BloNo Digest.
This Weekend Around
Bloomington-Normal
Fri, Sep 25 – Sun, Sep 27
Here are a few things worth leaving the house for.
Sat, Sep 26 · 10am-3pm
Children’s Discovery Museum’s Day of Play
Uptown Normal · Free!
A free family day with hands-on activities designed for kids, caregivers, and families to play and learn together—encouraging outdoor, screen-free play. Same-day reduced museum admission ($6) is available until 5 p.m.
| Friday, September 25 |
10-10:30am · Bloomington Public Library · Free!
A 30-minute kids’ story time with music, movement, and read-alouds in the library’s Children’s Program Room—light, playful activities to wiggle, sing, and listen with caregivers. Geared for infants through older elementary-aged kids.
1-2pm · University Galleries · Free
Bring your pen and respond to artworks on view with short poems—materials and poetry templates provided, so you can jump right in whether you’re new to writing or just want a focused creative hour.
TourBus Concert Series: Merry Travelers
6-9pm · DESTIHL Brewery · Free!
Outdoor lawn concert featuring the River Valley Rangers (bring lawn chairs or a blanket); patio and lawn seating first-come. Expect a mix of soul, pop, jazz, and psychedelic folk led by songwriter Holly Monet and multi-instrumentalist Charlie Harris, with groove-heavy, improvisational live music.
Live @ Connie Link Amphitheatre with Chicago Farmer
7-8:30pm · Connie Link Amphitheatre · Free
Cody Diekhoff (aka Chicago Farmer) plays rootsy, John Prine–inspired folk about small‑town life and hard work at the Connie Link Amphitheatre; bring a blanket or lawn chair for this free, family-friendly outdoor set.
Langhorne Slim - The Dreamin' Kind Tour live
Doors 7pm; Show 8pm · The Castle Theatre · $25
Langhorne Slim brings songs from his new album The Dreamin’ Kind to The Castle, trading some of his usual folk grit for louder, 1970s‑tinged rock — think electric guitars, big hooks and vulnerable storytelling. Good pick if you like rootsy songwriting turned up a notch.
| Saturday, September 26 |
3-4pm · Normal Public Library
A chill bi-monthly meet-up where folks discuss an LGBTQ+ book and work on a simple craft together—think low-pressure socializing for queer readers who like conversation plus a hands-on activity. Registration required; space is limited.
3-4:30pm · Bloomington Public Library
Bring a doll or stuffed friend (or come solo) for an afternoon of tea, treats, and craft-making: kids will make a fascinator, learn simple tea-time traditions and table manners, and hear how tea has connected people through history. Geared for grades 2–5.
Downtown Bloomington Outdoor Farmers’ Market
7:30am-12pm · Downtown Bloomington
Fresh-season vendors return to the square with spring greens, plant starts, pastries, local meats, eggs, honey, baked goods and artisans, plus kids’ activities and live local music each weekend.
Free Fourth Saturday @ Illinois Art Station
10am-2pm · Illinois Art Station · Free!
Drop into the Station on Fourth Saturdays for a relaxed, self‑directed art session—open studio space, multiple “creation stations,” varied supplies, and occasional staff‑led projects to try new media or finish something you’ve started.
12pm-3pm · Wendell Niepagen Greenhouses and Garden Center
Adoptable dogs from Wish Bone and Deeby’s Senior Chihuahua Rescue will be on-site for meet-and-greets while Wendell Niepagen’s garden center has fall activities, a food truck, pumpkin painting, and kids’ activities—good for a relaxed afternoon outdoors.
All-ages Stop-motion Animation Workshop
1-3pm · University Galleries · Free
Take a short guided tour of Selina Trepp’s exhibition, then make your own animations inspired by the work; all materials are provided and everyone's films will be screened at the end. Free, but registration is required.
LIVE @ Connie Link Amphitheatre with Reverberation Vinyl Festival
4-9pm · Connie Link Amphitheatre · Free
An outdoor, all-ages evening of live music at Connie Link Amphitheatre — bring a blanket or lawn chair and catch local acts like POWERS-ROLIN Duo, Friend Less (Jon Mueller), Creatian-Heap and Outer Daphnes, plus a few surprise performers.
TourBus Concert Series: Ettore Buzzini Trio
6pm · DESTIHL Brewery & Beer Hall · Free
Swiss-American banjoist Ettore Buzzini leads a trio blending traditional bluegrass with classical and rock influences, creating unexpected, emotionally driven arrangements. Free lawn concert—bring chairs or a blanket; seating is first-come, picnic-friendly.
Amigo The Devil live at The Castle Theatre
Doors 7pm; Show 8pm · The Castle Theatre · $25 + fees
Amigo the Devil performs dark, story-driven folk/alt-rock songs that lean on raw, unpolished vocals and black-humored lyrics — think Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits by way of topical, sometimes unsettling storytelling. Fans of narrative songwriting and grimly witty ballads will recognize his frank, theatrical style.
Doors 7pm; Show 8pm · Jazz UpFront · $15
Three-piece instrumental band Inktrail blends jazz, rock, experimental and punk with plenty of improvisation, anchored by bass, drums and soaring guitar melodies. If you like exploratory instrumental sets rooted in varied side projects and tight interplay, this should be right up your alley.
| Sunday, September 27 |
2:30-4pm · Bloomington Ice Center · FREE
Bloomington Ice Center is marking 20 years with a free community open skate: free admission and rentals, on-ice games and mini lessons for new and returning skaters, plus concessions for sale. Pre-registration through a Bloomington Parks & Rec account is required.
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