Thursday, September 29, 2022
Top October Events
Categories: Arts & Culture, Indiana University, General, Events, Live Music, Festivals
Events are slowly but surely returning to Bloomington. Check out the top events happening in October 2022, and make a three-day getaway out of your trip!
Use this list to easily navigate from section-to-section:
Fall & Halloween-Related Happenings
Halloween Candy Pairing Tastings
Date: Every weekend from Saturday, October 1 through Sunday, October 30
Time: Various times
Location: Oliver Winery
Admission: $25.00 per ticket
Enjoy your favorite childhood candies paired with various wines during the annual Oliver Winery Halloween Candy Pairing Tastings.
Harvest Hootenanny Block Party
Date: Saturday, October 1
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: Switchyard Brewing Company
Admission: VIP tickets are $75.00 per person; general admission for ages 16+ is $10.00 per ticket during the pre-sale or $15.00 per ticket at the door; those younger than 16 and designated drivers are free.
Enjoy live music, pie-eating and pumpkin-carving contests, cornhole, food trucks, fall beers & hot mulled cider, and activities for kids at Switchyard Brewing Co.'s all-ages Harvest Hootenanny.
Movies in the Park: Ghostbusters
Date: Friday, October 1
Time: 7:45 pm
Location: Switchyard Park
Admission: Free
Pack blankets and snacks and head to Switchyard Park for an outdoor screening of Ghostbusters.
IU Cinema Friday Night Frights
Date: Friday, October 7
Time: 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm
Location: IU Cinema
Admission: Free, but registration is required
Enjoy a screening of The Watcher at 7:00 pm and The Black Phone at 10:00 pm at IU Cinema.
Howl at the Moon
Date: Friday, October 7
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: Switchyard Park
Admission: Free
Both dog owners and animal lovers are invited to participate in this glow-in-the-dark walk around 1.5 miles of Switchyard Park — pups in attendance must be leashed and current with all vaccinations. The first 50 dogs to arrive will receive a glow stick for their collars!
Trick or Treat Trail
Date: Saturday, October 8
Time: 1:00 pm
Location: RCA Community Park
Admission: $5.00 per child. One adult is admitted free with paid child admission; each additional adult is $2.00.
Bring the kids in costume to this family-friendly Trick or Treat Trail.
Day of the Dead Community Altar
Date: Tuesday, October 11 through Tuesday, November 3
Time: 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Location: Monroe County History Center
Admission: Free
Honor loved ones who have passed by adding an offering to Bloomington's Day of the Dead community altar.
IU Cinema Friday Night Frights
Date: Friday, October 14
Time: 10:00 pm
Location: IU Cinema
Admission: Free, but registration is required
Enjoy a screening of Suspiria at 10:00 pm at IU Cinema.
Great Glass Pumpkin Patch
Date: Saturday, October 15
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 13th annual Great Glass Pumpkin Patch!
Dearly Departed Cemetery Tours
Date: Saturday, October 15
Time: 5:30-9:30 pm
Location: Rose Hill Cemetery
Admission: $12.00 per person
Enjoy a night of ghost tales and haunted history at the Rose Hill Cemetery.
IU Cinema Friday Night Frights
Date: Friday, October 21
Time: 10:00 pm
Location: IU Cinema
Admission: Free, but registration is required
Enjoy a screening of Bodies Bodies Bodies at 10:00 pm at IU Cinema.
Bloomington Pumpkin Launch
Date: Saturday, October 22
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Monroe County Fairgrounds
Admission: $10.00 per vehicle
Witness pumpkins flying through the sky and enjoy live music, children's activities, and food vendors during the annual Bloomington Pumpkin Launch!
Buskirk-Chumley Halloween Film Screening
Date: Saturday, October 22
Time: 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm
Location: Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Admission: $18.00 per ticket
Enjoy a day of horror film classics at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater! Nosferatu will be screened at 2:00 pm, and Twilight will screen at 8:00 pm.
Skate and Scare
Date: Sunday, October 23
Time: 6:45 pm
Location: Frank Southern Ice Arena
Admission: $6.00 per person plus $3.00 per skate rental
Skate through a haunted house on ice while listening to spooky tunes at Frank Southern's Skate and Scare! Come in costume for a chance to win prizes.
