If you're looking for something to do this weekend, the March First Friday shopping event will be focusing on female owned businesses. Red Raccoon Games will be hosting three pop-up shops for local businesses Macaron Mayhem, D20 Peppers and Nenabug Cupcakes.
Don’t have any plans for the weekend? Here are five things to do in the Bloomington-Normal area.
Step into the theatre
For a night of outside-of-the-box entertainment, look no further than the Normal Theatre as “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” will be playing at 10:30 p.m. this Friday.
This renowned film doubles as a musical and has amassed a multitude of loyal fans since its debut back in 1975, creating its own form of theatre etiquette that feeds off of audience interaction. From viewers dressing up in costumers and reenacting the film as it plays in the background, to mocking other audience members, actors, and the movie itself, seeing “The Rock Horror Picture Show” live is truly an experience to remember all in good fun. Tickets for the show are $7 for non-ISU adults and $5 for ISU students and children and can be purchased on the Normal Theatre’s website. Masks are required in the theatre and social distancing measures will be put in place.
Celebrate local women
In honor of Women’s History Month, downtown Bloomington aims to highlight its more than 50 hardworking female business owners with the “First Friday” theme for March being women entrepreneurs. Businesses throughout the downtown district will be participating this Friday, with many of them offering pop-up shops, discounts and limited-edition items centered around the theme of female empowerment.
Crossroads Fair Trade Goods & Gifts will be showing off female made products from across the world while also offering 20% off of all jewelry and winter clothes. Bloomington Spice Works will offer a pop-up shop for Michelle, owner of Compassionate Crumbs, who will be offering samples of her artisan spun sugar. Red Raccoon Games will be hosting three pop-up shops for local businesswomen Andrea Wynn with Macaron Mayhem, Kelly Lay with D20 Peppers and Alexia Jade with Nenabug Cupcakes. These businesses are just a few of the many participants preparing to celebrate women this weekend- a full list of participating businesses can be found on downtown Bloomington’s Facebook event page.
Get active and give back
The Miller Park Zoological Society will be hosting its 24th annual “Miller Park Zoo Stampede” at 10 a.m. this Saturday, March 6 with ticket sales directly benefitting the Miller Park Zoo’s children’s petting zoo. This event is a 5k run, 3k walk and ¼ mile “fun run” for children 10 and under and will take participants through Miller Park, surrounding neighborhood and end with a portion of the race winding through Miller Park Zoo itself. The 5k run will start at the Miller Park Pavilion in waves and aims to give participants a competitive yet fun outdoor experience in compliance with all CDC guidelines. Participants must register online in advance as same day registration will not be offered. Tickets for both the 5k run and 3k walk are $35 each, while tickets for the “fun run” are $5 each.
Meet Arendelle royalty
If you’re feeling energetic after the run stop by Iron Coyote Challenge Park from 2-3 p.m. and join Anna, Elsa and Kristoff for an afternoon of “Frozen” fun. The Peoria, Ill. local business “A Royal Remembrance” will be hosting a meet and greet at the challenge park with autographs, pictures, and both group and one-on-one interactions for those interested. This event is free to attend and is open to any prince or princess looking to meet some familiar faces, share the best royal stories and make exciting, musical memories. After the event, attendees are encouraged to stop into the challenge park building to continue the fun. Daily passes to Iron Coyote Challenge Park are $18.95 for those over the age of five for one hour, and $9.95 for children five and under for one hour.
Enjoy a movie
Looking for the perfect way to end the weekend? Illinois State University students can visit Braden Auditorium on Sunday March 7 at 7 p.m. for a showing of the hit film “Crazy Rich Asians”, an award-winning romantic comedy full of laughs and heart. This event is hosted by Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality who aim to provide students with safe, encouraging, and beneficial gathering spaces and events.
Attendance to this event is completely free but is only open to ISU students and an RSVP is required in order to maintain the COVID-19 guideline limit of 50 people per gathering. Masks are required at all times while inside the auditorium and social distancing measures will be in place; drinks with a lid are allowed however food is not.
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