • Elevated Aerials
  • Cincinnati Circus - fire jugglers
  • Cincy Brazil Samba Dance

Sponsored by Skyline Chili, the theme of this year's parade is ”Together: a constellation of shared cultures and unique identities; we illuminate joy through creative expression.” In total, more than 2,5000 participants from 85 groups will shine a light on cultural heritage, identity and pride, the Cincinnati region, ...
BLINK is back in Cincinnati, bringing 101 installations spanning 30 city blocks. The art, light and culture festival is returning from Oct. 13-16 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.Before you head to the festival, we have everything you need to know.

How long is the Cincinnati Pride parade?

About. Celebrate Pride in Cincinnati with a two-hour parade with famous grand marshal, main festival with music, drag queens, beer and spirits, and Family Fun Zone.
Only in Cincinnati.” Since 2017, BLINK has been a popular event in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky communities, bringing in hundreds-of-thousands of people from all over the world.
Attending BLINK is free and open to the public; no tickets are required. Hours run from 7pm-11pm each night. There is no cost to attend Blink itself. There are $10 Tickets to special art experiences at Washington Park as well as the usual parking, food, drinks and merchandise, etc.