Ghostly Gathering
Date: Friday, October 28 through Sunday, October 30
Time: 2:00-8:00 pm Friday; 9:30 am-8:00 pm Saturday, 10:00 am-2:30 pm Sunday
Location: Paynetown State Recreation Area
Admission: $7.00 per Indiana-plated vehicle / $9.00 per out-of-state vehicle
Enjoy an assortment of Halloween-themed, family-friendly events at Paynetown SRA's Ghostly Gathering!
Downtown Trick or Treat
Date: Friday, October 28
Time: 5:00-8:00 pm
Location: The Square
Admission: Free
Bring the kiddos in their best costumes to downtown's annual Trick or Treat Walk. The community band will also be playing spooky tunes on the Courthouse lawn for trick-or-treaters to enjoy!
Dennis James Hosts Halloween
Date: Friday, October 28
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: IU Auditorium
Admission: $14.00-$28.00 per person
Take the whole family to Dennis James' annual spooky spectacular, packed with music and mayhem!
Festival of Ghost Stories
Date: Friday, October 28
Time: 7:00-8:30 pm
Location: Bryan Park
Admission: Free
Enjoy a night of scary storytelling beneath the stars at the Festival of Ghost Stories.
IU Cinema Friday Night Frights
Date: Friday, October 28
Time: 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm
Location: IU Cinema
Admission: Free, but registration is required
Enjoy a double feature of Shaun of the Dead and Slither at 7:00 pm or Kill List and The Descent at 10:00 pm at IU Cinema.
Halloween Weekend at Oliver Winery
Date: Saturday, October 30 & Sunday, October 31
Time: 11:00 am-8:00 pm on Saturday; 12:00-6:00 pm on Sunday
Location: Oliver Winery
Admission: Free
Spend Halloween weekend at Oliver Winery — enjoy complimentary pours of their mulled Beanblossom Hard Cider, a free pumpkin with qualifying purchases of wine in the tasting room, and more.
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Date: Saturday, October 29
Time: 7:00 pm and 11:00 pm
Location: Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Admission: $15.00 in advance / $20.00 at the door
Enjoy Bloomington's annual fall screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Participate in the pre-show event and costume contest at 9:30 pm for a chance to win prizes.
National Visit a Cemetery Day
Date: Monday, October 30
Time: All day
Location: All Monroe County cemeteries
Admission: Free
Visit one of Monroe County's many historic cemeteries on Halloween in honor of National Visit a Cemetery Day.
Trick or Treat
Date: Monday, October 31
Time: 5:30-8:30 pm
Location: Monroe County
Enjoy the annual night of Halloween trick-or-treating in Monroe County, rain or shine.
See our full list of Halloween happenings in Bloomington.
FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS
IU Homecoming Parade
Date: Friday, October 7
Time: 5:30 pm
Location: Intersection of Woodlawn Avenue and 17th Street
Admission: Free
Kick-off Homecoming weekend with a Friday evening parade - an event that showcases IU student groups, and local community organizations.
Hoosier Hysteria
Date: Friday, October 7
Time: Doors open at 6:00 pm, and the event begins at 7:00 pm
Location: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
Admission: Free with canned food donation - to benefit the Hoosier Hills Food Bank
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.
IU Homecoming Weekend
Date: Friday, October 7 through Saturday, October 8
Time: Varying times — see the schedule
Location: Multiple locations across the Indiana University campus
Admission: Free
Relive your favorite college traditions, attend the football game against the University of Michigan, and celebrate the ultimate IU weekend during Homecoming.
Hilly Hundred Bicycle Tour
Date: Friday, October 21 through Sunday, October 23
Time: Varying times — see the schedule
Location: Meet at the Edgewood Schools campus
Admission: $65.00-$85.00 per participant — register online
Participate in the annual three-day Hilly Hundred bike ride!
IU Science Fest
Date: Saturday, October 22
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. Event times and admission are to be determined — check back frequently for updates.
LIVE MUSIC & PERFORMANCES
Fall Ballet
Date: Friday, September 30 & Saturday, October 1
Time: 7:30 pm on Friday, 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm on Saturday
Location: Musical Arts Center
Admission: $10.00-$35.00 per ticket
Attend the Indiana University fall ballet, presented by the Jacobs School of Music.
