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We want to take you behind the scenes, to give you insider information you won't find anywhere else. This is where we pull Bloomington's hip happenings together with recommendations from our team, first-hand accounts from project producers, and guest blogs by local gurus.  The Backstage Blog helps you stay in front of it all.

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Top April Events

Categories: General

There's always something going on in B-Town! Check out the top events happening in April 2024, and consider spending two or three days with us this season, including for the 2024 Solar Eclipse on April 8. Find out about events, hotels, special accommodations, safety information, and more at our Eclipse website.

The moon passing in front of the sun during a total solar eclipse

Use this list to easily navigate from section-to-section:​

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Women's Little 500
Photo Courtesy of IU Student Foundation

 

First Thursday's Festival

Date: Thursday, April 4
Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Fine Arts Plaza
Admission: Free

First Thursdays festivals showcase the diversity of arts and humanities at IU Bloomington and offer a welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff, and community members to explore new creative outlets. Previous festivals have included everything from opera to breakdancing, stage-fighting to clay-throwing, and much, much more. 

Food Truck Friday

Date: Friday, April 5
Time: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Location: Switchyard Park
Admission: Free

Food Truck Friday is a beloved Bloomington event — experience the family-friendly community tradition yourself next time you visit B-Town. It takes place at Switchyard Park every Friday from April through October. Swing by anytime between 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM to grab some delicious, locally-made food, enjoy the amenities at Switchyard Park, and experience live music & performances from local artists.

Bloomington Indiana Film Festival

Date: Friday, April 5 through Sunday, April 7
Time: Recurring daily
Location: The Bishop
Admission: See website

BIFF's mission is to show local and regionally produced films on a global stage. While Bloomington is a small town, the optimistic and communal values of the residents carry into films. We aim to continue to enrich the traditions of Bloomington and Indiana Cinema.

The Trashion Refashion Runway Show

Date: Sunday, April 7
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Admission: $19.00 for adults, $14.00 for children 18 and under, $14.00 for students with $4.00 venue preservation fee for all tickets

Experience a two‐part runway show featuring designs made from refashioned garments or unwanted material.

10th Annual Bloomington Craft Beer Festival

Date: Saturday, April 13
Time: 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: Woolery Mill
Admission: General admission $35.00, Early entry $55.00, Designated driver ticket $15.00

Join the nonprofit Indiana Brewers Guild for the return of its spring fundraiser, the 10th Bloomington Craft Beer Festival on Saturday, April 13, 2024 from 2 - 6 p.m. at the incredibly unique Historic Woolery Mill, a former limestone mill in beautiful Bloomington, Indiana with music from The Stampede String Band! Enjoy beers from 30+ participating Hoosier breweries and guests.

Culture Shock Music Festival

Date: Saturday, April 13
Time: 1:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location: Dunn Meadow
Admission: Free

The annual Culture Shock Music Festival will happen Saturday, April 13! This free music festival will be held in Dunn Meadow at Indiana University. Musical performances will happen throughout the day and night. Local businesses and artisans will be there as well as food trucks.

Hoosier Half Marathon & 5k

Date: Saturday, April 13
Time: 8:00 AM
Location: Ivy Tech
Admission: Half Marathon $65.00, 5k $25.00, 10k $35.00, Pacer - Half Marathon Free

April 13th, 2024 is the date for the 18th running of the Greene & Schultz Hoosier Half Marathon, 5K and 10k. Ivy Tech and the Monroe County Parks and Rec will continue to be the home of the 2024 course. The 5K will run around Cook Medical and up to the NW YMCA before turning around and returning to Ivy Tech.  The 10k option continues past the YMCA and down onto the Karst park greenway before reversing course and returning to Ivy Tech.  The Half Marathon option continues on from there to span all of the new section of the Karst Park greenway and takes you all the way to Ellettsville before reversing course. Sign up here.

Burning Couch

Date: Sunday, April 14
Time: TBD
Location: Switchyard Park
Admission: TBD

All day music & arts festival! Check our website for updates & the schedule of events.

Hoosier Country Jam

Date: Monday, April 15
Time: 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Location: Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Admission: $45.00 advance

Hoosier Country Jam features Michael Ray, Mason Ramsey, Dylan Schneider and Jake Hoot. The show will start with a Homegrown Hoosier Country guitar pull with Hank Ruff, Jake Dodds and a Surprise Guest. Hosted by Sam Alex. This acoustic show will be an intimate, unique experience for all those who love country music in Indiana! All ages.

36th Annual Women's Little 500 Race

Date: Friday, April 19
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Bill Armstrong Stadium
Admission: Adults $40, Students $35, Kids (12 & under) $15 (ticket price gets you into both races)

More than 25,000 fans flock to the IU campus in Bloomington, Indiana, each April to take part in IU's storied tradition. And who can blame them? The excitement, the competition, the pageantry—Little 500 is an experience like no other.

73rd  Annual Men's Little 500 Race

Date: Saturday, April 20
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Bill Armstrong Stadium
Admission: Adults $40, Students $35, Kids (12 & under) $15 (ticket price gets you into both races)

More than 25,000 fans flock to the IU campus in Bloomington, Indiana, each April to take part in IU's storied tradition. And who can blame them? The excitement, the competition, the pageantry—Little 500 is an experience like no other.


