Greater Cincinnati is gearing up to host Blink Cincinnati as it returns to Downtown and Northern Kentucky for its fifth iteration of enveloping the region in a kaleidoscope of lights and sounds.
The festival, which will feature art from more than 90 artists worldwide, is set to take place Oct. 8-11
and will feature the latest technology and digital art techniques as well as a record number of women artists.Ahead of the highly anticipated event, Leslie Mooney, vice president and executive director of Blink Cincinnati, joined the "That's So Cincinnati" podcast to discuss how she came into the new position last June, what festivalgoers can expect, and all the changes that are coming to the festival this year.
Since Mooney moved to the Queen City
from Boston in 2008, she's been prominent in the Cincinnati arts scene.
As executive director of the Clifton Cultural Arts Center, she spearheaded construction of its new home at 3412 Clifton Ave. in 2024. She has also served as development director at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and held positions at the U.S. Department of Justice and Boston History & Innovation Collaborative.
But Blink Cincinnati might be her biggest career feat yet (and yes, she's a little nervous).
However, in her new role, Mooney said she wants to continue to grow Blink, making it a more innovative, fresh and sustainable event each year. She previously told The Enquirer that "radically welcoming" is the unofficial theme of Blink Cincinnati 2026.
She's been hard at work ensuring the upcoming bi-yearly event is an inviting experience for its roughly 2 million visitors, many of whom travel from other states or countries to participate in the spectacle.
Mooney also guarantees it will be an amazing show for all who come.
To hear Mooney discuss the exciting new plans and changes to Blink, how she found her way to Cincinnati (and why she stayed), take a listen to the "That's So Cincinnati" podcast at the top of the page.
"That’s So Cincinnati," The Enquirer’s weekly podcast on what's making news in our community, features a who’s who of special guests. Find it on Audioboom, Spotify, Apple or your favorite podcast platform.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Leslie Mooney fell in love with Cincinnati, now she's leading Blink
