Things to do in Bloomington: Trick or treat, The Dynamics, spoken word
We think you should get to wear your Halloween costume more than once, and if this weekend's events are any indication, so does the rest of Bloomington. From cider sipping to a pet-friendly haunted trail, here's a snapshot of what there is to do this weekend.
Tales from the grave in Bryan Park
A Halloween tradition for over 45 years, the Festival of Ghost Stories features haunting tales of ghosts and horror that tingle the spine. The program will be 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday on the west side of Bryan Park, 1001 S. Henderson St. In case of inclement weather, it will be at the Monroe County Public Library Auditorium. The Kirkwood Avenue entrance will open at 6:30 p.m. This event will be live-streamed on the CATS TV website. Age 12 and up. This program is in partnership with the city of Bloomington and the Bloomington Storytellers Guild.
Find your inner sexy ghoul at The Back Door
The Back Door, 207 S. College Ave., will stage a Halloween burlesque show Friday at 10 p.m. Hosted by Trampira, performers include Desiree De Carlo, Bunny Beaumont, Dahlia "Daddy" Desire and Rachel Ess. Admission is $10 cash or $12 on a card. Bar opens at 7 p.m. and the 10 p.m. show will be followed by a dance party. For age 21 and over.
Learn why 'Remarkable Women' are needed
"Remarkable Women," from Resilience Productions, written by Gladys DeVane in collaboration with and directed by Danielle Bruce, will be performed at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Monroe County History Center, 202 E. Sixth St. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at https://monroehistory.org/resilience-productions/. Spend an hour with Francis Harper and Alice Dunbar Nelson, with host Elizabeth Mitchell, and discover why behind every great man is a remarkable woman.
Sip some cider at the community orchard
Grab a mug out of the kitchen and head to the Bloomington Community Orchard, 2120 S. Highland Ave., from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday for Cider Fest.
There will be a bee/hive demonstration at 2 p.m., local apple and cider tasting (don't forget to bring a mug), and activities for the whole family including pumpkin and face painting, games, spooky haikus, and a free raffle (drawing at 3:30 p.m.) There will also be a variety of locally baked apple treats for visitors to enjoy. Check out the new Orchard Propagation Station, and take home free elderberry and thornless blackberry starts.
A Halloween party that really rocks
Get more mileage out that Halloween costume by wearing it to check out some spooky specimens of Indiana’s oddest fossils and minerals at the family-friendly Geology Spooktacular, hosted by the Indiana Geological and Water Survey.
Part museum, part lab, and part classroom, the Learning Lab is where you can compare thousands of rocks, minerals and fossils, create art inspired by the collections, explore real-time datasets, and participate in interactive activities. Pull open drawers to discover real specimens and question the world beneath your feet using scientific evidence.
The Learning Lab is open to people of all ages and abilities in Room 1011 of the Geology Building, 1001 E. 10th St. Check it out for free from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Free parking is available in the IU Forrest Avenue garage, located one block to the north.
Safe trick or treating on the Teal Pumpkin Trick or Treat Trail
Halloween can be kind of a bummer for kids with allergies. From 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at First United Church, 2420 E. Third St., an inclusive event will ensure all kids can enjoy trick or treating this year. Kids can collect allergy-conscious candy and non-food items to fill their Halloween bucket.
Not-so-spooky Halloween trail
The Monroe County Humane Association is hosting a family friendly Halloween Haunted Trail from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday. Pick up some candy and walk through the spookily-decorated pet walking trails at 791 S. Fieldstone Blvd. Bring cash for the $10 suggested donation per group. Well behaved spayed or neutered pets with current rabies vaccinations are welcome.
Dance the night away at the downtown library
Calling all ghouls, ghosts and goblins! Put on your dancing shoes and favorite Halloween costume, and dance the night away at the Kids Costume Rave at the downtown Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave. Join the after-hours event Saturday from 7 to 8 p.m. Ages birth–12.
Catch The Dynamics at Fairfax Bar and Grill
The Fairfax Bar and Grill, 8660 S. Fairfax Road, has invested in its stage and sound equipment, making it a great place to experience live music in the Bloomington area. This Saturday at 8 p.m. don your Halloween costume and get funky with The Dynamics. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
Give the gift of independence with First Presbyterian
Follow the sounds of pigs, chickens and maybe even a donkey to the corner of Sixth and Lincoln streets Sunday from 11 a.m. to noon to support Heifer International.
This is the 35th year First Presbyterian Church, 221 E. Sixth St., has hosted an alternative gift market that provides shoppers the opportunity to buy gifts or “shares” of animals in honor of friends and family members.
Heifer International is a global nonprofit ecumenical organization working to alleviate hunger and poverty by providing animals, as well as bees, tree seedlings and more, to families in need around the world. The recipient families receive training in animal care and environmentally sound farming methods, and share that expertise with others in their communities.
The event will be outside and easy to visit, especially with free street parking on Sundays. There will be a welcome table with coffee, face painting for children, and colorful cards for visitors who choose to contribute to Heifer International in honor of someone else.
Additional info: View the church’s October 2023 Newsletter. Go to https://www.fpcbloomington.org.
All the feels: Spoken word at Backspace Gallery
Ohio poet Kerry Trautman and Toledo Poet Laureate Jonie McIntire will be at the Backspace Gallery inside Bonne Fete, 112 W. Sixth St., for the Writers Guild Spoken Word Series at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1.
Trautman is co-founder of ToledoPoet.com and the "Toledo Poetry Museum" on Facebook, both of which aim to help promote northwest Ohio poetry events. Her work has appeared in several anthologies and journals and she's written several books.
McIntire is the first female poet laureate of Lucas County, Ohio. Her most recent chapbook, "Semidomesticated," won Red Flag Poetry’s 2020 chapbook contest.
Kyle Quass and Julian Douglas will provide progressive jazz and contemporary world music. An open mic will follow.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Things to do in Bloomington, Indiana, this weekend
