Whether you're a first time fest-goer or a Granfalloon veteran, this page will help you prepare for all the granfalloonery that is in store!
If you’re planning a trip to beautiful Bloomington, Indiana, for the festival, check out Visit Bloomington for a list of great places to visit, eat, and soak in the culture of Indiana's coolest city.
Our friends at the Graduate Hotel Bloomington are offering special rates for attendees who want to stay on Kirkwood Ave. in the heart of downtown and right in the center of all the Granfalloon action.
Granfalloon is conveniently located in the heart of Bloomington and was intended to be a very walkable festival. The festival itself runs from Kirkwood and Indiana (Sample Gates) to Kirkwood and Walnut (Uptown Cafe), with easy access to the Bloomington Handmade Market just off of Kirkwood near The Graduate Hotel. Interactive Bloomington maps can be found on the Visit Bloomington website.
Bloomington is the biking capital of Indiana (according to us..!) and Granfalloon is a festival that fully embraces that. The City of Bloomington works to develop a connected network of safe and convenient facilities that enable people of all ages and mobilities to walk or bike to their destinations!
There will be multiple bike racks stationed on Kirkwood Ave. for bikers to park and enjoy the festival! For a comprehensive and interactive bike map, check out the Visit Bloomington website.
While Bloomington is a car-friendly city, it may be hard to navigate during Granfalloon weekend due to the ‘granfalloonery’ occurring on Kirkwood and the foot-traffic at the Bloomington Handmade Market.
Parking
For easy access to the festival, you’ll want to park on the streets near Kirkwood Avenue– avoid high traffic areas like Grant or Lincoln as those will be occupied by floods of festival guests during the day. Most of the parking spaces in Bloomington use ParkMobile for payment, download the app here to prepare for your visit! There is free parking in the Indiana University employee parking lots on weekends but beware…there is limited space!
Below is information regarding campus and city bus transportation-- maps are included on this website but you can also download the Double Map app and select IU Campus Bus Service or Bloomington Transit to see real-time bus updates and route information!
Campus Bus Service
The IU campus bus is a bus service that spans throughout campus using various routes. No IDs, passes or fares are required to ride. The closest bus stop to the Granfalloon Festival is the Sample Gates stop located on Kirkwood & Indiana. It can be accessed using the CM, E or F bus routes. See bus route map here.
Bloomington Transit
The city of Bloomington also has a bus service that you can utilize for a small fee. Fare information and passes can be purchased here. All Bloomington transit route maps can be found here.
Granfalloon is partnering with two local sustainability champions– EarthKeepers Bloomington Compost and Sustain IU to help make our festival more sustainable.
To help reach this goal, we’re encouraging all Granfalloon food and beverage vendors to use recyclable and compostable dinnerware! We will also have multiple recycling and compost stations plus a Green Team who will help enforce sustainability at the fest!
Plan to bring a reusable water bottle, as there are several locations on Kirkwood where you can refill it!
For those interested in biking to the festival, find a map of Bloomington's bike routes here.
In order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, we are strongly encouraging guests to wear masks at all indoor panels, readings and discussions. Events at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater and the Monroe County Public Library auditorium will require masks to ensure everyone stays safe and healthy.
Multiple booths at the festival will have PPE, including masks and hand sanitizer. For help finding these resources, please visit the Home Base tent or ask any volunteer for more information!
