2020 BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL AREA OFFICIAL VISITOR GUIDE GAMMA CELEBRATING 90 YEARS OF PHI WOWING CROWDS CIRCUS Feeling Festive page 4 Route 66 Kicks page 12 BN Breweries page 26 Welcome to Bloomington-Normal 800.433.8226 \ VisitBN.org We are honored to have you in our charming CONTACT US communities of Bloomington and Normal! We are 3201 CIRA Drive, Suite 201 pleased to share with you our 2020 Bloomington- Bloomington, IL 61704 309.665.0033 • Phone Normal Area Visitor Guide. 309.661.0743 • Fax VisitBN.org This guide includes the activities and entertainment that will enhance your experience while visiting. We are highlighting Facebook unique festivals, Route 66 nostalgia, and the craftsmanship Facebook.com/VisitBN of our breweries for you. We are also congratulating the Instagram Gamma Phi Circus on 90 years of entertainment. Visit_BN Twitter The Bloomington-Normal area is a dynamic community home @VisitBN to 174,647 people. We are proud to be the home of State YouTube Farm Insurance, COUNTRY Financial, Illinois State University, Youtube.com/BNACVB and Illinois Wesleyan University. Pinterest Pinterest.com/VisitBN If there is anything our office can do to make your visit more enjoyable, please do not hesitate to contact us. The Visitor Guide is published annually Best Regards, by the BNACVB and is distributed locally and nationally throughout the calendar year. For advertising information or questions about the Visitor Guide, please contact our office. The BNACVB has made every attempt CRYSTAL HOWARD to verify the information contained President/CEO, Bloomington-Normal in this guide and assumes no liability Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for incorrect or outdated information. The BNACVB is a publicly funded organization and does not evaluate restaurants, attractions, or events listed in this guide with the exception of our Hotel Standards Program. All information herein is based on materials submitted directly from the organization or business entity or through telephone surveys. Funding is provided in whole or in part Crystal Howard Tari Renner Chris Koos by the Illinois Department of Commerce President/CEO BNACVB Mayor of Bloomington Mayor of Normal and Economic Opportunity. Downtown Bloomington Uptown Normal ©2020 BNACVB. All Rights Reserved. December 2019—35K CONTENTS 4 FEELING FESTIVE BN is home to several annual festivals. Enjoy music, culture, food, and fun! Gamma Phi Circus page 3 BN Breweries page 26 12 ROUTE 66 KICKS There are a lot of stops along the “Mother Road” in Central Illinois. BN the Action BN the Flavors BN the Comfort Zone Resources 8 Arts & Theater 26 Breweries 38 Hotels 22 Events Calendar 10 Museums & History, 27 Restaurants 42 Bed & Breakfast 44 Area Information Route 66 48 Coupons 13 Sports, Play, & 50 Maps Entertainment 17 Outdoor Experiences 20 Shopping VisitBN.org 1 Town of Normal (309) 454-2444 • normal.org Normal Theater (309) 454-9722 • normaltheater.com Uptown Normal (309) 454-9777 • uptownnormal.com Bike Share 309 (309) 454-2444 • normal.org/bikeshare309 Normal Parks and Recreation (309) 454-9540 • NormalParks.org Childrens’s Discovery Museum (309) 433-3444 • childrensdiscoverymuseum.net 2 2020 VISIT BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL Cheers then erupt for Bloomington–Normal’s acclaimed Gamma Phi Circus, which has welcomed and wowed crowds for more than 90 years. Today, Gamma Phi boasts a troupe of 136 performers presenting acts in everything from aerial hoops to perch poles and Russian swing to acro sport. As the oldest collegiate circus in the nation, Gamma Phi’s legacy boasts some of the most notable acrobatic and circus acts in history. It all began in the 1880s, when Bloomington- Normal served as the winter quarters for famous trapeze acts such as the Flying Wards and the Conciellos. While these artists trained right here in our community, they also cultivated a thriving tradition that has fueled Gamma Phi’s continued success. Gamma Phi performers invest countless hours of practice to perfect their execution and technique, making them among the best performers in the world. Show alumni have enjoyed careers with renowned organizations such as Cirque de The Circus Is in Town Soleil and Disney Cruise Lines, A hush settles over the buzzing crowd as and they have even founded original shows and performance the ringleader appears and calls out, Ladies trade organizations. and gentlemen, boys, and girls, welcome! This exuberant and dazzling welcome that has drawn crowds to Gamma Phi Circus all these years is the same sort GAMMA PHI CIRCUS 2020 SPRING HOME SHOW of welcome we extend to all Friday, April 17, 7 p.m. who visit Bloomington-Normal. Saturday, April 18, 1 p.m. & 7 p.m. We can’t wait for you to see Tickets available February 14 by phone (309.438.8000) this event that helps make our or online (GoRedbirds.com/GammaPhi) community special. VisitBN.org 3 Summer of Festivals COME BACK EVERY YEAR! Ahhhh, summer! There’s nothing like a bright, blue sky stretched above miles of farmland. Summertime begs to be experienced and the summer festival schedule in