The day after Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday season for many. This year, Thanksgiving is on the latest possible date, which means a quick turnaround into the December festivities. Whether you’re present hunting or just looking for some holiday joy, here’s some free-admission events to look forward to going into the new month.
And, if you need to do any last-minute gift shopping downtown, Bloomington city parking around the square and on Kirkwood Avenue will be free starting at 5 p.m. Dec. 19 through Dec. 24.
Bloomington’s Canopy of Lights starts at 6 p.m. at the Monroe County Courthouse on the square. City downtown parking will be free both Friday and Saturday, Nov. 30.
The Monroe Fire Protection District has several Santa Parades scheduled through local neighborhoods. From 7-8 p.m., they will visit these neighborhoods: Bellevista, Lakewood Hills and The Pointe.
Saturday, Nov. 30
The 21st-annual Holiday Market, hosted by the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market, will take place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 30 in the Showers Common at City Hall. There will be live music, a guest appearance from Santa Claus, and a sneak peak of The Nutcracker, performed by the Ballet department at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
American Family Insurance on Walnut Street will be taking photos with Santa from noon- 2 p.m. and is also taking winter clothing donations.
Sunday, Dec. 1
Joyful Sound Handbell Choir is ringing in the holiday season with a concert at 1:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church.
Thursday, Dec. 5
IU Arts and Humanities Council will have an indoor winter holiday art market from 4-7 p.m. in the Gayle Karch Cook Center Grand Hall. The event is part of its First Thursdays series and features community and student artists and hot chocolate.
Indiana University's Student Involvement and Leadership Center is hosting its annual Light Up the Night celebration at the Indiana Memorial Union. The event includes an outdoor ice-skating rink and winter market while the IMU turns on its holiday lights.
Cardinal Spirits will have live holiday music nights from 7-10 p.m. every Thursday in December. The distillery’s holiday cocktails will also be available throughout the month.
Friday, Dec. 6
Bloomington’s Unitarian Universalist Church will hold its 65th-annual Holiday Art Fair and Bazaar at 3 p.m. Dec. 6 and 7. There will be almost two dozen artists, booths selling homemade baked goods and preserves, and a white elephant resale.
The City Church is holding a Christmas Fest starting at 6 p.m. that will feature nearly 50 craft vendors. There will also be photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus and train rides.
Saturday, Dec. 7
St. Mark’s United Methodist Church is hosting two fundraising events, the Holiday Cookie Shoppe from 8:30 a.m.-noon, and the Craft Bazaar from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Roto-Rooter has a pancake breakfast with Santa Claus from 9 a.m.-noon at 2110 N. Angelina Ln. There will be crafts and games for kids, photos with Santa and a letter-writing station for letters to Santa. The business is also collecting toy donations.
Delta Theta Tau is holding a Holiday Boutique from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Monroe County Fairgrounds.
Bloomington’s Half Price Books is hosting a Hygge market from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. featuring local artisans.
Upland Brewery is hosting a two-day Hoppy Holidays market from noon-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 8. There will be local artisans, small-batch beer tapping, brewery tours, food trucks, hot cider, smores and cookie decorating.
BadkneesTs and Bloomington Farm Stop Collective are hosting a winter market from 5-7 p.m. at 902 West Kirkwood Ave, Suite B.
The Krampus Bazaar will be held from noon- 6 p.m. at the Bloomington Brewing Company. Co-hosted with the Burnished Raven, there will be local vendors, a food truck, fire dancers and beer from the brewery.
Friday, Dec. 13
Stone Belt is hosting a two-day holiday art sale from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 14. There will also be a pancake breakfast from 9 a.m.-noon, and a silent auction, which opens Dec. 9 and runs through 1 p.m. Dec. 14. All proceeds go directly to the artists.
The Monroe Fire Protection District’s Santa Parades are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and travel through neighborhoods in this order: Gentry East, Meadow Creek, Gardens at Hidden Valley Farms, Bridlewood, Sutton Place, Holland Fields, and Cardinal Glen.
Saturday, Dec. 14
Families can get a photo and a toy from Santa Claus at Santa on Sale Street in Ellettsville. There will be breakfast at 8 a.m. at the Ellettsville Masonic Lodge. Following that, families can head over to the Ellettsville Branch of the Monroe County Public Library. Santa Claus will make an appearance at 9:30 a.m. via fire truck.
IU’s Wylie House Museum will hold tours on the hour between 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. with holiday history and Wylie family stories. These tours will continue through Dec. 21. Additionally, there will be an open house from 1-4 p.m. with live music from the Dickens Carolers, IU student musicians, a cappella groups and the Horseshoe Bend String Band. There will be cookies, hot cider and crafts in the museum’s education center.
From noon- 4 p.m., Sycamore Farm will hold a holiday open house and handmade vendor fair.
Also from noon- 4 p.m., the Banneker Community Center is hosting a family-friendly holiday celebration. There will be winter-themed games and activities and photos with Santa.
From 6-8 p.m., Morgenstern Books will host a Polar Express Pajama Party. There will be a story time, a themed craft, a visit from the conductor and, of course, hot chocolate.
Sunday, Dec. 15
Beth Shalom’s 17th-annual Holiday Bazaar and Art Fair will be from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on East Third Street. It will feature local artists and home-baked goods for sale.
Tuesday, Dec. 17
The Templeton Elementary School Choir will be caroling classic winter songs from 11:30-noon at the Atrium in the Downtown branch of the public library.
Friday, Dec. 20
The Monroe County Public Library is hosting two events from 2-5 p.m. at the Southwest Branch: a sustainable gift wrapping class and community toy swap. The library will provide sustainable and recycled wrapping materials and provide tips and tricks for wrapping presents. The toy swap is in partnership with Tandem Bloomington. The Southwest Branch is accepting toy donations in good condition through Dec. 19. The library will also be showing Rise of the Guardians for children to watch while parents and guardians participate in the toy swap or gift wrapping. There will be earlier access to the community toy swap Dec. 7 if you bring a donation and Dec. 8 the swap opens to the public.
You can see a live reindeer at the Chick-fil-A in Bloomington. Registration is required and families will be limited to 15 minutes with the reindeer.
The Monroe Fire Protection District’s Santa Parades are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and travel through neighborhoods in this order: Fieldstone, Highland Village, Van Buren Park, Cedar Chase, and Woodhaven.
Do you have an event you want to see in this list? Send me a message: krszpak@iu.edu.
