Lotus Festival Accessibility

The Lotus Education and Arts Foundation is committed to providing arts programs that are accessible to audiences of all ages and abilities.

Festival events and public workshops occur in indoor venues conforming to the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and outdoor venues (tents and parks) provide street-level access to all performances. Please see below for accessibility information specific to past and present Festival venues. Friendly volunteers are always available to assist patrons at workshops and at the Festival with directions and information about venue access.

Our office is happy to work directly with patrons requiring materials in other formats, including large-print program information available on request. 

While animals are generally prohibited in Festival venues, we DO welcome service animals that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.

Download accessible typed schedule here.

Additional accommodations for special needs are available on request – please call us at 812-336-6599 for more information.

Frequently used Festival and workshop/performance venues include:

Buskirk-Chumley Theater (BCT): 114 E Kirkwood Ave

The Buskirk-Chumley Theater and the BCT Box Office have sidewalk-level main entrance doors. Accessible seating is available on the main floor, including an area for wheelchairs. The theater has two accessible bathrooms in the interior lobby on the main floor. Wireless assisted-listening headsets are available for all performances and are distributed by the house manager on duty.  Service animals are welcome.An ASL interpreter will be present for the opening and closing concerts at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.

First Christian Church: 205 E Kirkwood Ave

Wheelchair access is available from the west side of the building, using the doors facing Washington Street.  Accessible bathrooms are located on both the lower floor and upper floor (elevator available). Service animals  are welcome. 

Trinity Episcopal Church: 111 S Grant St

Wheelchair access is available at the Kirkwood entrance. Accessible bathrooms are located on the lower ground floor. Service animals are welcome.

Lotus Local Stage: On Kirkwood between Grant St and Lincoln St

The stage for this outdoor venue is located on Kirkwood Avenue, close to the intersection of Kirkwood and Lincoln Street. Accessible ramps are available along the sidewalk on Kirkwood, and an accessible port-o-let will be available in the alley East of Old National Bank.

Lotus in the Park – Switchyard Park: 1601 S Rogers St

Lotus in the Park is located at Switchyard Park, a Bloomington Parks and Recreation facility. Switchyard Park is ADA accessible, with all entrances and exits to public facilities at sidewalk level. Venues within the park can be reached by paved paths. Accessible parking spaces are available in the main lot off of S. Rogers Street, and the smaller lot off of Walnut Street. The brick walkway in front of the main stage is reserved for wheelchair access only. Accessible restrooms are available inside the building next to the splash pad, inside of the pavilion, and an accessible port-o-let will be available on the paved path at the rear of the mainstage lawn. Wheelchairs are available at the Volunteer/Merchandise tent next to the main shelter. Service animals are welcome.

FAR Center for Contemporary Arts: 505 W 4th St

FAR is proud to be an AccessAbility business, designated by the City of Bloomington Council for Community Accessibility. All of our entrances, on both Fourth Street and Rogers are wheelchair accessible, we have an interior ramp that allows access to all parts of the building. Our gender neutral family bathroom is equipped with a changing table. All restrooms are ADA accessible. Service animals are welcome.

Festival Store: 116 S Walnut St

The festival store is located between the John Waldron Center and the green awning for Fountain Square Mall. The entrance to the festival store is wheelchair accessible, and accessible restrooms located within Fountain Square Mall. A key is needed for restroom access. Please ask a Festival Store volunteer for help.

Wheelchairs 

Two wheelchairs will be provided courtesy of Mobility Aids Lending Library (MALL) for patrons who may need them during the event. The wheelchairs will be  located at the Info Tent, located on Kirkwood Ave. between N Walnut St. and N Washington St, and can be rented upon request.

For Lotus in the Park on Saturday, 12-5 p.m., two wheelchairs will be available to rent at the Park Volunteer & Merchandise Tent, near the entrance to the main stage lawn at Switchyard Park.

Non Verbal Communication Boards

Thanks to a donation from the  Autism Society of Indiana, Lotus is able to offer a new accessibility tool for use at the festival. Non Verbal Communication Boards are a visual communication tool that allow for greater understanding when verbal communication is not possible. These boards are available at five Lotus Festival venues, including Info Tent on Kirkwood, and the Park Volunteer & Merchandise Tent at Lotus in the Park.

Tent Venues

Lotus street tents have street-level access for entry/exit, and accessible port-o-let restrooms are available nearby.  Tents are designed as standing-room venues; however, some limited seating is available on a first-come basis.  Service animals welcome.

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Photo credits, from top:
2013 Festival parade, photo by Garrett Poortinga; Indian violinist Lalitha performs in the First Christian Church at the 2013 Festival, photo by Andy Qualls.

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