This weekend in Bloomington: hiking tours, international food, and 'groovy' folk-rock

Brian Rosenzweig, The Herald-Times
·3 min read

It's been a busy month for Bloomington, between the total solar eclipse and another lively Little 500 weekend, but B-Town still has plenty to do for the last weekend of the month. From a sampling of international cuisines and cultures at the International Festival to guided tours of local flora and fauna at Brown County State Park and Morgan-Monroe State Forest, there's plenty of activities to keep you busy this weekend, rain or shine.

Skate down to 'Jersey Shore' at Western Skateland

Roller skates at Western Skateland. Jeremy Hogan | Herald-Times
Roller skates at Western Skateland. Jeremy Hogan | Herald-Times

Roll back into a time when Nokia phones were still relevant, Justin Timberlake was an it-boy and Snooki reigned supreme at this Jersey Shore 2000s and 2010s-themed adult skate night Thursday at Western Skateland. Tease your hair, spray on a fake tan and enjoy a night of Y2K nostalgia, featuring a set from local DJ Axipitor. Western Skateland is at 930 W. 17th St. The 18-plus event begins at 9 p.m. Entry is $5, and roller skate rentals are $5 more.

Slow down, feel groovy with "The Simon and Garfunkel Story" at IU Auditorium

'The Simon and Garfunkel Story' is playing at the IU Auditorium on April 25.
'The Simon and Garfunkel Story' is playing at the IU Auditorium on April 25.

Relive the legacy of one of America's most iconic folk acts with "The Simon and Garfunkel Story" at the IU Auditorium this Friday. Chronicling their career and personal turmoil from their teenage act "Tom and Jerry" to their famous 1981 Central Park concert, the stage performance is an immersive look at the tortured duo's legendary career with full-band performances and state-of-the-art video projection. The IU Auditorium is at 1211 E. Seventh St. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices start at $30 for the general public, $21 for IU students. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, or online at iuauditorium.com/events/detail/simongarfunkel-2024.

Get a taste of Bloomington's local punk scene with back-to-back sets at the Bishop

Bands Heavy Mother, Corporate Circus and Spaghetti Midwestern will be performing at the Bishop on April 27.
Bands Heavy Mother, Corporate Circus and Spaghetti Midwestern will be performing at the Bishop on April 27.

What even is "cowpunk?" "Warsaw punk?" "Bloomington rock and roll?" No idea, but the only way to truly find out is to hear it for yourself. Immerse yourself in all these genres and more with back-to-back sets by bands Heavy Mother, Spaghetti Midwestern and Corporate Circus at the Bishop this Saturday. The Bishop is at 123 S. Walnut St. The 21-plus show begins at 10:30 p.m. Cover is $10.

Learn about local flora and fauna with guided hikes in Monroe and Brown County

A classic early spring wildflower, bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) blooms in early spring, but its uniquely-shaped leaf continues to grow throughout the summer, adding to the mosaic of a diverse woodland landscape.
A classic early spring wildflower, bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) blooms in early spring, but its uniquely-shaped leaf continues to grow throughout the summer, adding to the mosaic of a diverse woodland landscape.

The 39th annual Spring Wildflower Foray, hosted by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources this Friday through Sunday, features 25 hikes and presentations across locations including Brown County State Park, Morgan-Monroe State Forest and Stone Head Nature Preserve. Learn more about local flora and fauna through guided hikes, wildlife workshops and foraging lessons across Indiana's most beloved forests and nature preserves. All events are free, but there is a gate fee for Brown County State Park. For a full list of events, times and locations, visit https://tinyurl.com/2s4z3xza.

Explore international food, art and culture at the International Festival

Throngs of visitors fill East Fourth Street during the 2017 Fourth Street Festival of the Arts and Crafts. The annual Bloomington arts fair was first held in 1977. This year, the booths will be farther apart and there will be no live music or spoken word events.
Throngs of visitors fill East Fourth Street during the 2017 Fourth Street Festival of the Arts and Crafts. The annual Bloomington arts fair was first held in 1977. This year, the booths will be farther apart and there will be no live music or spoken word events.

Bloomington already boasts a reputation for its unexpectedly robust international food scene, but that culture will take to the streets Sunday afternoon as a portion of East Fourth Street closes to vehicle traffic for the International Festival. International food, drinks and art will be on full display as the festival highlights cultures from across the globe with its local and regional vendors. The perfect event for any foodie new to the Bloomington scene, this event will give a taste of all B-Town has to offer. The festival will be on Fourth Street between Dunn and Grant streets. It all begins at 1 p.m. and lasts till 4 p.m.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington events: International Festival, Simon and Garfunkel, punk