McLean County Cultural Scene Offers Excellent To-Do List
Now that's entertainment. McLean County has a robust cultural scene, and here are some events and venues that are worthy of a standing ovation:
Normal Theater
The Normal was built in 1937 and closed in 1990, but the Town of Normal has since restored the theater to its original art deco splendor. Moviegoers today can enjoy its plush coral-colored seats, a ceiling of layered multi-colored neon, and walls of maroon, salmon and silver.
McLean County Arts Center
MCAC showcases 12 exhibitions yearly, including a Holiday Treasures display and an Amateur Competition and Exhibition. The center also offers art classes, artist lectures, art workshops for children and adults, and associated performing and literary arts presentations.
Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts
The BCPA is a showpiece of the Cultural District in the north end of Bloomington’s downtown, and offers performing, visual arts and arts education. It welcomes 25,000 patrons each year to a season of visitor artist performances.
Illinois Symphony Orchestra
The symphony was formed in 1993 and has performed at the Illinois State Fair and the 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration. Annual concerts occur at multiple venues, including the University of Illinois Sangamon Auditorium, the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts and First Presbyterian Church in Normal.
Illinois Shakespeare Festival
Every summer since 1978, a collection of theater professionals and interns unite in Bloomington-Normal to produce energetic new interpretations of The Great Bard's works. Performances occur from late June through mid-August, staged at the open air Theatre at Ewing.
Community Players Theatre
It is one of the oldest volunteer community theaters in America, having debuted in 1923. The theater provides opportunities for anyone from McLean County and the surrounding communities to display their talents in plays, musicals and children's productions.
Sweet Corn Blues Festival
More than 50,000 ears of fresh sweet corn, sidewalk sales, arts, crafts and flea market vendors gather for two days in late August on the streets of Uptown Normal. Some of the best blues music around is part of the festival that welcomes back the students at Illinois State University.
Route 66
The famed historic highway that spans from Chicago to L.A. includes a stretch through McLean County, and locals and visitors can check out interesting sites such as Cotton's Village Inn, Sprague's Super Service and the unincorporated community of Funks Grove.
Downtown Bloomington
Entertaining and appealing annual activities and attractions include Tour de Metro, Chocolate Challenge, Once Upon a Holiday and a Downtown Bloomington Farmers' Market.
