Ranked as one of the top 5 college towns in America, Bloomington-Normal is buzzing with summer events and activities.
Here’s a list (in no particular order) of 10 fun things for Redbirds to do near Illinois State University’s campus this summer.
1. Shop farm-to-table at the Downtown Bloomington Farmers’ Market
Located around the Downtown Square each Saturday from 7:30 a.m.-noon, the Downtown Bloomington Farmers’ Market offers fresh vegetables, fruits, cheeses, pork, beef, free-range poultry and eggs, flowers, plants, herbs, and more, sold by the people who grew or produced them.
2. Go hiking, camping, or boating at a local park
There are several serene public parks within a 20-mile radius of campus that offer hiking, camping, and/or boating opportunities, including Moraine View State Recreation Area, Comlara Park, and Lake Bloomington.
3. Make Music Normal, in Uptown
Held steps away from campus in Uptown Normal, Make Music Normal presented by CEFCU—Friday-Saturday, June 23-24—is two days of free, live entertainment showcasing local and regional talent across several stages. Live music is also scheduled at Uptown Circle each Wednesday and Saturday evening through the end of September.
4. Attend the Illinois Shakespeare Festival
In its 46th season, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival is a professional repertory company that produces mainstage productions for more than 10,000 patrons each year at the open-air Ewing Theatre. This season features The Comedy of Errors, The Book of Will, and The Tempest.
5. Play ball! Or at least watch a game or concert at the Corn Crib
Catch a Normal CornBelters or Kernels Collegiate League baseball game at the Corn Crib in Normal. Or attend one of five Concerts at the Crib—from Uncle Kracker to Ludacris and Flo Rida.
6. Dive into Normal’s aquatic centers
When the temperature rises, cool off in one of two Town of Normal aquatic centers that are both just steps away from campus. Anderson Aquatic Center and Fairview Family Aquatic Center offer various pools, slides, and lounge chairs to soak up the summer sun.
7. Listen to Concerts on the Quad
Pull up a lawn chair or lay down a blanket and enjoy a free concert—from indie alt pop to folk to jazz—each Monday in July beginning at 7 p.m. on the east side of Cook Hall on the Quad. Concerts on the Quad are presented by Illinois State University’s Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts and School of Music, in conjunction with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.
8. Step right up, and enjoy the Sweet Corn Circus
As a nod to Bloomington-Normal’s agriculture and circus roots, the annual Sweet Corn Circus in Uptown Normal—Saturday-Sunday, August 26-27—draws thousands of attendees each year who enjoy fresh (picked earlier that morning) sweet corn on the cob and performances by Gamma Phi Circus clowns, acrobats, aerial artists, and more. And be sure to return to Uptown September 30-October 1 for the Sugar Creek Arts Festival.
9. Get in touch with nature at the Horticulture Center
Located off West Rabb Road in Normal and open to the public daily from dawn until dusk, the 23-acre Illinois State University Horticulture Center features tranquil gardens and a towering native prairie, which transports visitors far away from the everyday bustle.
10. Cool off and watch a film in the Normal Theater
Escape the summer heat by enjoying a movie in Uptown Normal at the historic Normal Theater, an authentically restored 1937 Art Moderne cinema offering a curated mix of vintage and contemporary films.
For a detailed schedule of community events this summer, visit the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau website.
