The McLean County Museum of History is teaming up with unions for a new way to highlight the skills and services offered by local businesses, unions, trades people, skilled workers and artisans.
The outdoor Trades and Labor Fest of 2022 will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 30 on the museum square in Downtown Bloomington. The Bloomington and Normal Trades and Labor Assembly and Livingston and McLean Counties Building and Construction Trades Council are working alongside the museum to make this event happen.
“It’s such a huge variety of opportunities. People can come to learn about different careers. There will be recruiters, lots of job openings,” museum director of community education Candace Summers said. “But also, just to educate the public about the history of work in our community and the groups and businesses that make up our economy now.”
Businesses and trades in participation will offer activities for attendees to see or even try for themselves. Maps will be offered with a description of where each business or trade will be located. Some participants will be offering giveaways as well.
“We want people to have fun while they’re learning too. This is going to be a very hands-on event where people will get to try their hand at some of these occupations,” Summers said. “They might get to see the tools of those trades, or they’ll see demonstrations of people’s jobs too.”
Some organizations that will be in attendance are Carpenters Local 237, Black Nurses Association of Central Illinois, Otto Baum Company Inc., and Bloomington Fire Department, to name a few. You can see a full list of participants on the museum’s website.
In addition to the festival, three musical performances will be offered on the north side of the museum.
The festival is free and open to the public. Free parking will be available at Lincoln Parking Deck on Front Street. More information can be provided by the museum’s education department at education@mchistory.org or (309) 827-0428.
