Good morning, Bloomington.

Bloomington hosts a busy Labor Day weekend with events for all ages in the city and nearby Smithville.

Comedian Emil Wakim performs at the Comedy Attic on Friday and Saturday, a free baseball film shows at Butler Park, downtown holds its 49th Fourth Street Festival of Arts and Crafts on Saturday and Sunday — while Smithville has its annual car show and live music on Monday.

A sign on College Avenue and Kirkwood Avenue shows that Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard’s Garden Gala fundraiser is set for this Friday on Allen Street—tickets cost $40 and include two drink tickets, a light meal from local vendors, garden tours, community activities and live music from two local bands. Tickets can be purchased online or in person at the event.

Monroe County Council approved a tax break on a 65-acre site acquired by Simtra BioPharma Solutions on Tuesday for its $241M expansion that will add syringe fill lines and lyophilization capacity on a former Cook Group property.

County commissioners will give final approval today—supporting the project’s promise to create about 90 jobs per production line.

Bloomington police investigated a gunfire incident near Kirkwood and Dunn after a verbal argument and a man fired a single round into the air at 4th and Dunn—officers recovered a shell casing and noted two vehicles were involved while no one was injured.

Bloomington celebrated its annual Pridefest on August 23 on East Kirkwood Avenue with drag shows featuring performers including Rozé Coutur, Midnight Sapphire, Starletta, and Gwen Sunkel.

Attendees enjoyed live music, comedy at the Monroe County Public Library, face painting, and vendor booths — key parts of the festive day.

Bloomington native Emil Wakim announced via Instagram that he will not return to Saturday Night Live when the show premieres Oct.

4+ he described his exit as a gut punch and thanked SNL creator Lorne Michaels for his opportunity; he will perform at the Comedy Attic later this week before moving on to new projects.

A report released on Tuesday revealed that a cyberattack on Monroe County government began on June 19 last year and caused a week-long shutdown on July 1 that exposed the personal data of 913 people+ the county later notified those affected and offered free credit monitoring for a year. It also stated that the government locked down its systems immediately once a breach was detected.

Yesterday, Monroe County Jail moved inmates to the Charlotte Zietlow Justice Center courtrooms for mold fogging that required areas to be empty for three hours—staff returned inmates to their cell blocks after a few hours.

The treatment will continue today with no courtroom remodeling planned.

The Hoosiers will play Old Dominion on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium.

The team aims to show a strong, physical game—players and coaches say the opener will test the progress they made after a strong 2024 season.

2025 Indiana Hoosiers Football Season Tickets

12:55 – 2:25 PM — Indiana University Memorial Stadium — Ticket prices vary — Secure your season tickets for an exciting Indiana Hoosiers football season.

Bloomington Indiana Amazing Race & Tour

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. — Hopscotch Coffee & Kitchen — Ticket per person — Explore Bloomington through a fun scavenger hunt filled with wacky tasks and local surprises.

Northern Kentucky Norse at Indiana Hoosiers Women's Volleyball

10-11:30 a.m. — Wilkinson Hall — VIP tickets available — Cheer on the Hoosiers in an exciting collegiate volleyball matchup.

Edgewood Dollars for Scholars 5K

8:30-9:30 a.m. — Edgewood Intermediate School — Registration fee applies — Participate in a 5K run/walk to support scholarship funds for local high school seniors.

Dummy Album Release Show

7 PM – 1 AM — The Bishop Bar — Ticket prices to be announced — Celebrate Dummy's new album with live performances by them and Good Flying Birds.

Daniel Villarreal Trio Performance

6-9 p.m. — The Orbit Room — $17 — Enjoy an evening of music with the Daniel Villarreal Trio featuring special guests.

People Watching Book Tour with Chloe Liese & Jillian Meadows

6-8 p.m. — Morgenstern Books & Café — Click here for tickets — Celebrate the release of ‘People Watching’ with authors Hannah Bonam-Young, Chloe Liese, and Jillian Meadows.

Volunteer Orientation at WonderLab

3:30-5 p.m. — Indiana University Cinema — Free entry — Discover the joys of volunteering at the greatest little science museum in the world.

Plein Air In Practice at TC Steele Historic Site

9 a.m. – 4 p.m. — Bloomington Fine Art Supply — Cost not mentioned — Gain real-world painting experience with guidance from plein air expert Scott Sullivan at a historic site.

Free Screening of INHERITANCE

7:00-9:30 p.m. — Indiana University Cinema — Free entry — Watch the thought-provoking film INHERITANCE at a premier university venue.