Conan Gray Superache Tour with Kacy Hill
Date: Saturday, October 1
Time: 8:00 pm
Location: IU Auditorium
Admission: $29.50-$59.50 per ticket
One of the preeminent pop superstars of his generation, Conan Gray's Superache Tour with special guest Kacy Hill, is in Bloomington for one-night only.
Ron White
Date: Saturday, October 15
Time: 8:00 pm
Location: IU Auditorium
Admission: $41.50-$130.50 per ticket
Comedian Ron "Tater Salad" White returns to Bloomington with a new stand-up show.
Soweto Gospel Choir
Date: Tuesday, October 18
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: IU Auditorium
Admission: $14.00-$53.00 per ticket
This Grammy-award-winning group brings their concert of Hope to Bloomington.
Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience
Date: Wednesday, October 19
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: IU Auditorium
Admission: $49.75-$173.75 per ticket
Star of the hit TLC Show Long Island Medium, Theresa Caputo will share personal stories about her life and explain her gift.
The Lucky Star (L'Étoile)
Date: Friday, October 21 and 28 & Saturday, October 22 and 29
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: Musical Arts Center
Admission: $10.00-$35.00 per ticket
Attend the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music production of the opera, The Lucky Star (L'Étoile).
Singing Hoosiers Fall Concert
Date: Saturday, October 22
Time: 2:00 pm & 8:00 pm
Location: Auer Hall
Admission: $5.00-$15.00 per ticket
Attend the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Singing Hoosiers fall concert.
My Fair Lady
Date: Tuesday, October 25 through Wednesday, October 26
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: IU Auditorium
Admission: $17.00-$79.00 per ticket
Enjoy Lerner & Loewe's My Fair Lady, a Broadway classic, back in Bloomington for the first time in over twenty years.
The Bishop Bar Shows
Location: The Bishop Bar
Enjoy the following live musical performances:
- Wednesday with Truth Club
- Date: Sunday, October 2
- Time: 8:00 pm
- Admission: $15.00 per ticket
- Shellshag with Heavy Mother & Full Stride
- Date: Sunday, October 3
- Time: 9:00 pm
- Admission: $8.00 per ticket
- Skaaholics featuring Cuervo Sucio
- Date: Thursday, October 6
- Time: 9:30 pm
- Admission: Free
- Little Jesus & Divino Niño with Pieri
- Date: Saturday, October 8
- Time: 9:00 pm
- Admission: $18.00-$20.00 per ticket
- Soul Glo
- Date: Monday, October 10
- Time: 9:00 pm
- Admission: $15.00 per ticket
- Narrow Head with Bugg, Temple of Angels and Bleed
- Date: Friday, October 14
- Time: 9:00 pm
- Admission: $15.00-$17.00 per ticket
- Jacky Boy with Rex Tycoon
- Date: Thursday, October 20
- Time: 9:00 pm
- Admission: $15.00 per ticket
- Meat Wave with Full Sun & Swan Wash
- Date: Monday, October 24
- Time: 9:00 pm
- Admission: $10.00-$12.00 per ticket
- Into It. Over It. with Nectar
- Date: Tuesday, October 25
- Time: 9:00 pm
- Admission: $15.00-$18.00 per ticket
- Colleen Green + Jon Daly
- Date: Friday, October 28
- Time: 9:00 pm
- Admission: $13.00-$15.00 per ticket
- Burd Chronicles Book Release with Yellow Rain, Chiba Dowa, & Ramathorn!
