Fall is just around the corner and there is no shortage of activities to celebrate the season in Bloomington. Here are a few:
Go hiking
Bloomington is known for its beautiful fall season — the changing of the leaves on campus and that short period of temperate weather before the Midwest winter kicks in. To experience the fall scenery, immerse yourself by going on a hike.
Both Monroe County and Brown County have many hiking options, whether you want to explore a cave or walk around Griffy Lake via the popular Griffy Lake North Shore Trail. The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation website has a categorized guide to help you find the perfect scenic stroll once the leaves start to turn.
Day trip to Nashville, Indiana
Bloomington isn’t the only scenic town in the area. In around 30 minutes, you can get to Nashville, Indiana, located in Brown County and adjacent to Monroe County. Nashville has more than enough cafés, restaurants and shops to fill your day. You could have breakfast at Ooey Gooey Cinnamon Rolls and Café, then do some shopping in Nashville’s array of downtown stores selling handmade clothes, accessories, art, decor and more.
A Nashville lunch staple is The Nashville House, which has served American comfort food since 1927 and is known for its fried biscuits and homemade apple butter. If you can get out of Bloomington early enough, pick a hike to complete at the Brown County State Park. One fairly moderate and popular trail is Ogle Lake Trail 7, with a route that overlooks the lake and is just over a mile long. The park’s entrance is about a five-minute drive east of Nashville.
50th annual Festival of Ghost Stories
Hosted annually at Bryan Park, the Festival of Ghost Stories is close to campus, meaning many students can get to it. Locals from the Bloomington Storytellers Guild gather to tell spooky tales when the sun sets and the temperature drops. No RSVP is necessary, so bring a blanket, a friend and maybe something warm to drink. Storytellers will tell tales spanning the past five decades for this special anniversary festival. Plus, it’s free. The event takes place at 7 p.m. Oct. 24.
Friday Night Frights at IU Cinema
For horror movie lovers, check out IU Cinema, where every Friday in October a different scary movie will take to the big screen as part of the “Friday Night Frights” series — except for a Wednesday showing Oct. 8 to accommodate for IU’s fall break on Oct. 10. The series will include newer films as well as cult classics, so bring your movie-loving friends. Here is the rest of the month’s schedule:
- 7 p.m. Oct. 8: “Scanners” (1981) plus short film “Another Rapid Event” (2024)
- 7 p.m. Oct. 17: “Crimson Peak” (2015)
- 10 p.m. Oct. 17: “Exhuma” (2024)
- 10 p.m. Oct. 24: “Donnie Darko” (2001)
- 7 p.m. Oct. 31: “Clown in a Cornfield” (2025) and “Red Rooms” (2024)
- 11 p.m. Oct. 31: “The Fog” (1980) and “Tetsuo: The Iron Man” (1989)
Tickets are $5 each — $10 for double features — and more information can be found on IU Cinema’s website.
Fall festivals at the museum
The IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology will host a fall-themed Night at the Museum from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 featuring cultural celebrations like Día de los Muertos, Diwali, the Mid-Autumn Festival and Halloween. Guests can make lanterns or masks, design greeting cards, listen to seasonal stories and take Polaroid photos. The event is free and open to all. Plus, there will be complementary apple cider and popcorn. More information can be found on the IU event calendar.
