Kirkwood Avenue Opens for Second Annual Celebration of Bloomington Culture and Community

Bloomington, Ind. - A signature event of the city's bicentennial celebration in 2018, the Bloomington Street Fair returns for a second year this Sunday, April 28 from noon to 4 p.m.  Having brought about 6,000 people into the street for the inaugural event, the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department again invites students, community members, and visitors to celebrate spring on Sunday afternoon along Kirkwood Avenue, which will be closed to vehicular traffic between Indiana Avenue and Walnut Street during the festivities.  The event will be held rain or shine.

A showcase of local talent, the fair will feature entertainment on four stages throughout the day; a dance stage to be installed in front of the Monroe County Public Library for the first time this year will host performances by six diverse dance troupes.  Additional stages at Dunn, Washington, and Lincoln Streets will present local performers ranging from storytellers to jugglers to hip-hop acts and ukulele ensembles. (Please refer to full schedule below.)

The free event will give more than 70 local businesses, arts and social service agencies, and other community nonprofits and university groups a presence along Kirkwood Avenue to engage passersby at booths featuring interactive activities for all ages.  The number of groups that applied for booth space exceeded capacity this year, according to Leslie Brinson, community events manager for the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department. "The tremendous amount of interest in this year's event reflects our diverse and engaged community,” said Brinson.  A complete list of exhibiting groups and performers is available at https://bloomington.in.gov/parks/events/street-fair.  

Visitors will have ample opportunities to partake of Bloomington’s culinary wares during the fair.  Several Kirkwood Avenue restaurants will be serving guests outdoors during the event, with food trucks including 812 BBQ, Kona Ice, Wever's Smoke Eaters, Limestone BBQ, Pili's Party Taco, and The Chocolate Moose providing additional options.   

“The Bloomington Street Fair is a fresh opportunity for town and gown to mingle along our city’s most beloved promenade, to learn about community organizations, performers, and businesses, and to get involved,” said Mayor John Hamilton. “The fair has become the launch for a season of exciting outdoor events along Kirkwood, from the concerts in Peoples Park, to Pridefest, the Fourth Street Festival, and Lotus.”  
 

Photo: A westward view down Kirkwood Avenue during the Bicentennial Street Fair on April 29, 2018.

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Washington Street Stage - corner of Kirkwood Avenue and Washington Street

Library Stage - Corner of Kirkwood Avenue and Lincoln Street

Main Stage - Corner of Kirkwood Avenue and Dunn Street

Dance Stage - Kirkwood Avenue, in front of Monroe County Public Library

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