Things to do in Bloomington: Bluegrass, Shakespeare, Limestone Comedy Fest, touch a truck
June is here and Bloomington is opening the month with a bang. This week you can boogie to bluegrass in Peoples Park and the Orbit Room, get down with some iambic pentameter watching Shakespeare in the Park, or laugh till you can't breathe with the comedians at the Limestone Comedy Festival. Parents: Touch a truck returns to Winslow Sports Complex June 7. Your kids really want to go.
Enjoy bluegrass in Peoples Park and later, the Orbit Room
Two types of bluegrass will be performed Thursday, June 1. First, Limestone Nomad, a modern bluegrass folk music trio, will play a free show from 4:30-6 p.m. in Peoples Park, 501 E. Kirkwood Ave. Later, at 8 p.m. Lily & Madeleine, an Indy folk-pop duo, will perform at the Orbit Room, 107 N. College Ave., with special guest Public Universal Friend. Tickets are $20 per person. For more or tickets, go to www.orbitbtown.com.
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Bloomington Pride Portraits featured at Monroe County History Center
Bloomington Pride Portraits by Garrett Ann Walters will be on display June 1 through Sept. 2 at the Monroe County History Center, 202 E. Sixth St. Walters is a portrait photographer interested in celebrating LGBTQ+ life in southern Indiana through her portrait photographs. Since 2021, she has been documenting Bloomington Pridefest and will share a selection of images in the exhibit. Admission to the first floor of the museum is free. The exhibit is supported by the Kinsey Institute.
34th annual Shakespeare in the Park performs 'Richard the Third'
Monroe County Civic Theatre and Bloomington Parks and Recreation will present "Richard the Third" at 7 p.m. June 1-3 and 2 p.m. June 4 in the Waldron Hill and Buskirk Park, 331 S. Washington St. Bring blankets, chairs, bug spray and water. The performances are free but donations will be accepted to help fund Bloomington's all-volunteer community theater. For more, go to mcct.org.
Limestone Comedy Festival gives 3 days of laughs June 1-3
Dozens of comedians, including Kyle Kinane, Kelly Collette, Shane Torres, Calvin Evans, Sara Schaefer, Deanne Smith and Mohanad Elsheiky, will perform June 1-3 at nine different venues in Bloomington as part of this year's Limestone Comedy Festival. The venues are 18- and 21-plus locations. Tickets range in price from $20 to $180 for a VIP badge. Go to https://limestonefest.com for more information and tickets.
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Granfalloon Film Series presents "Metropolis" at Hopscotch
About 9 p.m. (at dusk) on Friday, June 2, outside of Hopscotch Coffee Roastery, 212 N. Madison St., the Granfalloon Film Series will present “Metropolis,” a German science-fiction film based in a futuristic city where a beautiful and cultured utopia exists above a bleak underworld where mistreated workers live. The event is free; bring your own chair to the Cicada Cinema event.
Welcome summer at Fourth and Rogers Block Party on Saturday
The fourth annual Fourth and Rogers Block Party is back to celebrate the neighborhood — from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 2. West Fourth Street will be closed for a block on either side of Rogers Street for art, food, live music, and fun for all ages.
The party includes new Gallery Walk art exhibits at Pictura Gallery/FAR Center for Contemporary Arts, Rainbow Bakery, I Fell, Lotus Firebay and Juniper Art Gallery. Family-friendly art and activities also will be provided and the Back Door Art Market @ FAR will have products for sale from many local artists and crafts people.
Rainbow Bakery, Maiz Comida Colombiana, Rasta Pops, Pili’s Party Taco, Bivi’s Tamales, Wacky Bunzz and Switchyard Brewing Company beer will provide food and drink.
Watch "How to Train Your Dragon" at 2 p.m. June 5 at the public library
From 2 to 4 p.m. Monday, June 5, people of all ages are welcome to watch "How to Train Your Dragon," as the Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave., celebrates its summer reading program. Dress in your best dragon or dragon rider costume if you want. This movie is rated PG and is for all ages.
Touch a Truck at Winslow Sports Complex on Wednesday
The annual Touch a Truck event will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, at the Winslow Sports Complex, 2800 S. Highland Ave. Admission is $1 per person. Check out fire trucks, ambulances, buses, bucket trucks, tractors and more. The event is geared to children ages 1-10. Rain date is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. June 8.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Things to do in Bloomington, IN: Limestone Comedy, Touch a Truck
