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Head Backstage to be in the know. 

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.

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Thursday, July 22, 2021

Top August Events

Categories: Festivals, Live Music, Family Fun

Events are slowly but surely returning to Bloomington. Check out the top events happening in August 2021, and make a three-day getaway out of your trip!

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


FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

People talking at stand-up tables at Pridefest

Bloomington Comedy Festival

Date: Every Wednesday & Thursday throughout the month — August 4 & 5, 11 & 12, 18 & 19, and 26 & 26
Time: 8:00 pm
Location: The Comedy Attic
Admission: $10.00 per single ticket, $40.00 per summer pass

Join The Comedy Attic for 11 weeks of laughs with 40 local comedians as they crown The Funniest Person in Bloomington during the Comedy Festival.
 

A Fair of the Arts

Date: Tuesday, August 10 & Tuesday, August 24
Time: 4:00-7:00 pm
Location: Switchyard Park
Admission: Free

Shop for handmade art & fine crafts by local & regional artists at A Fair of the Arts! Artwork categories include clay, drawing, painting, photography, fiber arts, jewelry, metalwork, woodwork, and more.
 

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.
 

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. 


LIVE MUSIC & PERFORMANCES

Band performing on stage at The Bluebird

Peoples Park Concert Series

Date: Every Thursday in August
Time: 4:30-6:00 pm
Location: People's Park on Kirkwood Avenue
Admission: Free

Enjoy live musical performances by the following artists:

  • August 5: The Dan Kirk Band
  • August 12: Sofia Crespo
  • August 19: John Kogge
  • August 26: Russian Cowboy
     
Buskirk-Chumley Theater Shows

Location: Buskirk-Chumley Theater

Enjoy live musical performances by the following artists:

  • Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band
    • Date: Monday, August 30
    • Time: Doors open at 7:30 pm, show begins at 8:00 pm
    • Admission: $80.00 for the orchestra pit; $75.00 for the lower balcony; $70.00 for the upper balcony
       
Over Easy Sundays with Charlie Jesseph

Date: Sunday, August 8 & Sunday, August 22
Time: 4:00-7:00 pm
Location: Switchyard Brewing Company
Admission: Free

Enjoy an acoustic set by Charlie Jesseph in a laid-back atmosphere.
 

Performing Arts Concert Series

Enjoy live musical performances by the following artists:

The Bluebird Shows

Location: The Bluebird

Enjoy live musical performances by the following artists:

  • Hank Ruff
    • Date: Friday, August 6
    • Time: Doors open at 8:00 pm, show begins at 9:00 pm
    • Admission: $10.00 per ticket
       
  • The Prince Experience
    • Date: Saturday, August 7
    • Time: Doors open at 8:00 pm, show begins at 9:00 pm
    • Admission: $15.00 per single ticket or $12.00 per ticket purchased as a four-pack
       
  • Dizgo
    • Date: Saturday, August 14
    • Time: Doors open at 8:00 pm, show begins at 9:00 pm
    • Admission: $10.00 per ticket
       
  • Manic Focus
    • Date: Friday, August 27
    • Time: Doors open at 8:00 pm, show begins at 9:00 pm
    • Admission: $20.00 per ticket
       
The Comedy Attic Shows

Location: The Comedy Attic

Enjoy live comedy performances by the following comedians:

  • DeAnne Smith
    • Date: Friday, August 13 & Saturday, August 14
    • Time: 7:00 pm & 9:15 pm both days
    • Admission: General admission is $15.00 per ticket; student admission is $12.00 per ticket.


EXHIBITS & OTHER AREA HAPPENINGS

Various costumes on exhibit at the Glenn Close exhibition at the Eskenazi Museum of Art

Gallery Walk

Date: Friday, August 6
Time: 5:00-8:00 pm
Location: Various downtown art galleries
Admission: Free

Enjoy local & regional art and Bloomington's vibrant downtown scene during Gallery Walk. Ten downtown art galleries participate in the event — stroll through the heart of Bloomington as you admire various works at each location.
 

Movies in the Park Series

Enjoy movies at various parks in Bloomington through the month! Bring blankets and snacks for the ultimate experience.

The Art of the Character: Highlights from the Glenn Close Costume Collection

Date: Every Thursday-Sunday through Monday, November 15
Time: 12:00-5:00 pm on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday; 12:00-7:00 pm on Saturday
Location: Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University
Admission: Free

Eight-time Academy Award-nominated and three-time Emmy- & Tony-winning actress, Glenn Close, has donated her collection of 800+ costume pieces from various roles she's played during her career, including Cruella de Vil in 101 and 102 Dalmatians, to the Eskenazi Museum of Art at IU. "The Art of the Character" exhibition explores the art of developing a character with a focus on the creativity and skills of the designers & makers, as well as the collaborative process between Close and the artists who help bring her characters to life. 
 

See Her Run: Monroe County Women in Politics

Date: Every day through Thursday, September 30
Time: 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Location: Monroe County History Center
Admission: Free

The Monroe County History Center commemorated the Women’s Suffrage Centennial in 2020 with a year-long exhibit highlighting the activities and contributions of local Monroe County women for local, state, and federal suffrage. In 2021, they continue to focus on the contributions of Monroe County women in local and state politics with the See Her Run exhibit, which features artifacts, documents, and photographs from the museum collection that trace the difficult defeats and historic victories of women in local politics.
 


LOOKING FOR MORE EVENTS IN JULY AND BEYOND? CHECK OUT THESE PAGES:
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Alyssa Davis

Alyssa Davis

Alyssa is the Digital Content Coordinator at Visit Bloomington. She's a proud Indiana University alumna, mom to four cats, and Formula 1 enthusiast. When she isn't at work, you can find Alyssa checking out the newest restaurants in the area with her husband, curled up at home with a great book, or planning her next trip to a destination near or far.

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