Staying in Bloomington during the summer months may scream boredom for some. The students that remain in town are taking classes or working and may dread the long, hot days with little to do.\nYet, summer is the highlight of the year for Bloomington residents and fewer people does not necessarily translate into less activity. Less traffic, warmer, sunnier weather and an abundance of outdoor activities help this town spring to life.\nThe Union Board is active in the summer, but has yet to convene. When they do, the Summer Board will begin planning events for students staying in Bloomington this summer.\n"(We) will have an active board for the summer and will be actively programming," said Tony Bruno, programming director for the Union.\nWhile waiting for the Union Board-sponsored events to begin, students have many options to keep busy including events in and around Bloomington that have already begun to take shape. \nRemaining students and residents have a lot to choose from when they are not at work or in class. Traditionally, with the Fourth of July each year, many anticipated events are scheduled. Even on regular days, students should still have many options to keep themselves busy.\nHere is a sampling of what is to come in the next few months, including one-time and summer-long events:
\nAnnual Events
• Taste of Bloomington/Arts Fair on the Square
This annual event brings together local restaurants, live music and art. Over 40 local restaurants will sell their specialty food items for inexpensive prices and a small admission fee. Live entertainment for kids and adults will be on site in addition to a waiter/waitress race at 4 p.m.. The 23rd annual event will take place at the Showers Plaza on Morton Street on Saturday, June 17 from 3 to 11 p.m. In conjunction with Taste of Bloomington is the Arts Fair on the Square, a juried art show just one block north of the Commons on the Courthouse Square. The Bloomington Area Arts Council sponsors the event, which brings artists and buyers together each June. A schedule of musical performances and list of participating eateries are available on the Web site at www.tasteofbloomington.com.
• Fun Frolic\nSince 1957, the Fun Frolic has been an annual summer tradition. It is a full-fledged carnival with rides, games and food. This year, it will take place June 17 to 25 at the IU parking lot west of Memorial Stadium. Proceeds from the event benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters and IU Day Care. Tickets and hours vary depending on the day and special promotion days offer deals on tickets and extended hours. In general, the Fun Frolic is open from late afternoon or early evening until 11 or midnight, depending on attendance. On most nights, strips of five tickets are $5, 25 tickets are $20 and 72 tickets are $50, according to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana Web site. More information can be found at www.bbbssci.org.\n• Bloomington PRIDE GLBT Film Festival\nBloomington PRIDE will have a GLBT Film Festival at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 3 and is one of two film events held at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater this summer. The festival features "short, upbeat GLBT films and a party with food, drink, dancing, costumes, intrigue and flirtation," according to the theater's Web site (www.buskirkchumley.org). Admission is $10.
• Fourth of July\nConcert and Parade\nOn the Fourth of July, a concert by Craig and the Crawdads will take place on the Monroe County Courthouse lawn. The blues and jazz group will perform from 12:30 to 2 p.m. before the annual Fourth of July Parade and is free.\nThe parade, with over 130 entries, takes place from 3 to 4:15 p.m. The route begins on College Avenue at 11th Street, traveling south and circling around the square to travel north up to 11th Street again. Interested participants can still submit entries into the parade, as well. More information can be found on the Calendar of Events at www.downtownbloomington.com.\nSummer-Long Events
• Bloomington Community Farmers' Market\nA healthier, more fun alternative to the grocery store is the Community Farmers' Market. The market takes place from 7 a.m. to noon every Saturday from April to November at the Showers Plaza downtown on Morton Street. During June and through September, the Market will also take place on Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. Over 40 vendors from around the region sell flowers, produce, breads, meats and coffee, among other items, making this the largest market in the state, according to the City of Bloomington Web site. Special events are scheduled for each week at the market including live music performances and art exhibits.
• Performing Arts\nSeries: Third St. Park\nFridays and Saturdays in the summer bring free outdoor concerts and civic theater to Third Street Park, behind the Bloomington Police Department station. The free concert series runs most Friday evenings, beginning at 7 p.m. Audience members are encouraged to bring a picnic, blankets and lawn chairs. The summer series will open on June 16 with the Bloomington Community Band. Future acts include Bloomington native and favorite Carrie Newcomer, The Lopers and Global Groove. \nMonroe County Civic Theater also comes to Third Street Park in the summer. In June, the performance is Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," with performances June 2 to 3 and 9 to 10. Performances have a curtain time of 7 p.m. and are free.
• Peoples Park Lunch Concert Series\nFrom May until September, local musicians will play free lunchtime concerts in Peoples Park on the corner of Kirkwood and Dunn. The concerts will take place every Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Some scheduled bands are Sarah's Swing Set, Stella and Jane, Monika Herzig and The Clodhoppers.
• Golden Age of Hollywood Movie Series\nThe Buskirk-Chumley Theater's second film event is a free classic film series that continues through the summer and into the fall. It is "a perfect lunch and lazy Tuesday afternoon date," according to the theater's Web site. The Golden Age of Hollywood Movie Series, created by the IU department of Communication and Culture and Bloomington Parks and Recreation, shows a film on the second Tuesday of every month and admission is free. The classic films this summer include "The Roaring Twenties" on May 9, "Twentieth Century" on June 13, "Wizard of Oz" on July 11 and "The Crimson Pirate" on August 8. All films begin at 1:30 p.m. and are appropriate for children and adults. For more information, a complete schedule of films and other Buskirk-Chumley events, visit www.buskirkchumley.org.
• For more complete listings of upcoming events and smaller happenings, visit the following Web sites and their calendars of events:\nwww.downtownbloomington.com\nwww.buskirkchumley.com\nwww.visitbloomington.com\nwww.bloomington.in.gov\nwww.imu.indiana.edu
