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Leadership Northern Kentucky Class of 2017 plans July ‘Unlock the Block’ summer festival in Latonia


By Mark Hansel
NKyTribune managing editor

Leadership Northern Kentucky plans to “Unlock the Block” in Latonia this summer.

“Unlock the Block” is the inaugural music festival scheduled for Saturday, July 22 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Latonia’s Ritte’s Corner Historic District in Covington.

The family-friendly event will include music from several local bands throughout the afternoon, craft beers and food from local vendors.

It’s sponsored by Leadership Northern Kentucky Class of 2017 and the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

Billie McDaniel, Leadership Northern Kentucky Class of 2017 Chairperson, said the goal of the festival is to increase awareness of the Latonia neighborhood throughout the region.

“There are a lot of things beyond the music, because the more people we can get to Latonia, the better,” McDaniel said.

There will be events and activities that pay homage to historical aspects of Latonia, such as Johnny’s Castle and the Magic Key.

“We are going to be unlocking literacy through Johnny’s Castle and we will have a large-scale, three dimensional castle in the Latonia Church parking lot,” McDaniel said. “Children, and adults too, can unlock the castle and receive a book the day of the festival.”

There will also be a historical tour that will unlock the history of Latonia.

“We have gone to the Latonia Business Association (LBA) and the Community Council and we’ve gotten everyone’s needs and we’ve also met with executive board members,” McDaniel said. “They have told us their concerns and the keys are sustainability and education.”

Leadership Northern Kentucky is part of the Northern Kentucky Chamber Foundation and includes a group of more than 50 leaders from various business sectors. They get together for eight months to study a regional need and at the end, get the opportunity to do a project that can impact the region.

Kim Webb of the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky (left) and Billie McDaniel, Leadership Northern Kentucky Class of 2017 Chairperson, tell members of the Latonia Business Association about the Unlock the Block music festival (photo by Mark Hansel).

McDaniel and other members of the Class of 2017 gave a presentation about Unlock the Block to the Latonia Business Association at the group’s April meeting at Twin Oaks Golf and Plantation Club.

Kim Webb of the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky said the group started talking about the project during one of its “learn about community” days.

“They talked about on our community day, how these guys just started with these buckets and they would take buckets and go between buildings in an alley and just have a party,” Webb said.

The buckets became the seating arrangement and Webb said the group envisions the same kind of set-up for Unlock the Block.

“So, I bought my limited edition one-of-a-kind bucket, with me because that’s exactly what our class is going to do,” Webb said. “We hope that you guys bring your own buckets and sit on Southern (Avenue) as we do our Unlock the Block. We are going to come in and we are going to help you guys continue what you have already started and that is to revitalize and grow in Latonia.”

Webb credits Kelly Rose of Welcome House with choosing Latonia as the site for the festival.

“We sat at our tables and she said we need to do this in downtown LA, and we said downtown LA, what is that?” Webb said. “She started talking about Latonia and then it just sort of blossomed from there. We are super excited that you have welcomed us to Latonia because it was our first choice and it’s certainly we wanted to come”

DV8, one of the region’s premier rock, dance and party bands headlines Unlock the Block (provided photo).

There will be three main acts on the stage on Southern Avenue, playing music from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. DV8, one of the region’s premier rock, dance and party bands is the headliner and The Turkeys, also known as the Northern Kentucky Bluegrass Band have also already signed on for the festival. A third band will be added soon.

McDaniel said the group chose Southern Avenue, because it’s part of Ritte’s Corner, so many people are familiar with it.

“If you turn down Southern, it’s quiet, so you can hear music,” McDaniel said. “It’s kind of a quaint street, so we’ll be able to have one large stage area on Southern and food trucks. We’ll also be able to have vendors in that area as well.”

The music festival is not just going to be on Southern Avenue. As organizers spoke with community councils and the LBA it was encouraged to broaden the streetscape.

Unlock the Block sponsorship information (click to enlarge)

The festival area will extend to the parking lot at Latonia Baptist Church lot and up Winston Avenue, by Legends Bar and Grill, which will bookend the event.

“What that means for Latonia, it’s kind of exciting, we can showcase many of the businesses on Winston, or Bard’s Burgers, or Asylum Tattoos. We can also showcase a lot of the vendors that are coming in.”

There is a lot of excitement about the event, but there is also increasing support from businesses outside of the area.

“They care about our region too, so DHL, we just found out is going to be a big sponsor, we have Chick-fil-A and we have other area businesses like Kelly Brothers (Home and Design Centers),” McDaniel said. “If you have a business and you want us to come there, as we are showcasing these sponsors, we can also showcase your business.

Molly Berrens of Spotted Yeti Media said the group’s PR and marketing committee is already preparing posters for business windows and banners for vacant storefront. She said they plan to raise awareness of the event and encourage support from sponsors through social media efforts.

“Power in number goes into effect when we go after a sponsor and a show that we have 2,000 people interested in going here,” Berrens said.” This is our first big ask and it’s free and easy to do. If you are on social media or if you family friends or coworkers are on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, we would ask that you follow us.”

Putting on an event of this scale, however, is expensive. Leadership Northern Kentucky is trying to be smart with its planning, so they have identified two budgets, one for $45,000 and another of $65,000 and are seeking sponsors at all levels.

“What’s exciting is that we are probably a third of the way there,” McDaniel said.

For additional information and updates, follow Unlock the Block through Facebook and Instagram @UnlocktheBlockNKY and Twitter @UnlockBlockNKY.

Contact Mark Hansel at mark.hansel@nkytrib.com


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