Thursday, April 20, 2023
Top May Events
Categories: Festivals, General, Indiana University, Arts & Culture
FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS
Riddle Point Boogie
Date: Saturday, May 6
Time: 12:00-10:00 PM
Location: Lake Lemon
Admission: $35 per ticket
Experience some live music and great food at RIddle Point Boogie. Chicago Farmer & the Fieldnotes will headline the night with Joe’s Truck Stop, The Hammer & The Hatchet, Them Lasses and Low Landers. There will be food trucks, beer garden hosted by Upland Brewer, Cardinal Spirits, and Oliver Winery. This event for all ages is raising awareness and money for the conservation of Lake Lemon.
50+ Expo
Date: Wednesday, May 10
Time: 3:00-6:00 PM
Location: Switchyard Park Pavilion
Admission: Free
Come see the showcasing of businesses and organizations whose products and services are focused on the 50+ age group. The event will have a variety of booths as well as free wellness screenings by healthcare professionals.
Cosmic Songwriter Festival
Date: Wednesday, May 17 to Saturday, May 20
Time: Various times — see details here
Location: Various venues — see details here
Admission: Ticket prices vary by the event — buy tickets here
Experience this brand new festival happening in Bloomington. Cosmic Songwriter Festival was inspired by the Cosmic Songwriter Club and will have multiple musical artists perform their original songs around various venues, including The Orbit Room, The Bluebird, The Blockhouse, & the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
Harrodsburg Heritage Days Festival
Date: Friday, May 19 to Saturday, May 20
Time: 4:00-9:30 PM on Friday | 10:00 AM-10:00 PM on Saturday
Location: Harrodsburg Community Center
Admission: Free
Enjoy the Heritage Days Festival at neighboring Monroe County town, Harrodsburg, which features a parade, carnival games & rides, arts & crafts booths, food vendors, and live entertainment.
AfterHours: Granfalloon
Date: Saturday, May 20
Time: 7:00-9:30 PM
Location: WonderLab Museum
Admission: $20 Members, $30 Non-Members, $10 Access Pass
This fun event will immerse the audience in the science of Kurt Vonnegut’s foreboding book Player Piano and dissect technological conundrums with IU Arts and Humanities professors all while getting to enjoy a live band.
Bloomington Music Expo
Date: Saturday, May 20
Time: 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Location: Switchyard Park Pavilion
Admission: Free
This fun event will immerse the audience in the science of Kurt Vonnegut’s foreboding book Player Piano and dissect technological conundrums with IU Arts and Humanities professors all while getting to enjoy a live band.
Bloomington Early Music Festival
Date: Sunday, May 21 through Friday, May 28
Time: Various times — see their website here
Location: Various venues — see their website here
Admission: Free
Bloomington Early Music Festival will feature over 20 musical acts with the theme of Arabic regions, the Iberian Peninsula, and the Americas during the early music period.
LIVE MUSIC & PERFORMANCES
The Bishop
Location: The Bishop
Enjoy live performances by the following artists:
- Wild Pink
- Date: Sunday, May 7
- Time: 8:00 PM
- Admission: $15.00 per ticket
- Pretend It's a Boat, The Motorcycle Tour
- Date: Friday, May 19
- Time: 8:00 PM
- Admission: $5.00-$15.00 per ticket
- Bnny
- Date: Tuesday, May 30
- Time: 8:00 PM
- Admission: $12.00 per ticket in advance, $15.00 per ticket at the door
The Bluebird
Location: The Bluebird
Enjoy live performances by the following artists:
- The Cadillac Three
- Date: Thursday, May 4
- Time: 8:00 PM
- Admission: $25.00 per ticket
- Kolby Cooper
- Date: Friday, May 12
- Time: 8:00 PM
- Admission: $15.00 per ticket
- The Emo Night Tour
- Date: Friday, May 26
- Time: 8:00 PM
- Admission: $15.00 per ticket
Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Location: Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Enjoy live performances by the following artists:
- Mamma Mia: Sing-A-Long
- Date: Friday, May 12
- Time: 7:30 PM
- Admission: $12.00 per ticket
- Belt Out Loud! Hank Ruff
- Date: Saturday, May 13
- Time: 8:00 PM
- Admission: $20.00 per ticket
- David Cross
- Date: Friday, May 19
- Time: 8:00 PM
- Admission: $37.50-137.50 per ticket
The Comedy Attic Shows
Location: The Comedy Attic
Enjoy live comedy performances by the following comedians:
- Dan Cummins' Long-Awaited Bloomington Return!
- Date: Thursday, May 4 to Saturday, May 6
- Time: 8:00 PM on Thursday, 7:00 PM and 9:15 PM on Friday & Saturday
- Admission: $35.00 per ticket
Waldron Arts Center
Location: Waldron Arts Center
Enjoy live comedy performances by the following comedians:
- Madeleines
- Date: Thursday, May 4 to Saturday, May 14
- Time: Days of the week vary, 7:30 PM
- Admission: $30.00 per ticket
- Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!
