Lotus Festival

Each fall, Bloomington becomes a showcase for cultural entertainment.

The Lotus World Music and Arts Festival, which will take place Sept. 20 to 23 this year, is an annual celebration of the cultures that make up Bloomington and features a packed weekend of performances across downtown.

Stilt walkers, belly dancers, marching bands and bright colors are all standard. Rather than attempt to describe the cross-cultural phenomenon, this selection of IDS photos from past years of the festival should give you a taste of what to expect.