A visual sampling of Lemonade Day 2025

As a part of Monroe County's Lemonade Day, kids created and worked lemonade stands around Bloomington on Saturday, June 7. Taking place on the same day was IU's Granfalloon festival.

The mission of the Lemonade Day organization, according to its website, is to teach students essential life skills and entrepreneurial thinking. Lemonade Day University, on May 17, covered topics like financial literacy, marketing, and customer service in preparation for Lemonade Day.

I spent part of the afternoon visiting a few of these entrepreneurs. Lemonade stands were easy to find on the map for Monroe County. There were 98 stands registered for Monroe County.

Addie's stand was set up on the sidewalk outside the Bloomington Yoga Collective on 6th Street, where the Handmade Market was taking place. This was her third year participating in Lemonade Day. Her stand featured sugar-free lemonade, blueberry lemonade, rice krispie treats, and bracelets. She is donating some of her proceeds to The Trevor Project and Stages Bloomington.

Cataleya's stand was down the hill from College Avenue, outside Bloomington Bagel Company. She and her family, visiting from Georgia, had made more than $250 when I stopped by. This included a $25 tip.

Outside the Farmers' Market, siblings Mila and Mikko sold much more than just lemonade. Their stand featured original music, refrigerator magnets, bookmarks, scrunchies, cookies, and lemonade, all homemade. I tried their mango lemonade, which had a lovely mix of flavors.

I stumbled across Ava and her lemonade cart on wheels as she relocated to follow the crowd to the Handmade Market after the Farmers' Market ended. Her stand featured many flavored lemonades, including strawberry guava, spicy pineapple, and this year's new addition—peach honey. This is her third or fourth year participating.

Siblings Alexander, Sofia, and Natasha sold lemonade and other drinks in front of their home. This was their first year participating. On the menu were stuffed bunnies crocheted by Natasha, cookies, strawberry and classic lemonades, bottled water, and soda. Each of them plan to save their money, as well as donating some to charity.

I found two stands near Bryan Park Pool. North of the pool, on Woodlawn Ave., were neighbors Jean and Jules, selling many flavors of sugar-free lemonade, limeade, and cookies. Their cookies had a wonderful texture.

On the other side of Bryan Park Pool were Dahlia and Lucia. This was Lucia's first Lemonade Day, but she's a seasoned lemonade seller. Dahlia participated in Lemonade Day last year, but didn't make enough money to cover supply costs. This year, she invited Lucia to join and hopes to make enough to come out ahead. Their lemonade was one of the best I had that day.

Between Sheridan Drive and Southdowns Drive on Ballantine Road, sisters Telly and Dea sold lemonade and cookies. When I visited, they had sold an estimated 25 cups of lemonade and 50 cookies. Their cookies were distinctly sweet and salty, a welcome combination. A family recipe, I was told.