FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS
4th Street Festival of the Arts & Crafts
Date: Saturday, August 31 through Sunday, September 1
Time: Recurring daily
Location: 4th Street, between Grant Street and Indiana Avenue
Admission: Free
Bloomington’s juried fine art and craft festival, now in its 48th year, showcases 125 local and national artists, community booths, Lotus kids’ tent, and a music and spoken word stage. Meet artists, enjoy, and purchase work in 2D, ceramics, glass, jewelry, painting, photography, sculpture, and wood. Enjoy lunch and dinner at one of the many restaurants serving global cuisine on 4th Street’s Restaurant Row.
Monroe Lake 60th Anniversary Celebration
Date: Recurring several times throughout the month — click here for details
Time: Times vary
Location: Monroe Lake
Admission: Varies, depending on program
In 2024, we celebrate the reservoir’s 60th anniversary, with a variety of events hosted by our partners throughout the summer and fall! For details on each event, please refer to the website listed and be aware that events later in the year are still being finalized. Additional anniversary events may also be added!
First Thursdays Festival
Date: Thursday, September 5
Time: 4:00-7:00 PM
Location: IU Arts Plaza
Admission: Price of meal
First Thursdays festivals showcase the diversity of arts and humanities at IU Bloomington and offer a welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff, and community members to explore new creative outlets. Previous festivals have included everything from opera to breakdancing, stage-fighting to clay-throwing, and much, much more.
Bloomington Pridefest
Date: Saturday, September 14
Time: 2:00-11:30 PM
Location: 100 S. Park Street in Ellettsville
The Festival features a variety of exhibits, a spectacular parade, queen contest, kids' day, craft vendors, lots of great food, and wholesome family entertainment.
Monroe County Fall Festival
Date: Thursday, September 19 through Saturday, September 21
Time: Begins on Thursday at 5:00 PM and ends at 10:00 PM on Saturday
Location: 100 S. Park Street in Ellettsville
The Festival features a variety of exhibits, a spectacular parade, queen contest, kids' day, craft vendors, lots of great food, and wholesome family entertainment.
Oktoberfest
Date: Friday, September 20 through Saturday, September 21
Time: 12:00-11:00 PM
Location: Heartwork Brewing
Mark your calendars for our inaugural Oktoberfest celebration! Featuring two days of German food from Chefs Table Catering, steins, bierstacheln, lederhosen, festbiers, and more. September 20-21, 2024 at Heartwork Brewing. Prost! 21+.
Witch Craft - Harvest Market Anniversary Party For Gather + oak.
Date: Saturday, September 21
Time: 11:00 AM-7:00 PM
Location: Monroe County Courthouse Lawn
Admission: Free
Gather and oak. will be taking over the downtown Courthouse lawn with artists of all kinds - handmade makers and crafters - along with astrological readers providing a variety of services from tarot to reiki to gris gris to reading bones. We'll also have musicians throughout the day with a full-lineup of artists selling handmade soaps, illustrations, jewelry and more!