- Date: Saturday, October 29
- Time: 9:00 pm
- Admission: $9.00 per ticket
The Bluebird Shows
Location: The Bluebird
Enjoy live musical performances by the following artists:
- Back 2 Mac — Fleetwood Mac Tribute
- Date: Saturday, October 1
- Time: Doors open at 8:00 pm, show begins at 9:00 pm
- Admission: $10.00 - $15.00 per ticket
- Mike and the Moonpies
- Date: Sunday, October 2
- Time: Doors open at 7:00 pm, show begins at 8:00 pm
- Admission: $10.00 - $15.00 per ticket
- Funk Almighty
- Date: Wednesday, October 5
- Time: Doors open at 9:00 pm, show begins at 10:00 pm
- Admission: $5.00 per ticket
- 6 Foot Blonde
- Date: Thursday, October 6
- Time: Doors open at 9:00 pm, show begins at 10:00 pm
- Admission: $10.00 per ticket
- Hank Ruff
- Date: Friday, October 7
- Time: Doors open at 8:00 pm, show begins at 9:00 pm
- Admission: $10.00 per ticket
- Rod Tuffcurls
- Date: Saturday, October 8
- Time: Doors open at 8:00 pm, show begins at 9:00 pm
- Admission: $12.00 per ticket
- Morgan Wade
- Date: Sunday, October 9
- Time: Doors open at 7:00 pm, show begins at 8:00 pm
- Admission: $20.00 per ticket
- David Nail
- Date: Thursday, October 13
- Time: Doors open at 7:00 pm, show begins at 8:00 pm
- Admission: $25.00 - $75.00 per ticket
- The Taylor Swift Party: Taylor Swift Night
- Date: Friday, October 14
- Time: Doors open at 8:00 pm, show begins at 9:00 pm
- Admission: $20.00 per ticket
- IU Soul Revue
- Date: Thursday, October 20
- Time: Doors open at 8:00 pm, show begins at 9:00 pm
- Admission: $10.00 per ticket
- Hairbangers Ball
- Date: Saturday, October 22
- Time: Doors open at 8:00 pm, show begins at 9:00 pm
- Admission: $12.00 - $15.00 per ticket
- Conner Smith
- Date: Thursday, October 27
- Time: Doors open at 7:00 pm, show begins at 8:00 pm
- Admission: $15.00 per ticket
- Jukebox Luke
- Date: Saturday, October 29
- Time: Doors open at 8:00 pm, show begins at 9:00 pm
- Admission: $10.00 per ticket
Buskirk-Chumley Theater Shows
Location: Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Enjoy live performances by the following artists:
- Nella
- Date: Friday, October 7
- Time: 8:00 pm
- Admission: $35.00-$50.00 per ticket
- Bob Mould Solo Electric
- Date: Saturday, October 8
- Time: 8:00 pm
- Admission: $30.00-$40.00 per ticket
- IU Latin Jazz Ensemble
- Date: Monday, October 10
- Time: 8:00 pm
- Admission: Free
- Kevin Morby
- Date: Wednesday, October 12
- Time: 7:00 pm
- Admission: $20.00-$50.00 per ticket
- Jen Fulwiler
- Date: Friday, October 14
- Time: 8:00 pm
- Admission: $30.00-$40.00 per ticket
- His Girl Friday (1940)
- Date: Saturday, October 15
- Time: 7:30 pm
- Admission: $6.00-$8.00 per ticket
- An Evening with Kevin Young
- Date: Wednesday, October 19
- Time: 7:00 pm
- Admission: Free
- The Mersey Beatles
- Date: Friday, October 21
- Time: 7:30 pm
- Admission: $22.00-$42.00 per ticket
The Comedy Attic Shows
Location: The Comedy Attic
Enjoy live comedy performances by the following comedians:
- Sam Jay
- Date: Friday, September 30 through Saturday, October 1
- Time: 7:00 pm & 9:15 pm Friday and Saturday
- Admission: $16.00-$20.00 per ticket
- The Ladies of Bloomington & Jonas
- Date: Friday, October 7 through Saturday, October 8
- Time: 7:00 pm & 9:15 pm Friday and Saturday
- Admission: $12.00-$15.00 per ticket
- Dulce Sloan's Bloomington Debut!
