Lotus Festival, Mozart, cabaret, bourbon bash and drag all happening in Bloomington

Whether you're into drag, cabaret, Mozart or fashion, the Bloomington region has your back this weekend. The Back Door has drag and dance; "Don Giovani" is at the Musical Art Center; and there's movies and live cabaret. Don't forget it's the weekend of the 29th annual Lotus World Music & Arts Festival, which begins Thursday and runs through Sunday.

World music and more at Lotus Fest

Beginning Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater with a performance by Lucinda, the 29th annual Lotus World Music & Arts Festival will offer music, lectures, food trucks and even a parade at 8:30 p.m. Saturday featuring the Lemon Bucket Orkestra. Musicians and artists from around the world will share their craft at six to eight downtown locations as well as at Switchyard Park from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Matixando will perform at 9:30 p.m. Thursday in Dunn Meadow, bringing the festival to the IU campus. The Switchyard Park events are free and include hands-on art projects and interactive workshops with festival artists. Other events can be accessed after purchasing a wristband, for one night or more. The festival concludes with a closing concert at 3 p.m. featuring Fedd Gour Miller and Amaan & Ayaan. Tickets are on sale at the Buskirk-Chumley box office, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave.; online at buskirkchumley.org; or at the welcome tent during the festival. For more on the festival, go to lotusfest.org/2022/ or view the festival's mobile app at https://lotusfest.rendezville.com.

Drag night at the Back Door

A night of drag awaits Friday at the Back Door, 207 S. College Ave., at "LEGENDS!! Dead and alive!" Lyna Koke and Desiree Bouvier will host the evening, which stars Alice Dee and Mahogany Charlotte. Buy tickets at the door for $10 cash or $12 card. Bar opens at 7 p.m., and show starts at 10 p.m. The dance party, for 21 and older and hosted by DJ Swing Latino, goes midnight to "late." Masks are encouraged.

Bloomington Bourbon Bash on Thursday

From 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Woolery Mill, people 21 and older will be able to participate in the Bloomington Bourbon Bash, sponsored by Big Red Liquors. People will be able to sample more than 150 whiskies at 32 tables. Tickets are $15-$40 for the event at 2250 W. Sunstone Drive. Purchase tickets at https://bit.ly/3qPNtSK.

A Mozart bad boy at the MAC

Mozart's raucous comedy, "Don Giovanni" will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Musical Arts Center, 101 N. Eagleson Ave., by the Indiana University's opera and ballet theater department. "Don Giovanni" depicts Mozart's beloved bad boy and the women who can't resit him. It's in Italian with English supertitles. At 6:30 p.m. before each performance hear an Opera Insights lecture, on the mezzanine level of the Musical Arts Center. Buy tickets at https://bit.ly/3SlgBgc.

Cicada Cinema presents 2 films on 2 nights

Cicada Cinema is offering two films on two nights. First, it's "She Freak," at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Thursday at the Orbit Room, 107 N. College Ave., for $5. You must be 19 or older to watch Jade Cochran as she starts a new life with a traveling carnival. But what is that behind a curtain? Find out in this partial remake of Tod Browning’s "Freaks” by writer Michael Weldon.

For people 21 and older, there's the screwball comedy "The Coca-Cola Kid," at 8 p.m. Sunday at the Blockhouse Bar, 207 S. College Ave., for $7. A small-town Australian soda maker says no to converting his factory to a Coca-Cola facility, so the company calls on problem solver Becker (Eric Roberts). Becker, normally hard-to-ruffle, is indeed ruffled by Australia, particularly Terri (Greta Scacchi), his gorgeous and unusual secretary, and McDowell (Bill Kerr), the soft-drink entrepreneur.

Strong Women cabaret honors composers, lyricists

Vocalist and doctoral student at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music Anne Slovin and Chicago-based vocalist Sarah Simmons will perform with pianist Brandon Magid at the Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave., at 2 p.m. Saturday. "Strong Woman Numbers: An Exploration of Creative Women on Broadway" is a cabaret that has a songs by female composers and lyricists. The trio will look at women's legacies and how others' expectations complicated the women's careers.

Fall fashion show, brunch for My Sisters Closet

"My Sister, Your Sister: Empowering Women Together Fall Fashion Show & Brunch" is 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church, 219 E. Fourth St., third floor, and accessible by elevators. Gluten-free brunch items will be available, as United Women in Faith host My Sister's Closet for a special fall fashion show and brunch.  Donations will support the agency's relocation project as its lease ends next year. Email questions to rachelsgerber@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Lotus Festival, IU Opera and more things to do in Bloomington