What is Granfalloon?

Presented by the IU Arts and Humanities Council and inspired by legendary Hoosier author Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Granfalloon brings together musicians, artists, thinkers, and good people from all walks of life for a celebration of art, ideas, and community.

The festival kicks off the Bloomington summer arts season and highlights the creative spirit of our region by tapping into the enduring ethos of Vonnegut’s life and work: promoting civic engagement, encouraging independent thought, and championing art and creativity as essential to the spiritual life of individuals and the health of our democracy.

Granfalloon is presented concurrently and in partnership with the Indiana University Writers’ Conference and the Bloomington Handmade MarketFestival events take place in venues all around Bloomington and encompass a wide range of creative forms including live music concerts, literary readings, art exhibits, film screenings, theatrical performances, panel discussions, craft workshops, interactive demos,and more! 

So it goes...

Our team is disappointed to announce that the Granfalloon Festival Main Stage concert is moving indoors due to inclement weather. The concert will now take place inside the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
 
Rain and scattered thunderstorms are forecasted during our scheduled Main Stage concert. Unfortunately, given all the moving parts, we had to make this decision today.
 
While we are fortunate to have an alternative venue, the audience capacity will reduce upon moving indoors.
 
The Buskirk-Chumley Theater has a seating capacity of ~500 that will be first come, first served. Once capacity is reached, we will operate on a one-in, one-out policy. For folks joining us, please plan accordingly!
 
The performance schedule remains unchanged.
Start times are listed below:

Doors open: 3pm
Tortilla Jackson: 4pm
Murder by Death: 5pm
Thee Sacred Souls: 6:45pm
Mavis Staples: 8:30pm 

“Busy, busy, busy, is what we Bokononists whisper whenever we think of how complicated and unpredictable the machinery of life really is.”- Kurt Vonnegut

Granfalloon 2025 Guest Spotlight

Mavis Staples

Performing Artist, Musician
June 7 | Main Stage

More about Mavis Staples

Thee Sacred Souls

Musical Group
June 7 | Main Stage

More about Thee Sacred Souls

Murder by Death

Musical Group
June 7 | Main Stage

More about Murder by Death

Lynda Barry

Artist, Author
June 5 | Buskirk-Chumley Theater

More about Lynda Barry

Keith L. Andrews

Sculpture Artist
June 6 | Cook Center

More about Keith L. Andrews

Christina Jarvis

Professor, Vonnegut Scholar
June 8 | Cook Center

More about Christina Jarvis

Granfalloon 2025 Novel

Every year, we select a Kurt Vonnegut novel as a way to highlight relevant themes and generate thoughtful discussion. This year's novel is Cat's Cradle, the novel from which our festival gets its name and for which Vonnegut received his master's degree in anthropology from the University of Chicago. With short chapters and dark humor, Vonnegut explores how humans build and destroy community through science, technology, religion, art, and so much more. It's a great entry point for folks unfamiliar with Vonnegut's work, and we hope you'll dive in with us!

                    

Kurt Vonnegut Jr. receives an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Indiana University, 1973.