Annual Events

Since 2003, PRIDE has been Bloomington's only film festival devoted to issues and situations concerning the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and allied (LGBTQA) communities. Brighten up your winter with three days of the best new queer film! Learn more

A week-long celebration of chocolate covered events benefiting several area non-profit agencies! Options for Better Living began fundraising with chocolate in 1997 with Chocolate Fest. Running for 11 years, Chocolate Fest treated a few thousand people to all the chocolate they could manage to eat... Learn more

This annual weekend event held in late January or early February features three days of birding and wildlife programs. Though the focus is on those elusive bald eagles, Eagle Watch Weekend also features programming on other birds and wildlife native to the Monroe Lake area. Enjoy live animal... Learn more

The Indiana Heritage Quilt Show brings together over 200 stunning examples of quilted works each year at the Bloomington Convention Center.  In addition to the quilted works on display, the Quilt Show also features workshops for all skill levels, a merchants' mall filled with sewing and quilting... Learn more

This fun and colorful event brings Indian dancers from around the country to Bloomington to perform in an exciting competition. Several collegiate teams participate in the competition, generally held in February each year at the IU Auditorium. The RAAS Royalty competition is a way to share this... Learn more

Not so long ago, saving seeds was an important part of gardening.  From ancient times until our grandparents' day, favorite strains of vegetables and flowers were renewed from year to year and generation to generation through seed saving.  The annual Wylie House Heirloom Seed Sale features over 50... Learn more

The Bloomington Community Farmers' Market has been a beloved Bloomington tradition for 40 years, offering a tantalizing array of locally grown flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables, juices, honey, apple butter and more along with live music, food vendors and special events like tomato tastings!... Learn more

Held each April at the historic Woolery Limestone Mill, the Bloomington Craft Beer Festival brings together craft brewers from around the region to celebrate great local beer and good music in a fun, unique setting. The event is sponsored by the Brewers of Indiana Guild and a portion of proceeds go... Learn more

Indiana University and the City of Bloomington play host each year to the Hoosier Half Marathon. Now sponsored by The Indiana Running Company, the Hoosier Half Marathon is a challenging springtime race, where participants will find 13.1 (or 3.1!) miles of relentless rolling hills, but will also be... Learn more

Made famous in the classic 70's bicycling movie Breaking Away , the Little 500 Bicycle Race has been called the greatest collegiate weekend in the country, and it's certainly one of Indiana University's most loved traditions. If you love bicycling, you'll want to experience this spectacle... Learn more

This annual event began in 1976 as a way for area artists and crafts people to showcase their talents and has been a Bloomington tradition ever since! The Fourth Street Festival of the Arts has grown over the years into one of the premier festivals in the region and now includes artists from... Learn more

Held each year in May, the Harrodsburg Heritage Festival is a good, old-fashioned celebration that's been going strong for nearly 30 years! The fun includes lots of live music, great food, an arts and crafts show, a big parade and more. Harrodsburg is located just south of Bloomington off Highway... Learn more

The Smithville Farmers Market serves southern Monroe County and Northern Lawrence County. Located off Strain Ridge Road at the Smithville Park Shelter House, next to the historic Redman Hall in Smithville. The market features between 12 and 20 vendors each week, featuring fresh produce, handmade... Learn more

Enjoy Bloomington's finest talent with the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Summer Performing Arts Series featuring Tuesday lunch concerts in People Park and evening concerts in several other parks, including Waldron, Hill and Buskirk Park and Bryan Park. Concerts are free and feature all types of... Learn more

A Bloomington tradition, Arts Fair on the Square celebrates 36 years of bringing visual artists and craftspeople together with the local and regional community. This juried art show features over 100 regional and national artists and craftspeople on the picturesque grounds surrounding the Monroe... Learn more

The annual Bloomington Open Studio Tour was started in 2012 as a way to invite art lovers into the studios and work spaces of local artists. The tour takes place on a Saturday and Sunday in spring and features over 40 artists. Guests can watch artists demonstrate their creative processes in their... Learn more

The Indiana Limestone Symposium is a series of outdoor stone carving workshops that are held each summer on the grounds of the Bybee Stone Company in the heart of the historic Indiana stone belt in Ellettsville, Indiana. Everyone interested in learning to carve is welcome, from beginners to advanced... Learn more

The IU Summer Theatre is the summer professional theatre for the IU Department of Theatre and Drama. Shows are done in reparatory fashion, with one play and one musical taking place in late-June and July, and a family-friendly musical in late-July and August. Performances take place at the Lee... Learn more

Indiana University's Summer Music provides a great way to enjoy Bloomington from mid-June to mid-August. With an array of orchestral, jazz, chamber and outdoor band concerts, a fully-staged... Learn more

The Limestone Comedy Festival is a three-day, multi-venue comedy festival held in beautiful Bloomington, Indiana. Performances will be held at venues throughout downtown, with headliners performing at the historic Buskirk-Chumley Theater. Festival passes are available on their website and a limited... Learn more

This annual event features tours of six wonderful and unique private gardens that have been selected to represent the many aspects of gardening and the flower show at the Monroe History Center. Other non-residential gardens are sometimes also included. Past Garden Walks have included Hilltop Garden... Learn more

The Taste of Bloomington is an annual celebration of Bloomington's wide variety of unique dining experiences. Over 40 restaurants are on site with specialties for you to sample, and local beer and wine products will also be available for purchase. Food items range from down-home Hoosier... Learn more

The USA International Harp Competition seeks to conduct a world-class international harp competition in the United States in order to promote and foster the careers of gifted young harpists from throughout the world. This competition happens right here in Bloomington, Indiana every three years.... Learn more