- Date: Friday, October 14 through Saturday, October 15
- Time: 7:00 pm & 9:15 pm Friday and Saturday
- Admission: $16.00-$20.00 per ticket
- Beth Stelling: The Petty Betty Tour
- Date: Thursday, October 20 through Saturday, October 22
- Time: 8:00 pm on Thursday; 7:00 pm & 9:15 pm Friday and Saturday
- Admission: $20.00 per ticket
SPORTING EVENTS
IU Football
- vs. Michigan
- Date: Saturday, October 8
- Time: 12:00 pm
- Location: Memorial Stadium
- Admission: $40.00-$85.00 per ticket
- vs. Maryland
- Date: Saturday, October 15
- Time: TBD
- Location: Memorial Stadium
- Admission: $30.00-$70.00 per ticket
IU Men's Soccer
- vs. Notre Dame
- Date: Wednesday, October 5
- Time: 7:00 pm
- Location: Bill Armstrong Stadium
- Admission: General admission is $10.00 per ticket; youth ages 3-18 are $5.00 per ticket; ages two & under are free.
- vs. Penn State
- Date: Friday, October 14
- Time: 6:30 pm
- Location: Bill Armstrong Stadium
- Admission: General admission is $10.00 per ticket; youth ages 3-18 are $5.00 per ticket; ages two & under are free.
- vs. Kentucky
- Date: Saturday, October 22
- Time: 7:00 pm
- Location: Bill Armstrong Stadium
- Admission: General admission is $10.00 per ticket; youth ages 3-18 are $5.00 per ticket; ages two & under are free.
- vs. Trine
- Date: Thursday, October 27
- Time: 6:30 pm
- Location: Bill Armstrong Stadium
- Admission: General admission is $10.00 per ticket; youth ages 3-18 are $5.00 per ticket; ages two & under are free.
- vs. Maryland
- Date: Sunday, October 30
- Time: TBD
- Location: Bill Armstrong Stadium
- Admission: General admission is $10.00 per ticket; youth ages 3-18 are $5.00 per ticket; ages two & under are free.
IU Women's Soccer
- vs. Nebraska
- Date: Sunday, October 2
- Time: 1:00 pm
- Location: Bill Armstrong Stadium
- Admission: Free
- vs. Purdue
- Date: Sunday, October 16
- Time: 2:00 pm
- Location: Bill Armstrong Stadium
- Admission: Free
- vs. Maryland
- Date: Thursday, October 20
- Time: 7:00 pm
- Location: Bill Armstrong Stadium
- Admission: Free
- vs. Michigan
- Date: Sunday, October 23
- Time: 2:00 pm
- Location: Bill Armstrong Stadium
- Admission: Free
IU Women's Volleyball
- vs. Ohio State
- Date: Saturday, October 1
- Time: 7:00 pm
- Location: Wilkinson Hall
- Admission: General admission is $10.00-$14.00 per ticket; youth ages 3-18 are $5.00-$7.00 per ticket; ages two & under are free.
- vs. Wisconsin
- Date: Wednesday, October 5
- Time: 8:00 pm
- Location: Wilkinson Hall
- Admission: General admission is $10.00-$14.00 per ticket; youth ages 3-18 are $5.00-$7.00 per ticket; ages two & under are free.
- vs. Purdue
- Date: Friday, October 14
- Time: 7:00 pm
- Location: Wilkinson Hall
- Admission: General admission is $10.00-$14.00 per ticket; youth ages 3-18 are $5.00-$7.00 per ticket; ages two & under are free.
- vs. Michigan State
- Date: Sunday, October 16
- Time: 1:00 pm
- Location: Wilkinson Hall
- Admission: General admission is $10.00-$14.00 per ticket; youth ages 3-18 are $5.00-$7.00 per ticket; ages two & under are free.
- vs. Rutgers
- Date: Friday, October 28
- Time: 7:00 pm
- Location: Wilkinson Hall
- Admission: General admission is $10.00-$14.00 per ticket; youth ages 3-18 are $5.00-$7.00 per ticket; ages two & under are free.
EXHIBITS & OTHER AREA HAPPENINGS
First Thursdays at IU
Date: Thursday, October 6
Time: 5:00-8:00 pm
Location: Indiana University Fine Arts Plaza
Admission: Free
Enjoy an outdoor festival atmosphere and showcase of arts & humanities from the IU and Bloomington communities during First Thursdays.
Gallery Walk
Date: Friday, October 7
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.
LOOKING FOR MORE EVENTS IN OCTOBER AND BEYOND? CHECK OUT THESE PAGES:
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Erin White
Erin is the Director of Leisure Marketing & Media for Visit Bloomington.
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