The First Thursdays Festival is a celebration of contemporary arts & humanities on the IU Bloomington campus. The festival is always free and open to all members of the public, with performances and activities around the Showalter Arts Plaza from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., followed by featured evening events at venues across campus.

September’s First Thursday’s events will showcase a stellar lineup of performances and activities such as the African American Choral Ensemble, the IU Theatre cast of Urinetown, the Lilly Library and its “Americans on Vacation” exhibit, the LGBTQ+ Cultural Center and its drag photo booth and history exhibit, and the Eskenazi Museum of Art and its sculpture walking tours, among many other acts and activities. For a more complete list of the September First Thursdays lineup you can visit our website here: https://artsandhumanities.indiana.edu/council-initiatives/first-thursdays/index.html

The Bloomington Walking Club is an informal group that meets for a guided group walk on the paved trails surrounding Olcott Park. The group meets every Thursday evening, weather permitting. All ability levels are welcome. Participation is free, and registration is not required. Walkers choose their own pace. Presented by IU Health Bloomington Community Health, IU Health Southern Indiana Physicians, Monroe County YMCA, and Bloomington Parks and Recreation. This group meets on Thursdays at 6 p.m. weekly, April-October, at the Olcott Park Shelter (2300 E. Canada Dr. ).

Your ticket includes a 3-course meal at DeAngelo’s! An amuse bouche to whet the appetite, salad, delicious gluten-free entree (vegetarian option available), with dessert of tiramisu imported from Italy!

This is also your chance to PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD! Jazz legend Janiece Jaffee will lead a short tutorial on ‘tiramisu’ art and then you can let your creativity take over.

A fundraiser for Middle Way House, which provides free emergency shelter, transitional housing, rape crisis center, 24-hour crisis line, legal counseling, child care, youth programs, and support groups for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

To purchase tickets: http://www.middlewayhouse.org/events-2/ or call 812.333.7404. Buy tickets early; last year’s event sold out!

Moonlight and Magnolias is a clever comedy play about the writers of the movie “Gone With the Wind”. The producer has had enough of delays – he locks his top team away until they finish the script, with hilarious results. The play is based on a legendary Hollywood incident that also light-heartedly explores the struggle between artists’ morals and the film industry’s prejudices. Includes some old-fashioned swearing. Directed by Gerry Pauwels.