Celebrando las Fiestas Patrias (Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month)

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Celebrando las Fiestas Patrias (Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month)

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Sunday, September 21, 2025 - 3–9 p.m.

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Creative Placemaking

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Bloomington Central Station Park

¡Evento gratuito y para toda la familia! Celebra las diversas celebraciones de independencia y la cultura de México, y el Mes Nacional de la Herencia Hispana.

  • Miguel Ángel Fernández interpretará himnos nacionales;
  • Bandas como Los Parranderos y la banda de Chinelos;
  • Presentaciones de música y danza;
  • Camiones de comida;
  • ¡Actividades para niños, un toro mecánico, pintacaritas ¡y mucho más!

Presentado por Gilberto Díaz, Luro Boots. Patrocinado en parte por Creative Placemaking de la Ciudad de Bloomington.

Free, family friendly event! Celebrate the various celebrations of independence and culture of Mexico and National Hispanic Heritage Month.

  • Miguel Angel Fernandez will sing national anthems;
  • Bands including Los Parranderos, Chinelos band;
  • Music and dance performances;
  • Food trucks;
  • Kids activities, a mechanical bull, face painting, and more!

Presented by Gilberto Diaz, Luro Boots. Sponsored in part by City of Bloomington Creative Placemaking. 

Bloomington Community Blood Drive

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Bloomington Community Blood Drive

Date(s)
Wednesday, January 7, 2026 - 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

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Red Cross

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Give blood. Save lives.

  • 1 donation can potentially save up to 3 lives.
  • Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.
  • A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.
  • The blood type most often requested by hospitals is type O.

Choose your donation time

Advance registration is required for this event. 

Blood drive
Ways to register
1. Online
  1. Go to the event registration page.
  2. Find the drive you are looking for, organized by date, and click "See Times."
  3. Click "Give Blood" next to your chosen time slot.
  4. Sign-in or create an account to finish scheduling your appointment.

2. Use the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App

3. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS

What to do before, during and after your donation

  • Get a good night's sleep before the day you are donating.
  • Eat a healthy meal before your donation.
  • Drink an extra 16 oz. of water or nonalcoholic fluids before the donation.
  • Remember to bring your donor card, driver's license or two other forms of ID to your donation appointment.

​For more tips, visit the American Red Cross blood donation page.

Safety Precautions

Please DO NOT come to the blood drive if you have symptoms of illness or are not feeling well.

The Red Cross and the City are taking several precautions to help ensure a safe environment for donors, volunteers and Red Cross staff. 

These precautions include:

  • Blood drive will be by appointment only; no walk-ins will be allowed.
  • Blood donors and Red Cross staff and volunteers will be asked to enter and leave from the east entrance of the building, near Rehearsal Hall.
  • All Red Cross staff participate in standard health assessments prior to each blood drive.
  • Masks are welcome, but not required at Bloomington Civic Plaza.
  • All donors will be temperature-screened before entering the blood drive.
  • Blood donors will be asked to use hand sanitizer before and during the donation process.
  • Staff wear gloves throughout the donation process, changing gloves between every donor.
  • Donor beds will be sanitized between every donor.
  • Social distancing practices will be maintained between donors including donor beds, as well as waiting and refreshment areas.

Questions about donating?

Contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS.
Address
Room Name/Location
Rehearsal Hall

Bloomington Business Forum

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Bloomington Business Forum

Date(s)
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 - 8–10 a.m.

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Port Authority

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Room Name/Location
City Council Chambers
Staff and attendees at the business forum

Join the City of Bloomington for a morning of insight, connection and opportunity at our second annual business forum. Hear directly about the state of the regional economy, explore procurement opportunities with the city, county and state, and connect with fellow business owners, entrepreneurs and community leaders. Help shape Bloomington’s next chapter by sharing what businesses need to grow, adapt and thrive over the next 20 years.