Ted Jones Playhouse
Location: Ted Jones Playhouse
Enjoy live comedy performances by the following comedians:
- On the Line: A College Football Play
- Date: Thursday, May 18 to Saturday, May 20
- Time: 7:30-9:30 PM
- Admission: $15.00 per ticket
SPORTING EVENTS
Photo Courtesy of IU Athletics
IU Baseball
- vs. Northwestern
- Date: Friday, May 5 to Sunday, May 7
- Time: Friday at 4:00 PM, Saturday & Sunday at 2:00 PM
- Location: Bart Kaufman Field
- Admission: Adults $10.00-$14.00, Youth $5.00-$7.00
- vs. Southern Indiana
- Date: Tuesday, May 9
- Time: 6:00 PM
- Location: Bart Kaufman Field
- Admission: Adults $10.00-$14.00, Youth $5.00-$7.00
- vs. Purdue
- Date: Friday, May 12 to Sunday, May 14
- Time: Fri 6:00 PM, Sat 1:00 PM, Sun 12:00 PM
- Location: Bart Kaufman Field
- Admission: Adults $10.00-$14.00, Youth $5.00-$7.00
- vs. Evansville
- Date: Tuesday, May 16
- Time: 6:00 PM
- Location: Bart Kaufman Field
- Admission: Adults $10.00-$14.00, Youth $5.00-$7.00
IU Softball
- vs. Michigan State
- Date: Friday, May 5 to Sunday, May 7
- Time: Fri 6:00 PM, Sat 2:00 PM, Sun 1:00 PM
- Location: Andy Mohr Field
- Admission: Free
EXHIBITS & OTHER AREA HAPPENINGS
25th Anniversary Show: Local Clay Gets Better with Age
Date: Monday, May 1
Time: 5:00 PM-8:00 PM
Location: The Vault at Gallery Mortgage
Admission: Free
This exhibit will highlight the history of the guild, featuring works by both current and former members, and boasts colorful functional wares, creative wall pieces, and free-standing sculptures.
Gallery Walk
Date: Friday, May 5
Time: 5:00 PM-8:00 PM
Location: Various galleries downtown
Admission: Free
Experience an exciting night of the arts as fourteen distinct galleries stay open late to host special exhibits and serve refreshments. Experience the art mile and its amazing art by renowned local, regional, and international artists
Rites of Spring
Date: Monday, May 22
Time: 10:00 AM-5:30 PM
Location: By Hand Gallery
Admission: Free
Rites of Spring is presented at By Hand Gallery and will feature the work of Paul Smedberg and Sarah Pearce. The artists have each translated their exploratory spring treks, photographs, and drawings into visual analogs of vibrating color and form and the rites of spring.
Recurring Events
Bloomington Food Truck Friday
Date: Every Friday
Time: 11:00 AM-9:00 PM
Location: Switchyard Park
Admission: Cost of meal
Grab some delicious, locally-made food, enjoy the amenities at Switchyard Park, and experience live music & performances from local artists.
Summers at Oliver Winery
Date: Recurring daily
Time: Times vary
Location: Oliver Winery
Admission: $25.00-$35.00 depending on experience
Come enjoy their amazing experiences, including Reserved Wine Tasting, Reserved Tour and Tasting, Reserved Picnic Packages to make sure you have the perfect summer outing.
Peoples Park Concert Series
Date: Thursday, May 18 and Thursday, May 25
Time: 4:30-6:00 PM
Location: Peoples Park
Admission: Free
With Thursday night concerts happening throughout the summer, May will feature Sofia Crespo, a traditional dancer from Spain, and Rearview Rhonda, a local indie rock/punk band.
Bloomington Community Farmers Market
Date: Recurring weekly on Saturday
Time: 8:00 AM-1:00 PM
Location: Showers Common
Admission: Free
Get your locally-grown produce, annual and perennial plants, and a variety of prepared foods at the Community Farmers Market. Purchase your food directly from farmers and ask them questions about their products.
Woolery Farmers' Market
Date: Recurring weekly on Saturday
Time: 8:00 AM-12:00 PM
Location: Woolery Mill
Admission: Free
Enjoy fresh local produce, local meat and poultry, wild Alaskan salmon, dairy products including a wonderful selection of cheese, eggs, honey products, breads, baked goods, locally roasted coffee and specialty teas, beautiful flower bouquets, along with artisanal food and beverages from those small family businesses that you have grown to love.
"We Paint...Historic Bloomington!"
Date: Recurring daily
Time: 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Location: Monroe County History Center
Admission: Adults $2, Students $1, free for members & ages under 5
Through research and consultation, the society’s members share historical information with their paintings. Subjects include the Hinkle-Garton Farmstead, the Redman Lodge in Smithville, Tomilea Allison, and our very own Monroe County History Center!
To the Soldiers of All Wars: Restoring the Alexander Memorial
Date: Recurring daily
Time: 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Location: Monroe County History Center
Admission: Adults $2, Students $1, free for members & ages under 5
To the Soldiers of All Wars: Restoring the Alexander Memorial will share the history of the monument and the community effort to restore it. The exhibit will also include 3D-printed panels of the monument for visitors to touch and examine up close.
Looking for more events? Visit our events calendar.
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