Thursday, July 15, 2021
Bloomington's Best Fall Festivals
Categories: Events, Festivals, General
As the leaves start changing throughout Southern Indiana, Bloomington comes alive with vibrant festivals and events to entertain spectators of all ages and interests. The beautiful scenery is enough of a reason to visit B-Town in the fall, but these incredible events are an added bonus you don't want to miss out on.
Makevention
Date: Saturday, August 28
Time: 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Location: Monroe County Convention Center
Admission: Free
Join the local community of makers as they showcase and celebrate their various works, including digital fabrication, screen printing, upcycling, and more, at Makevention.
Pridefest
Date: Saturday, August 28
Time: 2:30-11:00 pm
Location: Kirkwood Avenue
Admission: Free
Celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and queer allies at the seventh annual Bloomington Pridefest! The festival will feature a vendor expo, musical performances, educational workshops, wellness activities, and other entertainment.
Limestone Comedy Festival
Photo by TALL & small Photography
Date: Thursday, September 2 through Saturday, September 4
Time: Varying times — see the schedule
Location: Multiple venues — see the schedule
Admission: Tickets are available per show, as multi-day passes, and for the entire festival — see ticketing information
Enjoy the annual Limestone Comedy Festival in which over 50 comedians from across the nation perform at The Comedy Attic and other Bloomington venues.
B'Town Jazz Fest
Date: Saturday, September 4
Time: 12:00 pm-11:00 pm
Location: Woolery Mill
Admission: Free
Celebrate Bloomington's rich jazz community at B'Town Jazz Fest! Features include performances by the area's leading professional artists, as well as collegiate and high school performers, food & drinks, and select merchandise. The Jazz Fest's 2021 headliners include Randy Brecker (trumpet) and Ada Rovatti (saxophone).
Fourth Street Festival of the Arts & Crafts
Date: Saturday, September 4 through Sunday, September 5
Time: 10:00 am-6:00 pm on Saturday and 10:00 am-5:00 pm on Sunday
Location: 4th Street, between Indiana and Grant Streets
Admission: Free
Enjoy the 45th annual Fourth Street Festival of the Arts & Crafts, with 80 booths of fine art and fine crafts created by local and regional artists.
Kiwanis Indiana Balloon Festival
Date: Friday, September 10 through Sunday, September 12
Time: 3:00-10:00 pm on Friday, 7:00 am-10:00 pm on Saturday, and 7:00 am-7:00 pm on Sunday
Location: Monroe County Fairgrounds
Admission: Tickets are available per day and for the entire weekend, with varying prices for preorders and day-of purchases. See the Kiwanis Indiana Balloon Festival for more information.
Enjoy hot air balloon launches, helicopter rides, pyrotechnic skydivers, fireworks, a wine & beer garden, food & commercial vendors, and other entertainment at the Kiwanis Indiana Balloon Festival!
Fiesta del Otoño & Black y Brown Arts Festival
Photo by Courtesy Photo
Date: Saturday, September 18
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Bryan Park
Admission: Free
Enjoy a visual arts exhibition, performance showcase, and food trucks at the Fiesta del Otoño and Black y Brown Arts Festival! The celebration seeks to raise and expand art appreciation, create space that affirms persons of color in the community, and enhance Bloomington’s spirit of inclusion.
Bloomington Birdfest
Photo by Sassafras Audubon Society
Date: Saturday, September 18
Time: 11:00 am-3:00 pm
Location: Switchyard Park
Admission: Free
Bloomington Birdfest is an interactive educational celebration of bird biology, ecology, and conservation — experience hands-on activities, bird walks, speakers, live birds, nature crafts, falconry demonstrations, food trucks, raffle prizes and more!
Stinesville Stone Quarry Festival
Date: Thursday, September 23 through Saturday, September 25
Time: 6:00-10:00 pm on Thursday & Friday; 10:00am-11:00 pm on Saturday
Location: McGlockin Park in Stinesville
Admission: Free
Enjoy craft vendors, food booths, live music, a pie competition, an antique tractor show, a parade, and more at the annual Stinesville Stone Quarry Festival. Festival times are to be determined — check back frequently for updates.
Lotus World Music & Arts Festival
Date: Thursday, September 23 through Sunday, September 26
Time: Varying times — see the schedule
Location: Several downtown locations and venues
Admission: Several ticket packages are available — find ticket information
Celebrate the diversity, beauty, and joy of music and arts from around the world at the 28th annual Lotus World Music & Arts Festival. Lotus invites attendees to safely enjoy multicultural music, art, food, dance, workshops, and more! Performance times are to be determined — check back frequently for updates.
Hoosier Hysteria
Date: Saturday, October 2
Time: Doors open at 2:30 pm, event runs from 4:00-5:30 pm
Location: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
Admission: Free
Get excited for the Indiana University basketball season at Hoosier Hysteria! Features include skills competitions, a dunk contest, and a brief scrimmage with both the men's and women's teams.
Science Fest
Photo by Marc Lebryk
Date: Saturday, October 9
Time: 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Location: Multiple locations across the Indiana University campus
Admission: Free
Participate in over 150 hands-on science activities, demonstrations, and talks at Science Fest.
Indiana University Homecoming Weekend
Date: Friday, October 15 through Sunday, October 17
Time: All day
Location: Various locations on the IU campus
Admission: Free
IU Homecoming Weekend allows alumni to reconnect with friends, relive their favorite college traditions, and show their kids their old stomping grounds. The Indiana University Alumni Association will host several events throughout the weekend, including a parade on Friday evening and the Hoosier Huddle, a members-only tailgate, on Saturday.
Great Glass Pumpkin Patch
Date: Saturday, October 16
Time: 10:00 am-3:00 pm
Location: Monroe County Courthouse Lawn
Admission: Free
Pick out your own homemade blown glass pumpkin or simply admire the display of over 900 glass pumpkins at the 12th annual Great Glass Pumpkin Patch! All pumpkins are made by members of the Bloomington Creative Glass Center. Proceeds from the pumpkin sales support educational arts programming throughout the year.
Looking for more information about fall in Bloomington? Check out these blogs:
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Alyssa Davis
Alyssa is the Digital Content Coordinator at Visit Bloomington. She's also a proud Indiana University alumna, Millennial cat lady, and Formula 1 enthusiast.
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