Miriam Padilla and her family are preparing a community ofrenda for the McLean County Museum of History's free Día de Muertos celebration on Saturday, where visitors can view offerings + join cultural programming.
Fleet Feet Bloomington and the city's parks and recreation department will host the 48th annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving at Miller Park Pavilion, featuring a kids' run, a 3-mile run, and a 1.5-mile walk (registration online or onsite starts at 8 a.m.).
The Illinois Symphony Orchestra will open its season with spooky classics at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct.
31 at the ISU Center for the Performing Arts, officially christening the enlarged Carole and Jerry Ringer Stage. The renovation added a 12-foot stage extension and upgraded lighting, brings the audience 12 feet closer, and ISO will run golf cart transport from the South garage during ongoing east-side work (400 W. Beaufort St.).
Heartland Community College will host a free FAFSA workshop to help high school seniors and prospective students complete the 2027-28 form on Thursday, Oct.
29 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Lincoln campus (financial aid representatives will provide guidance and answer questions).
City council approved ordinances to back Cullinan Properties' planned $11.3 million purchase of the 53-acre Eastland Mall site, saying the deal could close between November and January and approving an 80%, one-year loan guarantee to help secure financing.
The city also hired PGAV for a $30,000 TIF feasibility study and would vote on creating a TIF from January–April 2027 (demolition may begin by fall 2027).
Bloomington's Día de Muertos event featured traditional music, food, and crafts as community members gathered to honor loved ones and celebrate Mexican cultural traditions.
Illinois gas averaged $4.89 a gallon after an Oct.
20 outage at the ExxonMobil Joliet refinery (a 50,000-barrel-per-day unit) and rising global crude costs, AAA says, so drivers should expect higher Midwest pump prices in the days before the Nov. 3 election.
The McLean County Community Behavioral Health Forum will be held Thursday at Illinois State University and will offer free breakout sessions, a resource fair, and continuing education credits for attendees.
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