LIVE MUSIC & PERFORMANCES
Blockhouse Shows
Location: Blockhouse
Enjoy live musical performances by the following artists:
- CLIFFS
- Date: Friday, September 13
- Time: Show begins at 8:00 PM
- Admission: $15.00 per ticket
The Bluebird Shows
Location: The Bluebird
Enjoy live musical performances by the following artists:
- Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
- Date: Thursday, September 5
- Time: Show begins at 8:00 PM
- Admission: $60.00 per ticket
- The Taylor Party
- Date: Saturday, September 7
- Time: Show begins at 9:00 PM
- Admission: $20.00 per ticket
Buskirk-Chumley Theater Shows
Location: Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Enjoy live performances by the following artists:
- Purple Rain
- Date: Friday, September 6
- Time: Show begins at 7:00 PM
- Admission: $11.00 for adults, $9.00 for students
- Swifty Fest
- Date: Sunday, September 8
- Time: Begins at 3:00 PM
- Admission: $25.00 per ticket, $40.00 for VIP
- But I'm A Cheerleader
- Date: Friday, September 13
- Time: Show begins at 7:00 PM
- Admission: $11.00 for adults, $9.00 for students
Constellation Stage + Screen
Location: Constellation Playhouse
Enjoy live musical performances by the following artists:
- Wipeout
- Date: Various dates September 5 through September 29
- Time: Various times
- Admission: Ticket prices vary — see their website for all details
IU Auditorium
Location: IU Auditorium
Enjoy live performances by the following artists:
- Le Miserables
- Date: Tuesday, September 24 through Sunday, September 29
- Time: Times vary
- Admission: Ticket prices vary — see their website for all details
Switchyard Park
Location: Switchyard Park
Enjoy these movie screenings:
- Movies in the Park: Barbie
- Date: Friday, September 6
- Time: 8:15 PM
- Admission: Free
Sporting Events
IU Football
- vs. Western Illinois
- Date: Friday, September 6
- Time: 7:00 PM
- Location: Memorial Stadium
- vs. Charlotte
- Date: Saturday, September 21
- Time: TBA
- Location: Memorial Stadium
- vs. Maryland
- Date: Saturday, September 28
- Time: TBA
- Location: Memorial Stadium
EXHIBITS & OTHER AREA HAPPENINGS
Illustrating Identity and Home Sweet Home Opening Reception
Date: Thursday, September 5
Time: 5:00-7:00 PM
Location: Monroe County History Center
Admission: $2.00 for adults, $1.00 for 6-17, free for members and kids under 5
Illustrating Identity explores the uniquely Indiana tradition of decorating senior cords, pants and skirts decorated by high school and college seniors, that are making a comeback. Home Sweet Home tells one family's story of living in the trailers at Indiana University Woodlawn Courts, housing set up for married couples after WWII.
Gallery Walk
Date: Friday, September 6
Time: 5:00-8:00 PM
Location: Downtown Bloomington galleries
Admission: Free
Discover delightful surprises, inspiration, festivities, and original works of art for purchase. Explore each distinctive gallery in-person or online all year long at your own pace.
RECURRING EVENTS
Tuesday Farmers' Market
Date: Every Tuesday
Time: 4:00 PM-7:00 PM
Location: Switchyard Park
Admission: Free
Visit, shop and support local farmers and growers, and small businesses, at Switchyard Park on Tuesdays, June through September.
Ellettsville Food Truck Wednesdays
Date: Every Wednesday
Time: 4:30 PM-8:30 PM
Location: Marci Jane Lewis Park
Admission: Cost of your food
We are thrilled to announce Ellettsville Food Truck Wednesdays is back! We are looking for amateur musicians to perform during Food Truck Wednesdays. If you are interested in performing, please call (812) 876-8008.
Bloomington Food Truck Friday
Date: Every Friday
Time: 11:00 AM-9:00 PM
Location: Switchyard Park
Admission: Cost of your food
Every Friday from 11 am - 9 pm, enjoy Bloomington's best food trucks in one place: Switchyard Park!
Bloomington Community Farmers' Market
Date: Every Saturday
Time: 8:00 AM-1:00 PM
Location: Showers Common
Admission: Free
Locally-grown produce, annual and perennial plants, and a variety of prepared foods are available.
Ellettsville Farmers Market
Date: Every Saturday
Time: 9:00 AM-1:00 PM
Location: 203 E Temperance St. in Ellettsville
Admission: Free
Welcome to the Ellettsville Farmers Market sponsored by Chandler Funeral Homes. Located at our Ellettsville location, this weekly market provides fresh produce, baked goods, handmade crafts and other vendors selling their products.
People's Market
Date: Every Saturday
Time: 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
Location: 2420 E 3rd St.
Admission: Free
Join us every week at First United Church in the Fellowship Hall.
Woolery Farmers' Market
Date: Every Saturday
Time: 8:00 AM-12:00 PM
Location: Woolery Mill
Admission: Free
The Woolery Farmers' Market has a diversity of vendors and products. 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.
LOOKING FOR THE FULL LIST OF EVENTS IN September AND BEYOND?
- Events Calendar
