Entertaining is a way of life in Bloomington, whether that means an intimate performance at local bar, a days-long festival featuring acts from around the globe, a quiet evening of browsing museums and galleries or a chance to raise the roof at Assembly Hall.

Shortly after dark, Bloomington comes to life with the sounds of music. Bar-hoppers who want to hear new jams or support local artists can find both on tap at the small venues, such as the Bishop or Max's Place, that dot the downtown landscape. Music lovers who want bigger acts or a more boisterous party can head down Walnut Street to The Bluebird, which has hosted artists like Stevie Ray Vaughn and Kings of Leon, or Jake's Nightclub, where DJ-infused dance parties are a weekly staple.

Those who want to top off their night with a good laugh can catch a stand-up act at The Comedy Attic, which recently hosted "30 Rock" star Judah Friedlander, or some improv hosted by the student-led Awkward Silence Comedy troupe.

Some of the biggest events in music, film and more are happening right here in supposedly sleepy southern Indiana.

The annual Lotus World Music and Arts Festival draws dozens of international acts representing every continent on the globe. In 2011 the weekend-long party filled eight venues with more than 10,000 music-loving attendees.

The PRIDE LGBTQ Film Festival also fills venues all over town. It produces dozens of independent films that explore all facets of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered experience.

Bloomington also isn't shy about celebrating itself. Every year residents and visitors flock to gatherings such as Taste of Bloomington and the Fourth Street Festival of the Arts.

Many of the City's museums are located on the IU campus. The Mathers Museum of World Cultures and the IU Art Museum house world-class exhibits, including dinosaur bones, American folk art, Tibetan textiles, and art from famous names, including Rembrandt and Picasso.

IU is also home to the famous Kinsey Institute, which has been educating Americans about sex, gender and reproduction for more than 60 years.

One of the City's biggest draws is the Wonderlab Museum of Science, Health and Technology, which is ranked in the top-25 U.S. science museums by Parents Magazine. A more extensive listing of the City's museums and galleries can be found on the City's tourism site.

Bloomington is home to Indiana University, a campus known for its great academic programs as well as its unwavering dedication college sports. No visit to the city is complete without catching a nail-biting buzzer beater at Assembly Hall or a heart-pounding Hail Mary attempt at Memorial Stadium.

While fall brings out the football pride and winter is the season of basketball, the "world's greatest college weekend" doesn't roll around until spring. Every April riders and fans gather at Bill Armstrong Stadium for the Little 500, a bicycle race that is nearly as famous as its motored namesake, the Indianapolis 500.