It’s just about that time of year again– the annual Lotus festival, a longtime staple of Bloomingtonian culture and a chance to experience choice aspects of numerous cultures from around the world, begins this Thursday, September 15. This year’s festival marks the twenty-third, as the Lotus Education and Arts Foundation once again brings a flavorful sample of international cultures to downtown Bloomington and locals once again come out to celebrate.

The 2016 Lotus Festival is set to feature a plethora of different activities, from musical performances to artistic showcases, and will host performances by 35 different performers hailing from as nearby as Nashville, Indiana to as far abroad as Finland and Sudan. Performances and exhibitions are hosted in a number of different venues– tents, local parks, churches– and in addition to paid admission events (visitors can purchase an all-access wristband for the entire festival) the festival also offers over 40 hours of free entertainment at Third Street Park.

Schedules for the weekend’s events can be found online here: http://www.lotusfest.org/2016-festival-information/