Yes, Bloomington, there is a Santa and an in-person Canopy of Lights ceremony this year

Rachel Smith, The Herald-Times

November 22, 2021 at 3:15 PM·7 min read

Canopy of lights on the courthouse square in Bloomington.

Bloomington is ramping up for the holiday season with some local festive staples happening throughout this week.

On Friday, the Canopy of Lights ceremony will light downtown Bloomington, where residents can also shop for unique finds at local stores the next day during Shop Small Business Saturday. The Holiday Market will also be held on Saturday for some holiday shopping with special deals and festive guests.

For some relaxed family activities throughout this week, BCT will host a classic holiday movie and Lake Monroe has a unique hiking challenge.

Canopy of Lights on Friday

Downtown Bloomington will be aglow with twinkling lights and bustling activities during the annual Canopy of Lights ceremony.

Monroe History Center will host an open house from 5-8 p.m. where families can play games, make holiday-themed crafts and look at the center's "A Gateway to Imagination" exhibit. Classic dolls, action figures, board games, toy trains and many more childhood favorites will be on display. Masks are required in the building.

At the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra will host two “Celebrate the Season” performances with music centered around peace and thanksgiving at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. The 5:30 p.m. show will feature a special guest from the North Pole and finish just in time for families to make the Canopy of Lights celebration later in the evening. The 8 p.m. performance will be an expanded show that attendees can watch while warming up from the cold after the ceremony. Sylvia McNair will narrate a unique ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas story and Lucia Walker will sing "I Dreamed a Dream." Dancers from Motion Arts Dance Academy will also perform to excerpts from Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. Tickets can be purchased now at https://bit.ly/3DGpcmJ. The BCT requires attendees to wear a mask as well as provide verification of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test.

More: Bloomington Chamber Singers to perform holiday pieces by Britten

Beginning at 5 p.m., a new pop-up art gallery and creative space called the Accrete Art Collective will have its holiday season grand opening at 110 N. Walnut St., which is the former location of Opie Taylor's. The galley will feature 16 contemporary artists.

A variety of other live music will be performed throughout the evening on the Monroe County Courthouse square.

Thousands watch as Santa and Mayor John Hamilton turn on the lights during the 2019 Canopy of Lights ceremony in downtown Bloomington.

Starting at 5:30 p.m., an acoustic performance by Charlie Jesseph will be on the west side of the square, where attendees can also enjoy costumed characters, hot chocolate and more.

On the Kirkwood Avenue stage, the Bloomington High School North Sparks Quartet will perform Jazzy Holiday Tunes at 5:30 p.m., followed by a performance from the Bloomington Brass Band at 6:15 p.m.

Bloomington Chamber Singers will perform on the east side of the courthouse at 6 p.m.

The Canopy of Lights ceremony will begin on the Kirkwood stage at 6:45 p.m. with Jim Inman as the host. IU Health Hospice Director Stephanie Cain will lead the "Light up a Life" tribute in memory of a local volunteer, Keith Klein. Cardinal Stage will perform “Merry Almost Christmas” from the theater company's upcoming holiday show, "A Year with Frog and Toad." Windfall Dancers Inc. will perform "Jingle Bell Rock” as dancing holiday elves.

Pandemic holidays: Santa and Mrs. Claus hosted virtual sessions in 2020

Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton, Bloomington Symphony Orchestra Conductor Alejandro Gómez Guillén and Downtown Bloomington Inc. Board President Jerry Hays will lead the community sing-along of "Jingle Bells" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." At 7 p.m., “Here Comes Santa Claus” will usher Santa on stage to light the Canopy of Lights.

Santa will also make his first appearance at Fountain Square Mall, 101 W. Kirkwood Ave., immediately following the lighting ceremony.

Mackenzey Shatto prepares bows for the wreaths purchased by Laurie Samuelson, of Bloomington, during the 2018 Holiday Market. Vendors selling arts, crafts and produce will be outside at the Showers Common for this year’s Holiday Market.

Holiday Market on Saturday

The annual Holiday Market returns on Saturday in the Showers Common area, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Local artisans will display handcrafted goods alongside Bloomington Community Farmers' Market vendors.

Residents can work on their holiday shopping while also enjoying live music from the Bloomington Chamber Singers, The Movin' Hips and Trumusiq. At 11:30 a.m., IU Ballet will perform a preview of "The Nutcracker." Santa Claus himself is also guaranteed to visit the market.

Shop Small Business Saturday

Residents also can finish up or at least make a dent in their holiday shopping needs on Small Business Saturday with several local stores offering big deals on unique items. This Saturday, Bloomington will offer free parking on the street, parking garages and lots to encourage residents to make the most out of these limited-time promotions.

To complement the holiday sales, residents can look through Bloomington Brick and Mortar's gift guide at https://bit.ly/3FxuJwo for a variety of locally-crafted and curated goods.

Here are just a few of the upcoming holiday deals:

The Bicycle Garage will offer a free shop water bottle with a purchase of $25 or more. As part of the holiday kick-off season, the store is offering a variety of Trek and Electra children’s and adult-size bikes. If one is shopping for that cyclist in their life, the shop will have a full line of gear and clothing as well as gift certificates.

Between Friday through Monday, Mirth will have 25% off of favorite items.

More: Check out these area holiday craft shows, bazaars

At Elan Salon, all retail products, including thermal tools and brushes, will be 15% off both in-store and online. The salon is also fundraising for Middle Way House and accepting donations of personal care items (body wash, lotion, makeup brushes), nonperishable pantry items and cash or Walmart gift cards in any amount. If a resident donates, their name will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a gift basket of hair products that is valued at more than $100. The drawing will take place on Dec. 24.

Global Gifts, which features online shopping and in-store pickup, has the following sale: $5 off $50, $10 off $100, $20 off $200.

At Mainstream Boutique Bloomington, shoppers will receive a free gift with any purchase while supplies last.

Holiday Hiking Challenge at Monroe Lake

Walk off that Thanksgiving meal with a fun, socially-distanced activity for the whole family.

In Lake Monroe's "Holiday Hiking Challenge," residents are tasked with hiking all of the lake's trails and completing 16 challenge stations between Nov. 25 and Nov. 28. The total hiking distance is between 10 to 14 miles and includes three new trails that aren't set to officially open until 2022.

To complete the challenge, participants must complete an activity station posted on each trail and document it by taking a photo. Participants can then submit their total photo set of completed challenges via a link on the event's Facebook page at https://bit.ly/3Dyr9BS. Photos must be submitted by Nov. 28.

Those who complete the challenge will have their names entered in a prize drawing. Prices include 2022 Indiana State Parks Annual Entrance passes and a guided kayak trip for up to eight people.

The holiday hiking guide that outlines the trails and where the activity stations are located will be posted on the event's Facebook page on Wednesday evening.

Some of the areas that will be included in the challenge are the Paynetown, Allens Creek and Fairfax state recreation areas.

A Miracle on 34th Street at BCT

Get in the Christmas spirit a little early this year with the classic, "Miracle on 34th Street" (1947), showing at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater at 7 p.m. Saturday.

In the film, an elderly man claims to be the real life Santa Claus, leading to a court case as citizens try to assess his mental health and the authenticity of his claim.

While younger viewers may be more familiar with the film's 1994 remake with Mara Wilson, residents have the chance to watch the original film on the big screen.

The 1947 film is heralded as essential holiday viewing along with the likes of "It's a Wonderful Life" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

Tickets are $8 each and can be purchased at https://bit.ly/3oPyZ3V. Attendees must wear a mask indoors and provide verification of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington Canopy of Lights, Holiday Market downtown this week

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