Calendar

Join us for a month-long celebration of new vegan dishes all over Bloomington! Businesses across the area will showcase exciting special vegan menu items, giving everyone the opportunity to explore creative plant-based dishes crafted by talented local chefs.

🗓 How It Works:
- Visit participating restaurants throughout Bloomington
- Try their exclusive vegan offerings.
- Share your experience—vote, comment, post photos of your favorite meals, and tag us at @veganchefchallengeMW
This event is open to everyone—not just vegans! It’s about bringing our community together to celebrate incredible food and support Bloomington chefs.

🙌 Get Involved:
Looking for ways to connect? Volunteer with us! We’re seeking passionate individuals to help with outreach, event promotion, and community building throughout the month. It's a great way to meet like-minded people and make a difference! Volunteer using this link: TinyURL.com/VOLVCC
Join us in making Bloomington an even more inclusive, vibrant, and compassionate community.
For details on participating businesses, menus, sponsorship opportunities, and more, visit our website at veganchefchallenge.org/Bloomington

Peoples National Bank of Springfield was referred to as the first integrated bank in downstate Illinois. Dr. Edwin A. Lee, Sr. and E. Winfred "Doc" Helm created it in 1970 to serve African Americans on the east side of Springfield, who were often financially discriminated against. It operated for decades at 2136 E. Cook St., with the motto "where people make the difference". They employed African Americans at all levels and offered checking and savings accounts, loans, stocks, and drive-thru services. Created by Mary Frances, director of the nonprofit Untold Histories, this exhibit includes black-and-white photos from the 1970s, architectural plans, telephone directory advertisements, artifacts, newspaper articles, certificates, awards, letters, and oral histories by Edwin A. Lee, Jr., Beverly Helm-Renfro, Jon Gray Noll, and Carmen Turner McCombs. The exhibit runs for two months.

On Saturday, September 6th, kids will get the experience of a lifetime . . . a chance to ride and operate heavy construction equipment! The event runs from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm at the McLean County Fairgrounds in Bloomington.

In 20 years, more than 12,000 kids have attended this one-of-a-kind event here in Illinois! On this day, the kids will be in the driver's seat and actually drive dozers, excavators, and other heavy equipment with a professional operator at their side.

Additional farming, construction, trucking, and Emergency vehicles will be on exhibit, plus the world's largest sandbox and other kid friendly activities. Food, refreshments, and souvenirs will be available. It's a great day for good dirty fun!

Join us for our summer discussion series, "Who's on First?": What's Up with the First Amendment? Each week we'll focus on one of the freedoms enumerated in the Constitution. We'll talk about various Supreme Court decisions and the different ways these rights have been interpreted, in the past and in the present. We'll hash them out for ourselves, and decide what the Supreme Court got right and what they got wrong. Level up your citizenship game with us at Lincoln Library.
*The August event will be on the third Tuesday of the month, August 19th.*

Step back in time as Cherry and Jerry bring you some hit tunes and rarely played gems from the ragtime era. With a focus on ragtime, early blues, and jazz, you'll hear enduring songs such as St. Louis Blues and The Entertainer along with great songs that they've dusted off and brought back to life. Cherry & Jerry” is Isaac Cherry on percussion and Jerry Rabushka on piano; they focus mainly on music from 1900-1920: ragtime, early blues and jazz, and popular songs from back in the day.Performances include well known tunes such as The Entertainer, St. Louis Blues, Georgia on My Mind, Stormy Weather, etc as well as rarely played music from the era, for a unique take on America’s first pop music. The St. Louis duo has toured music of the ragtime era throughout the region, appearing at libraries, museums, pubs and restaurants, special events, senior communities, and more.Recent appearances include: Illinois State Fair, DuQuoin State Fair, George Washington Carver National Monument, Diamond, MO; DuSable Black History Museum in Chicago Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, MO; Big River Steampunk Festival, Hannibal, MO.

The best of a vintage & handmade shopping event Plus the fun of a treasure pickin' flea market come together at Finders Market. Chart your shopping course through 3 barns plus Lots of outdoor spaces filled with vintage and antique furniture, textiles, collectibles, architectural pieces, quality handmade goods, gourmet items, home decor, boutique clothing, accessories, Great Food Trucks and lots of fun!

On Oct. 5, the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine will host its annual Open House, starting at 10 a.m. More than 40 informative booths and exhibits, featuring many live animals, will be spread throughout the veterinary campus. This family-friendly event doesn't require registration, and even parking is free! Refreshments, meals, and veterinary-themed apparel will be available for purchase.

Don’t miss an intimate acoustic set with Bri Bagwell, Texas Female Artist of the Decade and reigning Female Vocalist of the Year. With 13 #1 singles on Texas Country Radio, including hits like “Trenches” and “Free Man,” Bri delivers unforgettable storytelling and powerful vocals in every performance.

Whether you're a longtime fan or new to her music, this is a perfect chance to catch her up close in a relaxed, acoustic setting.

🎧 Learn more and explore her latest album Corazón y Cabeza (Heart and Head) at bribagwell.com