Free to attend. Space is limited. Registration opens July 28 and closes on September 21.
Register on EventBrite

Stay connected with 50+ programs at Logan Lodge

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Stay connected with 50+ programs at Logan Lodge

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Creekside Community Center closed at the beginning of June to make way for the new Community Health and Wellness Center. Logan Lodge, 9930 Logan Ave. S., is the temporary location for many 50+ programs. The new space opened June 16 and will host activities including card groups, needleworking, crafting programs and more.

To stay up to date on special events and other program news, sign up for The Penn Post, a free monthly mailer delivered right to your home. Each issue includes schedules, event details and important updates for participants.

Learn more or sign up for the mailer at blm.mn/adultprograms.

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The 2026 budget and our path forward: Prioritizing what matters most

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The 2026 budget and our path forward: Prioritizing what matters most

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By Mayor Tim Busse

Each year the City Council approves a budget to fund City services such as Public Safety, Public Works, and Parks and Recreation. This year, like many other organizations in Minnesota and around the country, the City of Bloomington is facing budget challenges. City staff are navigating these challenges by looking for ways to prioritize what matters most like the services that have the greatest impact on the community.

What’s driving the budget pressure?
  • Expiring funding sources.

  • Rising costs of goods and services.

  • Aging infrastructure and facilities.

Shifting to Priority-Based Budgeting

To navigate these pressures, the City is implementing Priority-Based Budgeting—a set of government finance best practices to help:

  • Evaluate all City programs based on outcomes and community value.

  • Align resources with the Bloomington. Tomorrow. Together. strategic plan priorities.

  • Increase transparency and accountability.

  • Make data-driven, strategic decisions.

What you need to know
  • We’re committed to understanding the impacts of these budget decisions on the community.

  • We’ll use resident feedback, data and new tools to make strategic, sustainable decisions.

  • Final decisions rest with the City Council, with guidance from City staff and the new budgeting model.

Stay informed at blm.mn/budget.

Final budget decisions will be made by the City Council on December 22.

Budget milestones
Contact Information

Contact Information

City Council Office

Public Health Drop-in - Oasis for Youth

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Public Health Drop-in - Oasis for Youth

Date(s)
Thursday, September 25, 2025 - 2–3 p.m.

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Public Health Department

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Folks visiting Oasis for Youth can check in with a Bloomington Public Health Nurse to get connected to services and support with sexual health education and pregnancy & parenting support, referrals for programming offered by the Public Health Division, free health resources that include but aren’t limited to low-cost medical care, dental, health insurance, childcare, transportation, food, housing-related resources, and anything else that may be helpful. 

This drop-in time typically occurs on the last Thursday of the month from 2pm-3pm.

Public Health Drop-In - VEAP

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Public Health Drop-In - VEAP

Date(s)
Thursday, September 11, 2025 - 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

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Public Health Department

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Stop by to meet Public Health staff every month to learn more about the work they do, get resources, and stay up to date on public health information.

This drop-in typically occurs on the second Thursday of the month.

Room Name/Location
Lobby area

Public Health Drop-in - Southgate Apartments

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Public Health Drop-in - Southgate Apartments

Date(s)
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 - 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

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Public Health Department

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Drop in to get information from Community Health Workers on low-cost medical care, dental care, health insurance, childcare, transportation, food, housing-related resources (including rental assistance and eviction support), anything else that may be helpful, or make a one-on-one appointment for personalized resource assistance.

This drop-in typically occurs on the first and third Wednesday of the month.

Public Health Drop-in - Southgate Apartments

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Public Health Drop-in - Southgate Apartments

Date(s)
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 - 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

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Public Health Department

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Drop in to get information from Community Health Workers on low-cost medical care, dental care, health insurance, childcare, transportation, food, housing-related resources (including rental assistance and eviction support), anything else that may be helpful, or make a one-on-one appointment for personalized resource assistance.

This drop-in typically occurs on the first and third Wednesday of the month.

Immunization clinic with Public Health Nurses

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Immunization clinic with Public Health Nurses

Date(s)
Tuesday, September 16, 2025 - 12:30–4 p.m.

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Public Health Department

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Immunizations available by appointment. Please call 952-563-8900 to schedule with an intake nurse. There is a $20 donation request per vaccination. However, no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

This clinic is typically held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month.

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