Bloomington–Normal is a great way to take it in. 1 COGS & CORSETS: A CENTRAL ILLINOIS STEAMPUNK HAPPENING Festival season kicks off with a whimsical family-friendly event now entering its fourth year: Cogs & Corsets: A Central Illinois Steampunk Happening. Steampunk refers to historical gardens across our community endeavors. Festivalgoers also Victorian style combined with start at the majestic David Davis enjoy behind-the-scenes tours, anachronistic technological Mansion, where festivalgoers live jazz music, ice cream features that are inspired can see Sarah Davis’s original socials with the cast and crew, by science fiction. For this garden from the late 1800s. and nightly green shows. Shows Steampunk Event, festivalgoers run June 4–August 8, 2020. converge in historic downtown ILLINOIS SHAKESPEARE Bloomington donning corsets FESTIVAL SUGAR CREEK and gadgets for a weekend Running throughout the ARTS FESTIVAL of workshops, artistry, and summer is one of Bloomington– Our annual Sugar Creek Arts performances. So grab your Normal’s finest offerings, Festival fills the streets of cogs and corsets, and mark the Illinois Shakespeare Uptown Normal with more than your calendar for June 5–7— Festival (ISF). In its 43rd 125 arts and crafts vendors from you’ll want to be here to year, the ISF is a professional across the country. Festivalgoers experience it firsthand. repertory company devoted of all ages will wander the to performing the works of streets July 11–12 at one of the GLORIOUS GARDEN Shakespeare, in addition to most popular juried art and craft FESTIVAL new works written in his spirit. festivals in the Midwest. The Join us June 19–20 to stroll Each season draws more than combination of high-quality art, through the lushest gardens in 10,000 patrons to see three kids activities, live music, and Bloomington-Normal during the main-stage productions, free interesting food and drink has Glorious Garden Festival. These family-friendly performances, kept the streets of Normal full of walk-through tours of private and numerous community color and activity year after year. 4 2020 VISIT BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL 2 3 4 In Pictures 1. Front Street Music Festival 2. Illinois Shakespeare Festival 3. Lincoln’s Festival 4. Sugar Creek 5 6 Arts Festival 5–6. Cogs & Corsets LINCOLN’S FESTIVAL FRONT STREET Gamma Phi Circus, Illinois State ON ROUTE 66 MUSIC FESTIVAL University’s student circus, Right here in central Illinois Downtown Bloomington has provides an immersive circus is where Route 66 meets long been a cultural center, and experience with both dedicated the Land of Lincoln, which the Front Street Music Festival performance areas and roving is the inspiration for Lincoln’s was created to celebrate our street performers. Festival on Route 66. Held community’s contribution to in Downtown Bloomington, great music and art. Acts from this family-friendly event across the country give live has something for everyone! performances and local food Theatrical performances, vendors offer delicious fare. Mark a classic car cruise-in, your calendars for August 15! presentations by distinguished historians, children’s activities, SWEET CORN CIRCUS live music—even a visit from What’s a Sweet Corn Circus? Abraham Lincoln himself! It’s a lively two-day celebration, Join us Saturday, July 18, August 22–23, of Bloomington- for a fun-filled day commemo- Normal’s circus and agricultural rating our nation’s 16th roots! Serving up more than president and famed 50,000 ears of fresh sweet roadways. It is a chance corn each year, as well as to step into history and sidewalk sales and arts, crafts, experience it. and flea market vendors. 5 6 2020 VISIT BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL BN the Action Make the most of your visit. Experience history, see a play, or enjoy the outdoors. ARTS & THEATER / MUSEUMS & HISTORY / SPORTS, PLAY, & ENTERTAINMENT / OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES / SHOPPING / VisitBN.org 7 BN THE ACTION: ARTS & THEATER Joann Goetzinger Marcus Bloomington Studio and Gallery Cinema + IMAX Arts & Theater 313 North Main Street, 1111 Wylie Drive Suite A Bloomington, IL 61705 Bloomington, IL 61701 MarcusTheatres.com JoannGoetzinger.com 309.828.8081 309.826.1193 New Vision Ovation Main Gallery 404, Inc. Cinema Grill 404 North Main Street 415 Detroit Drive Bloomington, IL 61701 Bloomington, IL 61704 404MainGallery.com NewVisionTheatres.com 309.828.9500 309.661.2452 Manneken Press Normal Theater 1106 East Bell Street 209 West North Street Bloomington, IL 61701 Normal, IL 61761 MannekenPress.com NormalTheater.com 309.829.7443 309.454.9722 National Register McLean County Arts Center of Historic Places 601 North East Street Bloomington, IL 61701 MCAC.org • 309.829.0011 PAINTING Illinois Shakespeare Festival & POTTERY Merwin & Wakeley Galleries Ames School of Art Artful Designs 6 Ames Plaza West 502 North Prospect Road, Bloomington, IL 61701 Suite 24 ART GALLERIES Grey Dove Gallery IWU.edu/art/galleries Bloomington, IL 61704 & Wings Studio 309.556.3822 ArtfulDesignsOnline.com 309.664.6655 Angel Ambrose Fine Art 105 A-B W.