Good morning, Bloomington.

The Council for Community Accessibility will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the ADA on Saturday, August 2, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Fernandez Plaza (outside City Hall) with booths, activities, and prizes that promote accessibility for local residents.

Residents in Bloomington will enjoy a busy weekend with events scheduled across the city.

Bloomerang music festival will feature local bands at Blockhouse and Back Door on Friday and Saturday evening while Hamilton Lugar School will show Ferris Bueller on Saturday around 8 p.m., WonderLab will host a two-day ScienceFest with hands-on experiments, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse will run an 8 to 10 a.m. pancake breakfast fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Clubs, and Fowler Pumpkin Patch will hold Brewfest with unlimited beer samples from 3 to 6 p.m.

A drag show titled 'Anime Lesbians, with Swords, who are also Vampires' will be performed Saturday, July 26, at 8 p.m. at the John Waldron Arts Center’s Firebay Theatre in Bloomington—produced by local drag artists Oriana Peron and Verna Vendetta, with tickets available online and at the door for audiences 18 and older.

Yesterday, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled a limited-edition bobblehead featuring Hoosier the Bison in IU’s classic crimson and cream for $35 plus $8 shipping — a nod to the student-led revival of the mascot that will officially return at Memorial Stadium on August 30.

Bloomington’s two largest high schools will equip all staff with wearable panic buttons this fall as part of an MCCSC contract with CENTEGIX— a company that manufactures the devices.

Administrators plan to train safety responders and teachers before school begins on August 6 so the badges can quickly send localized alerts or trigger a campus-wide lockdown in emergencies.

Elevated water levels at Monroe Lake forced the closure of Paynetown beaches, Fairfax boat ramp, and popular hiking trails on July 23 as the reservoir rose more than 10.5 feet above normal.

Despite these closures, August nature programs including kayaking workshops, guided paddling trips, and educational events will take place as scheduled.

The former NAPA Auto Parts store (once used as Monroe County’s election operations building) was demolished on July 23rd in under two hours after it began shortly after 8 a.m. to make way for the Bloomington Convention Center expansion.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the Bloomington Transit board reviewed its draft 2026 budget and discussed how new state tax law SEA 1 — which shifts local income tax control to Monroe County — may force the agency to expand service beyond Bloomington and consider rebranding as funds could drop by about 30%. Board members said they will soon negotiate with county officials to secure future funding and address the revenue gap.

At Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Indiana football players defended their team's schedule after critics said it was too weak and coach Curt Cignetti made fun of the SEC.

They said upcoming games against Old Dominion on Aug. 30, Kennesaw St. on Sept. 6 and Indiana State on Sept. 12 will prove their strength—despite a canceled series against Virginia set for 2027.

Live Music: Thomas Dollbaum at The Orbit Room

6-9 p.m. — The Orbit Room — $17 — Experience a night of original music with Thomas Dollbaum and friends in a vibrant venue.

Experimental Sound Evening: Rob Funkhouser, Vaguerriffic, Verity Pariah

7:30-10:30 p.m. — The Orbit Room — $10 plus food or drink purchase required — Explore diverse soundscapes from experimental artists in a vibrant all-ages setting.

BTownVBC Open Gym Sessions

5:30-7 p.m. — Wilkinson Hall — Free entry — Get in some practice with BTownVBC coaches before school and club tryouts.

Golfweek Hoosier Women's Amateur

A 54-hole stroke-play event — Jul 29 – Jul 31 — The Pfau Course — Registration required — Compete alongside talented female amateur and college golfers.

BTownVBC Open Gyms

5:30-7 p.m. — Wilkinson Hall — No cost information available — Get ready for school and club tryouts with 90 minutes of engaging play and skill drills.

Mid-Summer 5K Challenge

8-10 a.m. — Bloomington High School North — $15-$25 — Participate in a 5K run and walk benefiting the Bloomington High School North Cross Country Teams.

Golfweek Hoosier Amateur

Various times — The Pfau Course — Entry fee required — A 54-hole stroke-play tournament showcasing talent from amateur and college golfers.

90s Country Night with Jake Dodds

8-10:30 p.m. — The Bluebird — Cost info not provided — Enjoy a night of nostalgic country tunes with Jake Dodds and reconnect with the hits of the 90s.

2025 Senior Expo

9 a.m. - 9 p.m. — Lawrence County Fairgrounds — Vendor opportunities available — Connect with local businesses and enjoy a variety of activities tailored for seniors.

Jessica Risker with Kearn Family Band

8-11 p.m. — The Orbit Room — $13.60 — Enjoy a night of live music featuring Mojave Desert singer-songwriter Pat Kearns and trivia fun beforehand.