Downtown Bloomington Farmers’ Market: A Taste of Local Life
Each Saturday morning in the warmer months, the Downtown Bloomington Farmers’ Market brings together a variety of local vendors to provide fresh produce, handcrafted items, and baked goods to the community. This market has become a favorite weekend tradition for both residents and visitors, offering a vibrant space to explore local flavors and support small businesses.
Held outdoors from May through October, the market is a producer-only event, meaning everything sold is grown or made by the vendor offering it. Shoppers can browse a diverse selection of seasonal vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, cheese, meats, eggs, and other locally made goods. Beyond shopping, the market energizes Downtown Bloomington with its live entertainment and family-friendly activities.
Whether you’re stocking your pantry or just enjoying a Saturday stroll, the Downtown Bloomington Farmers’ Market blends convenience, flavor, and warmth. It’s one of the best ways to connect with the community and experience the richness of local life in Bloomington-Normal.
Are you ready to explore the Downtown Bloomington Farmers’ Market? The market is located around the Downtown Square in Bloomington, IL, and takes place every Saturday morning in May through October from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Click here to check out the interactive Farmers’ Market Map!
Illinois Shakespeare Festival at Ewing Manor
As summer takes hold, Bloomington becomes the stage for a beloved tradition: The Illinois Shakespeare Festival. Since 1978, this celebration of theatre has brought masterpieces to life for residents and visitors to enjoy under the stars on Ewing Manor’s historic and scenic grounds.
Presented by the Illinois State University School of Theatre and Dance, the festival offers a rotating schedule of professionally produced plays throughout the summer. The 2025 season features Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, and Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Each show is performed in the open-air Ewing Theatre, a space modeled after Elizabethan playhouses and nestled within the picturesque Ewing Cultural Center gardens. View the season calendar here.
What makes the Illinois Shakespeare Festival truly special is the full experience it offers. Guests are encouraged to arrive early, pack a picnic, and enjoy the pre-show atmosphere complete with “green show” performances like madrigal singers and jesters roaming the grounds. Families will appreciate the festival’s Theatre for Young Audiences performances, which introduce children to the joys of live theater in a fun, engaging way. Educational workshops and behind-the-scenes tours also allow visitors to deepen their understanding of the arts and connect with the performers. Plan your visit and see what the festival has to offer here!
The Illinois Shakespeare Festival in Bloomington, IL, is a truly unique experience, creating an unforgettable summer evening for your family. Whether you are a devoted theater fan or simply looking for a magical night outdoors, you won’t want to miss out on the Shakespeare Festival this year!
A Perfect Summer Weekend
Pair a Saturday morning at the Farmer’s Market with an evening at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, and you’ve got the perfect Bloomington weekend: local flavors, live entertainment, and a strong connection to community and culture. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning for a favorite tradition, these experiences showcase the best of what Bloomington, IL has to offer.