The US hotspot that's the perfect mix of culture, arts and festivals
Ben JureidiniWith a designation as one of America’s most vibrant arts destinations, and a calendar of renowned festivals, the Cincy Region promises clients a melting pot of cultural highlights.
History meets the avant-garde in the Cincy Region, where the streets are lined with art and exciting events wait behind every corner. Spanning the heartland of Cincinnati, Ohio and Northern Kentucky, the region is your clients’ gateway to a new stateside experience.
Since its days as a frontier outpost, the Cincy Region has been a champion of the arts. The Cincinnati Art Museum is among the nation’s oldest, and clients eager to explore the historical legacy of the region can head to the Taft Museum of Art to see the Duncanson Murals – one of the most significant pre-Civil War murals in the US.
Artistic visitors are spoilt for choice. They can be serenaded by the Cincinnati Opera company, mesmerised by the city’s ballet troupe, or visit one of the many free art exhibits in the region. For thespians, the Tony Award-winning Playhouse in the Park is a must-see.
Step outside and the region is its own art gallery, which can be enjoyed independently or by joining an art walking tour. The streets are painted with more than 300 murals, including a rainbow-coloured imagining of one particularly famous Cincy Region resident: Neil Armstrong. If visitors can’t spot ET flying on a bicycle over Armstrong’s shoulder, it’s just one small step to see another famous local – Clive the giant fibreglass alien sculpture, in quirky Covington on the Northern Kentucky side of the destination.
REACH NEW LIGHTS
The streets of the Cincy Region come to life every other year during the BLINK arts festival. The nation’s largest light show illuminates 30 blocks of unique public art with interactive projections and vibrant installations.
Festival-goers can sample a glow-in-the-dark BLINK cocktail as they walk through works by famed street artists like Faith XLVII and PichiAvo, joining the two million other attendees for a weekend of sound and vision.
This unique artistic experience is completely free, and the next iteration is October 2024, making it perfect for a Halloween getaway. See some of the highlights in this video:
Plus, every June, America’s answer to the Edinburgh Fringe comes to the Cincy Region. The Cincinnati Fringe Festival sees more than 150 local, national and international artists flock to the region over two weeks, performing avant-garde theatre, music and dance shows.
EASY ACCESS
It’s never been easier to sell this slice of Americana. British Airways launched the only direct flight from London to the Cincy Region last summer, flying from Heathrow to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG).
Once in the destination, it’s easy to get around, and CVG is home to 11 car hire companies. There’s also the free Cincinnati streetcar, which locals call “the Connector”, taking visitors on a 3.6-mile loop from Findlay Market to The Banks. Clients can hop on the Southbank Shuttle, which runs from Covington and Newport in Northern Kentucky to Cincinnati for just $1 a ride. Or they can explore the destination’s highlights on two wheels with the region’s bikeshare rental service, Red Bike.
Creative, classy and endlessly charismatic, the Cincy Region is a must-see destination for art-lovers.
FURTHER INFORMATION
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