This weekend in Bloomington: Clean up Clear Creek, find wildflowers, join a dance party

Carol Kugler, The Herald-Times
·5 min read

Activities abound this weekend, whether you want to be outside (welcome back, spring, we thought we'd lost you for a minute there) or prefer to avoid potentially getting wet (another delightful aspect of the season). Outdoors, there's tree planting, a creek cleanup, concerts and the 37th annual Wildflower Foray in various locations in Monroe and Brown counties. Inside, you can join other Swifties at The Bluebird Friday night, catch The Brook and the Bluff there on Sunday or enjoy the youth orchestras of Bridges Musical Arts Youth Organization on May 2 at the Monroe County Public Library.

Plant a tree Friday on Arbor Day

Bloomington Parks and Recreation will be planting trees in Switchyard Park from 9 a.m. to noon Friday and everyone is invited to help. Volunteer to help and the urban forestry staff might even be able to share some suggestions if you're planting trees on your property. Meet at the north side entrance off Grimes Lane.

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Creekside concert Friday along Clear Creek Trail

Eric Zhong's handpan drums will be accompanied by the murmurs, gurgles and splish-splashes of Clear Creek in a free concert of live acoustic music 6:30-7:30 p.m. Friday at the Church Lane trailhead along the Clear Creek Trail. A Bloomington naturalist will expound on the crucial role of watersheds in keeping our creeks singing. Bring your own seating. For more information about Nature Sounds, go to https://bton.in/aUx_V

The Bluebird at 216 N. Walnut Street on Wednesday, June 23, 2021.
The Bluebird at 216 N. Walnut Street on Wednesday, June 23, 2021.

Swifties can get their groove on at The Bluebird Friday

The Taylor Party: Taylor Swift Night is coming to the Bluebird to host the ultimate Taylor Swift dance party (well for those who didn't score tickets to The Eras Tour ... remember the Ticketmaster fiasco?) Sing and dance to Swift's iconic music surrounded by other lovers starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $27.06 for the 21 and over party. 216 N. Walnut St. Doors open at 8. For more or tickets, go to thebluebird.ws.

Clear Creek Trail redux: Trash clean up on Saturday

Help clean up trash and debris along the Clear Creek Trail and the banks of Clear Creek from West Church Lane to That Road to help the Monroe County Highway Department's stormwater program staff. Meet at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Clear Creek Trail parking lot on West Church Lane (which is less than a quarter mile west of the intersection of South Rogers Street and West Church Lane). There will be a short safety briefing near the parking lot with the cleanup beginning at 9:15 a.m. Volunteers with waders or watertight boots can help fish out garbage for the group removing trash along the stream bank. In the event of rain and/or hazardous conditions, the event will be postponed for a date in the fall.

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Cook's annual electronics recycling day is Saturday

Bag or box up all those old electronic devices you've been wanting to get rid of and, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, get in line at Cook's Profile Park facility at 500 N. Profile Parkway to participate in Cook Medical's annual electronics recycling day. Be in line by 2 p.m. to ensure you don't end up taking your e-waste home again.

Big Boy Moving Services employee Kole Gunderman puts a television in a bin during the 2021 community electronic recycling day at Cook Medical's Profile Parkway facility. This year's event is Saturday, April 29.
Big Boy Moving Services employee Kole Gunderman puts a television in a bin during the 2021 community electronic recycling day at Cook Medical's Profile Parkway facility. This year's event is Saturday, April 29.

Cook is partnering with RecycleForce and Big Boys Moving, two locally owned organizations that employ formerly incarcerated people. The event is free, but donations are typically requested for large items, such as washers, dryers, refrigerators and freezers.

Accepted materials include telephones, car seats without padding and cloth, air conditioners, scanners, electronic motors, copiers, satellite computers, laptops, microwaves, surge protectors, game systems, microphones, desktop computers, printers, toner cartridges, VCR/DVD/CD players, computer boards and cash registers. Materials that are not accepted include loose batteries (take these to the South Walnut Street recycling center) and light bulbs (check with Lowe's or the recycling center for guidance on proper disposal).

Children's Expo Saturday at Switchyard Park

More than 40 booths will be set up 1-4 p.m. Saturday at the Switchyard Park Pavilion, 1601 S. Rogers St., as part of the annual Children's Expo. Learn about Bloomington's resources, services and programs for children and their families. The expo includes free wellness screenings, activities for elementary school-age kids and more. For more, go to https://bton.in/8P0ra

Prairie trilliums, with their unmistakable recurved maroon petals, and showy woodland phlox share center stage in wooded settings.
Prairie trilliums, with their unmistakable recurved maroon petals, and showy woodland phlox share center stage in wooded settings.

Three days of blooms at 37th annual Spring Wildflower Foray

Beginning at 9 a.m. Friday through Sunday afternoon, the 37th annual Spring Wildflower Foray will have hikes, talks and a kayak trek through parts of Monroe and Brown counties. Take a stroll at T.C. Steele State Historic Site, look for butterflies at Allen's Creek State Recreation Area at Lake Monroe, or choose from several easy walks and rugged hikes that let participants search for spring wildflowers and wildlife. Some events require preregistration and have limited participation. For more about all the events, go to www.browncounty.com/wildflower-foray/.

Family Day about soldiers of all wars on Sunday

Family Day at the Monroe County History Center will be 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Drop in any time at 202 E. Sixth St. to participate in activities for kids of all ages and see the exhibit, To the Soldiers of all Wars, and learn about carving limestone with the Indiana Limestone Symposium. Free.

Savannah Conley, The Brook and the Bluff Sunday at The Bluebird

Savannah Conley performs from her debut album “Playing the Part of You is Me,” at 8 p.m. Sunday at The Bluebird, 216 N. Walnut St., ahead of The Brook and the Bluff, performing their musical blend of vocal harmony, soulful air and grooviational pull. Tickets are $20 for the 21-plus show. Doors open at 7 p.m. For more or tickets, go to thebluebird.ws.

Youth orchestras perform Tuesday at public library

The youth orchestras of Bridges Musical Arts Youth Organization will perform 7:30-8:30 p.m. May 2 at the Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave. Bridges MAYO serves young southern Indiana musicians ages 8-18. All concert programs are family-friendly and feature music from classical, folk, and popular styles.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Things to do Bloomington, IN: Cook Medical's electronic recycling day