The Fourth of July festivities in downtown Bloomington are a must-see if you're in the area. Enjoy a traditional Fourth of July parade through the downtown area, live music and more! Be sure to check local listings for area fireworks displays to top off your Fourth of July Celebration! Community... Learn more

The Middle Coast Film Festival is Bloomington’s first interactive film festival, working in conjunction with the Bloomington community to provide access to both filmmakers and film audiences alike. Middle Coast provides multi-day screenings of highly anticipated international and national short and... Learn more

Enjoy a traditional county fair, complete with 4-H projects and competitions, a rodeo, loads of food vendors, carnival rides, games and more!  4-H projects are on display throughout the fair in a variety of subject areas and a large commercial exhibit building offers tons of booths and a great way... Learn more

The B'town Jazz Fest showcases the amazing jazz talent in Bloomington and features outstanding high school and college musicians, as well as leading professionals from the area. Food and drink vendors are on site, and the convenient location on the courthouse lawn in Downtown Bloomington is... Learn more

The Bloomington Blues & Boogie Woogie Piano Festival is an annual music and dance festival in Bloomington, Indiana featuring the world's best blues and boogie woogie piano players along with professional dancers, food and beverages. Learn more

Summerfest is a weekend-long celebration of queer people and allies in Bloomington, IN. It's a free celebration of queer people and allies in Bloomington, IN involving live performers, music, food, drinks, educational workshops, and interactive activities. Learn more

This annual event began in 1976 as a way for area artists and crafts people to showcase their talents and has been a Bloomington tradition ever since! The Fourth Street Festival of the Arts has grown over the years into one of the premier festivals in the region and now includes artists from... Learn more

Bloomington GarlicFEST strives to bring the community together to offer all ages an opportunity to celebrate healthy lifestyle choices, support local artists and musicians, and participate in interactive areas of the festival. Bloomington GarlicFEST takes place outdoors, so bring sunglasses,... Learn more

Visit Oliver Winery's beautiful Creekbend Vineyard for the annual Harvest Wine Festival! Rain or shine, come out for wine tasting, live music, a selection of local food trucks, kids activities, a grape stomp competition, fireworks, and more! Learn more

The Kiwanis Club of South Central Indiana conducts the Annual Kiwanis Hot Air Balloon Fest at the Monroe County Fairgrounds in Bloomington, Indiana on the second weekend of September. Funds generated from the Balloon Fest go to support Riley Children’s Hospital, Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington and... Learn more

The Lotus Education & Arts Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization based in Bloomington, Indiana (est. 1994). Its mission is to create opportunities to experience, celebrate, and explore the diversity of the world’s cultures, through music and the arts. Lotus provides exciting... Learn more

The Monroe County Fall Festival is held in nearby Ellettsville each September. The popular three-day event attracts more than 50,000 people and has something for everyone with a variety of exhibits, a spectacular parade, queen contest, kids' day, craft vendors, lots of great food and wholesome... Learn more

The annual Stinesville Stone Quarry Festival welcomes former residents and visitors back to Stinesville for a weekend celebration, featuring great food, lots of live music, arts and crafts, a pie competition, antique tractor show, street dance and, of course, a good, old-fashioned Saturday afternoon... Learn more

Upland Brewing Company's annual Oktoberfest at the Bloomington Tap Room features a variety of special German menu items served all day long, live music beginning at 11 am, and more! Stop by to enjoy the atmosphere for lunch, dinner or just drinks. Learn more

The Annual Hilly Hundred Weekend, sponsored by the Central Indiana Bicycling Association (CIBA), is a classic bicycle event designed for the touring bicyclist. If you like a bicycling challenge that includes entertainment and fellowship with more than 5,500 bicyclists from over 40 states and several... Learn more

Each year, the IU Alumni Association goes all out to welcome Hoosiers back to Bloomington during Homecoming Weekend. There's nothing better than a fall weekend in Bloomington, unless maybe it's a fall Homecoming Weekend! Special events include a parade on Friday evening, followed by a pep rally at... Learn more

Bloomington's three holiday guild shows: Local Clay Potters' Guild, Bloomington Spinners & Weavers Guild and Bloomington Glass Guild are all together under one roof at the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention Center for one of Bloomington biggest holiday art shows. The show features local and... Learn more

The Bloomington Handmade Market is an annual, juried show. Artists and crafters are selected based on quality, unusual work of a type not normally seen in traditional craft fairs. Dozens of artists come from both Bloomington and around the Midwest to participate in this public show held at the... Learn more

Join downtown businesses in celebrating the holiday season as Santa flips the switch to transform downtown Bloomington into a sparkling winter wonderland, featuring 27 miles of lights. That's over 240,00 bulbs!  Several special open houses are held in the downtown area during the Canopy of Lights... Learn more

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the final Bloomington Community Farmers' Market of the season magically transforms into the Holiday Market! At Holiday Market, you can find lots of great gift ideas, holiday decor items, locally grown holiday trees and enjoy live music, including an appearance... Learn more

The annual holiday musical from Cardinal Stage Company is perfect for families and friends of all ages! Come hear a different beloved musical each winter at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. Learn more

A beloved Bloomington holiday tradition, the Chimes of Christmas is an annual IU Jacobs School of Music production featuring the IU Wind Ensemble, Trombone Choir and all 125 members of the Grammy-nominated Singing Hoosiers.  This concert is one of the most popular holiday ccelebrations in town and... Learn more

Several downtown galleries, conveniently located within walking distance of one another, invite you to stroll our year-round Downtown GalleryWalk. You'll find a wealth of artwork in each distinct gallery, with atmospheres range from sophisticated to funky. Whatever your taste in fine art and... Learn more