Transportation and Parking Minimize

TRANSPORTATION

The Festival does not provide transportation. Transportation remains the responsibility of each individual and high school.

PARKING

Due to renovations taking place at the Bone Student Center, please check back here the week of December 2, 2019 for the most up-to-date parking instructions.  The below is subject to change as the Festival date approaches. 

Directions to the Bone Student Center (200 N. University St., Normal, IL 61761) 

Parking regulations will be strictly enforced. Buses parked illegally will be required to move immediately.  Cars parked illegally will be ticketed. It is the responsibility of each person and school to abide by ISU’s parking policies.

During registration Thursday night (4:00 pm – 9:30 pm), buses/vans will be allowed to stop on University Street ONLY long enough to drop off sponsors who are picking up registration materials.  ISU Police Officers will be on-site to keep buses/vans moving.  Students will NOT be allowed to exit the buses/vans on University street.

During the Festival, buses/vans will NOT be allowed to park or drop off students on University St, Locust St, or College Ave. Buses/vans are to park in Lot G85W, G85E, or G86 (See campus map below). There is no charge for buses to park in these lots. Students should load and unload buses in these three parking lots. Students will exit the Bone Student Center via the East entrance (near McAlister’s Deli) and walk through the Bone Student Center parking lot to the bus/van location. This will be monitored closely in order to alleviate concerns expressed by Illinois State University and the Normal Police Department.

The Bone Student Center and South University visitor parking lots will be open for a fee. General public may park in either lot for $1.00 per hour on Thursday and Friday. There will be no charge for parking on Saturday.
MAPS 

Due to renovations taking place at the Bone Student Center, please check back here the week of December 2, 2019 for the most up-to-date maps. The below is subject to change as the Festival date approaches.  All maps will be updated on the website by September 9th.

CAMPUS MAP: This includes parking lot locations 
PARKING MAP: This includes additional parking information
UPTOWN NORMAL MAP: A close walk from campus
BONE STUDENT CENTER INTERIOR MAP: Full list and locations of meetings spaces within the building
EXHIBITOR LOAD-IN MAP: Load-in map and instructions for Exhibitors
Meals

ADVANCED PURCHASE MEAL TICKETS (OPTIONAL)

Watterson Dining Commons is open for Theatre Festival participant’s lunches. A $17.60 meal ticket provides lunch for one person on both Friday and Saturday. All meal tickets MUST be purchased in advance. These can be purchased when filling out the School Registration Form.
One price provides the participant with an all-you-can-eat lunch for both days. This includes items such as pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, a salad bar, and home-style hot entrees. The cafeteria will be open from 11:00 am until 2:30 pm Friday and Saturday.

ON CAMPUS EATERIES

There are several dining options on and near campus.

  • Located inside the Bone Student Center: Starbucks, McAlister’s Deli, Qdoba, and The Landing  Due to renovations taking place at the Bone Student Center, these hours are subject to change. Check back here the week of December 2nd for updated information.
  • Restaurants near ISU's Campus: Merry Ann’s Diner, Medici, The Rock, Jimmy John’s, Potbelly’s, Meatheads, Buffalo Wild Wings, Firehouse Pizza, and much more. 

Click here for a PDF of restaurants and retail on and near campus.

Lodging

Illinois High School Theatre Festival Hotels 
January 9 – 11, 2020

Many thanks to the Marriott Hotel (309-862-9000) for their generous support of the 2020 Festival as the host hotel for the All-State Company and staff of Aida.

NOTES: The Illinois High School Theatre Festival holds no responsibility for arranging hotel accommodations. Blocks of rooms are set up as a service. Hotels that have a price quote have set aside rooms for the Illinois High School Theatre Festival. When calling any of the following hotels, you must ask for the Illinois High School Theatre Festival room block. All room blocks will expire at these hotels in early December, so be sure to book rooms early.

DOWNLOAD 2020 HOTEL LIST PDF

2020 HOTEL LODGING INFORMATION
The following hotels have room blocks on hold for Schools coming into town for the Illinois High School Theatre Festival.  Each School must call in to reserve their own rooms. You need to ask for the Illinois High School Theatre Festival block in order to receive these discounted rates.  Each hotel has a cut-off date which is usually 3-4 weeks out from the Festival.
Hotels

Baymont Inn
6 Traders Cir.
Normal, IL 61761
309-454-4070
$80.00
Book by: 1/1/20
Includes Continental Breakfast
Website

Best Western Plus
604 1/2 IAA Dr.
Bloomington, IL 61701
309-808-0628
$109.00
Book by: 12/13/19
Includes full hot buffet
Website

Candlewood Suites
 203 Susan Dr.
Normal, IL 61761
309-862-4100
$94.99+
Book by: 12/20/19
Nothing included
Website

Comfort Suites East
 310B Greenbriar Dr.
Normal, IL 61761
309-452-8588
$99.00
Book by: 12/27/19
Nothing included
Website

Country Inn & Suites Airport
 2403 E. Empire St.
Bloomington, IL 61704
309-662-3100
Website

Country Inn & Suites West
 923 Maple Hill Rd.
Bloomington, IL 61704
309-828-7177
$69.00
Book by: $69.00
Nothing included
Website

Courtyard by Marriott
 310A Greenbriar Dr.
Normal, IL 61761
309-862-1166
$99.00
Book by: 12/9/19
Nothing included
Website

Doubletree by Hilton
 10 Brickyard Dr.
Bloomington, IL 61701
309-664-6446
$117.00
Book by: 12/19/19
Includes breakfast
Website

Eastland Suites
 1801 Eastland Dr.
Bloomington, IL 61704
309-662-0000
$129+
Book by: 12/19/19
Includes hot breakfast
Website

Fairfield Inn
 1014 Wylie Dr.
Bloomington, IL 61705
309-827-8000
Website

Hampton Inn & Suites Normal
320 S. Towanda Ave.
Normal, IL 61761
309-452-8900
$121
Book by: 12/9/19
Includes breakfast
Website 

Hotels

Hawthorn Suites
One Lyon Ct.
Bloomington, IL 61701
309-829-8111
$99.95
Book by: 12/20/19
Includes breakfast
Website 

Holiday Inn Airport
3202 E. Empire St.
Bloomington, IL 61704
309-662-4700
$119.00+
Book by: 12/20/19
Includes breakfast coupons
Website

Holiday Inn Express Normal
1715 Parkway Plaza Dr.
Normal, IL 61761
309-862-1600
$99.00
Book by: 12/26/19
Includes breakfast
Website

Holiday Inn Express West
1031 Wylie Dr.
Bloomington, IL 61705
309-820-9990
$84.00
Book by: 12/26/19
Includes deluxe continental breakfast
Website

Hyatt Place
200 Broadway Ave.
Normal, IL 61761
309-454-9288
$119.00
Book by: 11/24/19
Includes hot buffet
Website

Marriott
201 Broadway Ave.
Normal, IL 61761
309-862-9000
$130.00
Book by: 12/16/19
Nothing included
Website 

Parke Regency
1413 Leslie Dr.
Bloomington, IL 61704
309-662-4300
$109.00
Book by: 12/9/19
Includes hot breakfast
Website

Radisson
8 Traders Circle
Normal, IL 61761
309-862-0101
$104+
Book by: 12/12/19
Includes on the go bag
Website

Residence Inn by Marriott
2160 Ireland Grove Rd.
Bloomington, IL 61704
309-661-9822
Website

The Chateau
1601 Jumer Dr.
Bloomington, IL 61704
309-662-2020
$80.00
Book by: 12/20/19
Includes hot breakfast
Website