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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.

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Monday, November 21, 2022

Top December Events

Categories: Family Fun, General, Events, Festivals, Arts & Culture

Check out the top Events happening in December 2022, and make a three-day getaway out of your trip!

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


HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

nutcracker iu

Light Up The Night

Date: Thursday, December 1
Time: 7:00 pm-9:00 pm
Location: IMU Circle Drive & Robel Plaza
Admission: Free

Make your night more merry and (Lit-erally) bright during the annual lighting of the IMU's iconic outdoor candle - plus ice skating, a winter market and more!

The Nutcracker

Date: Thursday, December 1 through Sunday, December 4
Time: Various times — see the schedule here
Location: Musical Arts Center
Admission: $25.00-$45.00 per ticket

Enjoy the magical story of Clara, performed by the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

Stinesville Christmas Bazaar

Date: Saturday, December 3
Time: 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Location: Stinesville Community Center (old elementary school)
Admission: Free

Browse Stinesville's holiday bazaar while enjoying live music and visiting with Santa!
 

Annual Unitarian Universalist Holiday Art Fair & Bazaar

Date:  Friday, December 2 & Saturday, December 3
Time: Friday 10:00 am-7:00 pm & Saturday 9:00am-3:00pm
Location: Unitarian Universalist Church
Admission: Free

Browse this holiday bazaar with over 30 arts and crafts persons. 

Arts Alliance Holiday Arts & Crafts Show

Date:  Every Saturday and Sunday in December ending December 18
Time: Saturday & Sunday Noon-6pm 
Location: Inside College Mall
Admission: Free

Thirty artists will be showing their work. 

Chimes of Christmas

Date: Saturday, December 4
Time: 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Location: IU Auditorium
Admission: $11.00-$33.00 per ticket

Celebrate the holiday season with the Grammy-nominated Singing Hoosiers when they return to IU Auditorium for the jolliest family-friendly event of the year, Chimes of Christmas.
 

Winter Lights, December Nights

Date: Saturday, December 3
Time: 4:00-8:00 pm
Location: Switchyard Park
Admission: Free

Revel in the sights and sounds of the season with a stroll through Switchyard Park, and marvel at the thousands of lights that bring the park to life!

The Children's Nutcracker

Date: Saturday, December 3
Time: 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm
Location: Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Admission: $10.00-$15.00 per ticket

Bloomington's own Nutcracker danced by children for children and families!

Beth Shalom Holiday Bazaar & Art Fair

Date: Saturday, December 11
Time: 10:00am-3:00pm 
Location: 3750 E. Third Street
Admission: Free

Enjoy a mix of arts & crafts at this annual event.



Wild Animal Weekend

Date: Saturday, December 17 & Sunday, December 18
Time: Saturday: 11:00am, 11:45am, 12:30pm, 1:15pm      Sunday: 2:00pm, 2:45pm,3:30pm, 4:15pm
Location: WonderLab Museum
Admission: $5.00 per member, $19.00 per non-member

Showcasing animals and their adaptations for winter. Learn how animals survive the cold and freezing temperatures

Straight No Chaser Pop-Up Exhibit - "Celebrating 25 Years of Straight No Chaser"

Date: Friday, December 16
Time: 4:00pm-6:00 pm
Location: University Collections at McCalla
Admission: Free

A month long exhibit of SNC memorabilia side-by-side with screenings of show favorites. Interact with never before publicly displayed items showcasing their hometown roots and global success.

Straight No Chaser Holiday Concert

Date: Friday, December 16
Time: 8:00pm
Location: IU Auditorium
Admission: $29.00-$89.00 per ticket

A cappella sensation Straight No Chaser is coming home to IU Auditorium once again, bringing with them a live show packed with pop hits, holiday favorites, and plenty of laughs along the way.

Elf the Musical

Date: Thursday, December 15 through Saturday, December 31
Time: Various times — see the schedule here
Location: Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Admission: $20.00-$52.00

The tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole.

 

 
 


SEE OUR FULL LIST OF HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS IN BLOOMINGTON.


FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

 
Alton Brown Live:  Beyond the Eats - The Holiday Variant

Date: Sunday, December  4
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: IU Auditorium
Admission: $42.00-$142.00 per ticket

Expect more cooking, more comedy, more music, and potentially more dangerous science stuff with a sprinkle of seasonal spices.

Film:  Scrooged

Date: Friday, December  9
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: IU Cinema
Admission: $5.00 per ticket

A modern take on Dickens' A Christmas Carol, starring Bill Murray.


LIVE MUSIC & PERFORMANCES

Band performing on stage at The Bluebird

 
The Bluebird Shows

Location: The Bluebird

Enjoy live musical performances by the following artists:

 

  • 6 Foot Blonde
    • Date: Friday, December 2
    • Time: Doors open at 8:00 pm, show begins at 90:00 pm
    • Admission: $10.00 single tickets
  • Hank Ruff
    • Date: Saturday, December 3
    • Time: Doors open at 8:00 pm, show begins at 9:00 pm
    • Admission: $10.00 per ticket
  • Jukebox Luke
    • Date: Friday, December 9
    • Time: Doors open at 8:00 pm, show begins at 9:00 pm
    • Admission: $10.00 per ticket
The Comedy Attic Shows

Location: The Comedy Attic

Enjoy live comedy performances by the following comedians:

  • Caitlin Peluffo
    • Date: Friday, December 2 & Saturday, December 3
    • Time: 7:00 pm & 9:15 pm both days
    • Admission: $13.00-$16.00 per ticket
  • Nataky Aukar
    • Date: Friday, December 9 & Saturday, December 10
    • Time:: 7:00 pm & 9:15 pm both days
    • Admission: $13.00-$16.00 per ticket 
  • Shane Torres
    • Date: Friday, December 16 & Saturday, December 17
    • Time:: 7:00 pm & 9:15 pm both days
    • Admission: $13.00-$16.00 per ticket 


SPORTING EVENTS

IU Women's Basketball celebrating a win on-court at Assembly Hall
Photo by IU Athletics

IU Men's Basketball
IU Women's Basketball
IU Men's & Women's Swim and Dive


EXHIBITS & OTHER AREA HAPPENINGS

Uptown Cafe on Kirkwood Avenue during winter

Gallery Walk

Date: Friday, December 2
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.

From Me, To You Exhibit

Date: Friday, November 25 through Saturday, December 31
Time: 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Location: Monroe County History Center
Admission: $2.00 per adult, $1.00 per student, free for members and children five-years-old or younger

Celebrates the gifts we give to loved ones over the winder holidays.

Wrapped in Love Public Art Display

Date: Friday, October 1 through Tuesday, March 1 
Time: All day
Location: Various downtown locations
Admission: Free

Tour downtown and admire the dozens of sweater-clad trees that are part of Middle Way House's Wrapped in Love campaign, which wraps survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking in warmth and support.
 

Pictura Kids:  Dissolving Trees workshop

Date: Saturday, December 3
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Far Center for Contemporary Arts
Admission: Free, but please register

Ms. Hilary will discuss the trees in our neighborhoods and how we interact with them, we will learn to draw a variety of trees.
 


LOOKING FOR MORE EVENTS IN DECEMBER 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 also a proud Indiana University alumna, Millennial cat lady, and Formula 1 enthusiast. 

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