Community Calendar

Ballet Hispánico New York is the nation’s leading American Latino dance company and the largest cultural institution of its kind in the United States. For over five decades, it has been a beacon of artistic excellence, celebrated for its bold repertory and exceptional training programs.

The Bloomington performance will be an evening-length presentation of CARMEN.maquia. Since the debut in 1875, Carmen, the titular character from Bizet’s opera, has become a timeless cultural icon, inspiring generations of composers, choreographers, and writers to attempt to capture her elusive and alluring nature.

Ballet Hispánico honors the powerful Spanish leading lady with Gustavo Ramírez Sansano’s electrifying CARMEN.maquia. One of today’s most sought-after choreographers, Sansano’s quintessential ballet invigorates this timeless tale with an unrelenting energy that leaves you breathless. Highly original and full of explosive movement, CARMEN.maquia is a bold reimagining of this tragic tale.

Hoosier Hills Food Bank will host the Bloomington Community Book Fair October 15-20, 2026 at the Monroe County Fair Grounds. The book fair features over 100,000 items – books and much more. There are specialty areas with large collections of children’s books, rare and collectible “better books,” horror and science fiction books, games and puzzles, comics, stamps and coins, and a big media section with DVDs, CDs, records, and tapes all at great, low prices. There will also be programs and food trucks throughout the week.

Thursday, October 15th, 9am- 7pm – $10 Admission. Veteran’s Appreciation Day – veterans and active-duty military admitted free, Monroe County Veteran’s Services info table.

Friday, October 16th, 9am-7pm – FREE Admission.

Saturday, October 17th, 9am-6pm – FREE Admission.

Sunday, October 18th, 9am-6pm – FREE Admission. Half-price Day! All items half-price. Meet Monroe Fire District firefighters.

Monday, October 19th, 9am-6pm – FREE Admission. $10 Bag It Day. Fill unlimited bags for $10 each. Better Books $20 Bag It – limit one.

Tuesday, October 20th, 9am-6pm – FREE Admission. $5 Bag It Day. Fill unlimited bags for $5 each. Better Books closed

Science Story Time is geared toward listeners toddler through early elementary ages. This program uses children’s picture books to engage as well as support scientific concepts and experiments. Young scientists develop literacy and STEM skills as well as build vocabulary by actively participating in the hands-on program. Activities designed for ages 2-6. All are welcome. Activities vary monthly.

Back by popular demand! Come build with us at CardBoard Build Days, a hands-on, creativity-packed program where imagination and engineering meet! Designed for children ages 8 and up, this experience invites young builders to explore the endless possibilities of cardboard as a construction material. Drop in and build!

Curiosity Lab is an after-school, free play program for kids ages 6-10 years. Children are invited to explore, experiment, and engage in hands-on sensory activities at their own pace. No instructions, no pressure—just curiosity-driven play. Held in WonderLab (or sometimes outdoors weather permitting), the space is set up for exploration with a variety of rotating materials and stations.

There will be one main activity/installment/manipulative for the month that will be brought out every Thursday. This will rotate with the month and the month's theme.

Join us for a fun, 8-week class designed for adults who are new to the ukulele
or looking to build a strong foundation.
No prior musical experience is required. Bring your own ukulele or lend
one from TAF at no cost!
In this class, you'll:
• Learn foundational ukulele skills and basic chords
• Explore beginner-friendly songs and playing techniques
• Learn the basics of music theory
• Build confidence playing the ukulele

Instructor: Olivia Sutherlin
Olivia Sutherlin is a multidisciplinary musician with a lifelong background in
the performing arts, including theater, choir, and band.

Location: The Arts Federation (638 North St, Lafayette, IN 47901) - Recording
Studio

Time: Tuesdays, 5:30pm-6:30pm
Tuition: $150 (must be paid in full – this class cannot be taken on a week-toweek basis)
Full Schedule:
• Tuesday, September 8, 5:30-6:30 pm
• Tuesday, September 15, 5:30-6:30 pm
• Tuesday, September 22, 5:30-6:30 pm
• Tuesday, September 29, 5:30-6:30 pm
• Tuesday, October 6, 5:30-6:30 pm
• Tuesday, October 13, 5:30-6:30 pm
• Tuesday, October 20, 5:30-6:30 pm
• Tuesday, October 27, 5:30-6:30 pm
• Tuesday, November 3, 5:30-6:30 pm (Make-up session, if needed

Are you looking for ways to improve your photographs, taken with camera or cell phone? Maybe there's something you didn't mean to be in the shot, or the photo is not quite sharp enough, or at a bit of an angle, or too dark, or the sky is just plain blah. In this course you'll learn how to use the magic of Adobe Photoshop to enhance your photographs in many different ways. You’ll also learn how to make your own greeting cards for all occasions, and create portraits of family, friends, and pets.

NOTE: This is a hands-on course. Students will need to have the latest version of Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Photoshop Elements installed on their home computers (Adobe Photoshop available here).

Hoosier Hills Food Bank will host the Bloomington Community Book Fair October 15-20, 2026 at the Monroe County Fair Grounds. The book fair features over 100,000 items – books and much more. There are specialty areas with large collections of children’s books, rare and collectible “better books,” horror and science fiction books, games and puzzles, comics, stamps and coins, and a big media section with DVDs, CDs, records, and tapes all at great, low prices. There will also be programs and food trucks throughout the week.

Thursday, October 15th, 9am- 7pm – $10 Admission. Veteran’s Appreciation Day – veterans and active-duty military admitted free, Monroe County Veteran’s Services info table.

Friday, October 16th, 9am-7pm – FREE Admission.

Saturday, October 17th, 9am-6pm – FREE Admission.

Sunday, October 18th, 9am-6pm – FREE Admission. Half-price Day! All items half-price. Meet Monroe Fire District firefighters.

Monday, October 19th, 9am-6pm – FREE Admission. $10 Bag It Day. Fill unlimited bags for $10 each. Better Books $20 Bag It – limit one.

Tuesday, October 20th, 9am-6pm – FREE Admission. $5 Bag It Day. Fill unlimited bags for $5 each. Better Books closed

Back by popular demand! Come build with us at CardBoard Build Days, a hands-on, creativity-packed program where imagination and engineering meet! Designed for children ages 8 and up, this experience invites young builders to explore the endless possibilities of cardboard as a construction material. Drop in and build!

Get closer to the wild side with Animal Hour and Dive Deeper! These weekly programs let you chat with WonderLab’s animal experts, discover what it takes to care for creatures from around the globe, and meet snakes, lizards, insects, arachnids, and more—up close and out of their habitats.

Animal Hour takes place on most Fridays, while Dive Deeper happens on the last Friday of each month at WonderLab’s stunning coral reef aquarium.