LIVE MUSIC & PERFORMANCES

An audience seated at the Musical Arts Center ahead of a performance

Enjoy live performances by the following artists:​

The Bluebird Shows

Location: The Bluebird

  • Vincent Neil Emerson
    • Date: Monday, April 1
    • Time: Doors at 7:00 PM, Show at 8:00 PM
    • Admission: $20.00 per ticket, 21+
       
  • James McMurtry 
    • Date: Tuesday, April 2
    • Time: Doors at 7:00 PM, Show at 8:00 PM
    • Admission: $25.00 per ticket, 21+
The Bishop Shows

Location: The Bishop

  • Tommy Prine 
    • Date: Saturday, April 13
    • Time: 8:00 PM
    • Admission: $29.00 per ticket in advance, $31.50 per ticket day of show
Buskirk-Chumley Theater Shows

Location: Buskirk-Chumley Theater

  • African American Dance Company Spring Concert 
    • Date: Saturday, April 13
    • Time: 7:30 PM
    • Admission: Adults $29.00, Students and kids 18 & under $19.00
       
  • Mark Normand 
    • Date: Friday, April 26
    • Time: 7:00 PM
    • Admission: $36.00-160.00 per ticket
IU Auditorium

Location: IU Auditorium

  • Shrek - The Musical
    • Date: Tuesday, April 9 and Wednesday, April 10
    • Time:7:30 PM
    • Admission: $27.00+ per ticket
Indiana University Auer Hall

Location: Auer Hall

  • IUJSOM Concert Band
    • Date: Tuesday, April 9
    • Time: 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Indiana University Memorial Stadium

Location: Memorial Stadium

  • Kane Brown's The Full Ride Tour 
    • Date: Saturday, April 13
    • Time: 5:30 PM
    • Admission: $64.50+ per ticket
Musical Arts Center

Location: Musical Arts Center

  • Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street 
    • Date: Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13
    • Time: 7:30 PM
    • Admission: $10.00-$35.00 per ticket
The Play That Goes Wrong

Location: Constellation Stage + Screen

  • The Play That Goes Wrong
    • Date: Thursday, April 4 through Sunday, April 7
    • Time: Times vary
    • Admission: Ticket prices vary


SPORTING EVENTS

IU Softball
Photo Courtesy of IU Athletics
 

IU Baseball
  • vs. Indiana State
    • Date: Tuesday, April 2
    • Time: 6:00 PM
    • Location: Bart Kaufman Field
    • Admission: Admission charged​
  • vs. Ball State
    • Date: Tuesday, April 9
    • Time: 6:00 PM
    • Location: Bart Kaufman Field
    • Admission: Admission charged
  • vs. Penn State
    • Date: Friday, April 12 through Sunday, April 14
    • Time: Friday 6:00 PM, Saturday 2:00 PM, Sunday 1:00 PM
    • Location: Bart Kaufman Field
    • Admission: Admission charged
  • vs. Evansville
    • Date: Tuesday, April 16
    • Time: 6:00 PM
    • Location: Bart Kaufman Field
    • Admission: Admission charged
  • vs. Rutgers
    • Date: Friday, April 26 through Sunday, April 28
    • Time: Friday 6:00 PM, Saturday 2:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM
    • Location: Bart Kaufman Field
    • Admission: Admission charged
IU Softball
  • vs. Purdue
    • Date: Wednesday, April 3
    • Time: 5:00 PM & 7:30 PM
    • Location: Andy Mohr Field
    • Admission charged
  • vs. Minnesota 
    • Date: Friday, April 12 through Sunday, April 12
    • Time: 6:00 PM
    • Location: Andy Mohr Field
    • Admission charged
       
  • vs. Notre Dame 
    • Date: Tuesday, April 16
    • Time: 6:00 PM
    • Location: Andy Mohr Field
    • Admission charge
  • vs. Wisconsin  
    • Date: Friday, April 26 through Sunday, April 28
    • Time: Friday 6:00 PM, Saturday 2:00 PM, Sunday 1:00 PM
    • Location: Andy Mohr Field
    • Admission charge


EXHIBITS & OTHER AREA HAPPENINGS

Monroe County History Center

Barns of Monroe County: Our Heritage Built in Wood

Date: Saturday, April 8
Time: Recurring daily
Location: Monroe County History Center
Admission: Adults $2, Students 6-17 $1, Free for members & ages under 5

The shape and construction of a barn can tell the immigration story of the farmer who built it. Early white settlers to Monroe County were generally of English, Scottish, Irish, or German descent and their homes and barns reflected the building traditions of their respective cultural heritage. Barns of Monroe County explore traditional building styles and how they changed over time - assimilating and adapting to the new Monroe County landscape.

RECURRING EVENTS

Gallery Walk

Gallery Walk

Date: Friday, April 5
Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Downtown Bloomington Galleries
Admission: Free

Experience downtown Bloomington’s vibrant Arts Mile as select galleries showcase evolving live and virtual exhibits. EVERY. FIRST. FRIDAY. Experience an exciting night of the arts as fourteen distinct galleries stay open late to host special exhibits and serve refreshments from 5-8pm

 

LOOKING FOR MORE EVENTS IN APRIL AND BEYOND? CHECK OUT  OUR EVENTS CALENDAR.

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Samantha Hyde

Samantha Hyde

Samantha is the Digital Content Developer at Visit Bloomington. She is a proud recent graduate of Indiana University, a lover of concerts, traveling, and is a pro tennis fanatic. 

 

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