Bloomington Krampus

12/05/2025

🔥It is traditional Krampus Night🔥

Hey, it's Kel, the once Head Krampus Wrangler, and I hope everyone was NICE this year!

If it were 2012-2021, my brain would be full of details, my inbox full of questions, and my "to-do list" hopefully full of crossed off items - but likely more darkly cricled (DO THIS!) items in preparation for the Saturday closest to December 5th.

I do miss it. The chaos, energy, joy, excitement, and allll the people.
Thank you to all of the amazing people who helped make it happen. Every year, our team was 80-120 people strong! I get all the praise, but let's be real - it was YOU ALL who made it really happen. I wish I could tag (AND HUG) you all!

We grew our little idea from a fun local project into a nationally recognized event, increasing attendance from 700 to 7,000 screaming fans. It still amazes me that we did that in a town of just 85k.

To all the fans, you made all the red tape, fur-covered floors, safety pin scratches, religious opposition, migraines, cold nights, candy collection efforts, stinky-sweaty suits, late-night tear-downs, next morning clean-ups, and other challenging demands of the event worth it when you honored us with your screams of terror and delight. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Tonight I hope to do a little sledding and plan to light some candles and enjoy a Krampus Cocktail (recipe in the comments from the KrampusCraft booklet available on Etsy) as the evening comes on.

RAWR!

The memories will live forever.

IMAGE: Most of the volunteers from 2021
BIG LOVE to all of you who worked the parade route prep and at the Bazaar, who never got to be in the main photo

11/30/2025

Krampus fans! Check out the newly edited Krampuscraft booklet filled with games, recipes, crafts, activities, storytelling, coloring pages, and more for all ages. Available for download now on Etsy. Check out the first comment for details. RAWR!

01/23/2025

Our founder Kel McBride will speak at the first Krampus America Conference in Bremerton, Washington this spring.

She will share tips on producing large events and volunteer nurturing. Veronica Hites, a key player in the Bloomington Krampus event, will cohost a salon offering a Q&A on our successes.

They will have an amazing vendor area and great support for all current and hopeful Krampus organizers.

Highlights will include some mask makers from Austria and Al Ridenour, author of the best Krampus book (that highlights Bloomington Krampus) "Krampus and the Old Dark Christmas"

The spirit lives on - RAWRRRR!

12/08/2023

Sorry folks, Bloomington Krampus is NOT doing an event this year.

We have heard from many of you about the confusion out there, wondering if we were bringing the Krampus Rampage and Bazaar back to Bloomington. You shared with us news and social media posts that said the last two years were simply a hiatus and we had returned. That is not the case.

The Bloomington Krampus Krewe created the beloved Rampage and Bazaar for ten wild and wooly years, 2012-2021. From day one, we planned for our event to RAWR for ten years and end on a high note. For many of those years, Bloomington was home to the largest Krampus celebration in North America. We are thrilled that we made it with a fully-volunteer Krewe, no corporate sponsors, and massive support from fans like you.

We know that many of you are sad to lose this weird and beloved community event. We feel you and encourage a different perspective.

You got to see it!

Let’s take a moment and remember those oh-so-wild and fun-filled nights. The Bazaar was buzzing with arts & crafts, sack races, amazingly creative, costumed fans, tasty food, hot cider, and hardy Bloomington Brewing Company beer. With dusk descending the thousands of fans began crowding the streets, with their NAUGHTY/NICE stickers eagerly anticipating the terror and joy that was approaching.

First you saw the charm of glowing “hallo” hooping and candy angels bringing joy-filled light to the long night. A cheery St Nick following in their path, resplendent in his finery and spreading well wishes and goodwill, with his helper Ruprecht at his side blowing his horn.

Then came the pounding of the drums, booming and echoing off the walls of the city. You felt the vibrations in your chest and you knew they were coming. The Krampus were coming.

Fire! Fire! Fire! The crack of the speeding fire whip. The swoosh of spinning, blazing staffs. The hoard of flame masters violently heralding the arrival of the beasts. The blazes pushing toward the edges of their path, tickling a lil too close, a glimpse of the danger close behind.

Breathing huge plumes of fire, the first Krampus lit up the night. Then before you knew it there were Krampus everywhere – EVERYWHERE! Stomping, skulking, and running down the street the tall, hairy, beasts with long claws, were rattling in rusty chains and clanging bells. The cluster of screaming children in chains and cages were reaching out to you pleading for your help, their screams piercing the night. If you were lucky the giant stilt-walking Krampus shifted past you, lumbering overhead.

Dig deep and pull out that memory when one got close to you – a little too close, making you wish you had not chosen a NAUGHTY sticker. Huge, growling, and hyper-intimidating - terrifying stinky creatures ready to punish - YOU. Whacking you with switches. Growling in your face. Taking your hat, glasses, or phone. Chasing you! Smearing coal on your face. Or maybe they “just” loomed over you, making you feel very small and VERY NAUGHTY.

Yes, YOU were lucky, you saw the beasts, screamed in terror and delight, and truly celebrated a cultural tradition that encourages good behavior and reminds us of the consequences of bad behavior.

The Krampus Krewe (over 100 volunteers each night) is so thankful for your loyal and consistent support all those years. The thousands of fans (7k that final year!) and the Bloomington Krampus Krewe TOGETHER created those unique and magical events. A gem in Bloomington’s crown. An era that can never be recaptured. I’m so glad we all have those lovely memories.

While we are not building another one of those epic nights, someone has put together a new organization and some characters to celebrate the Krampus legend. They will be going to a couple Krampus themed events. You can find details here on Facebook.

Thanks for the wild ride. Be good. RAWR!!!!

01/21/2023

Hey, it's Kel McBride here, the Head Wrangler for the decade-long, wild and wooly Krampus Night.

Many of you have enjoyed other creations I've been involved with (Bleeding Heartland Roller Derby, EROTICON, X-Hunt Bloomington, and oh so many more) so I have to share my most recent project with the fans of Krampus Night.

I wrote a book and it's for oddballs like you.

“The Death Changing Experience, An Oddballs Guide to Creating a Life and Death Plan” is available now on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback formats.

I want you to get values-based healthcare, a unique funeral, family security, and an ethical legacy. So, to help you do that, I wrote a book designed for younger, healthier people who like a lil humor with the facts. It really is written for oddballs like you: personable, lively, and yep a little quirky.

The paperback and Kindle book are already #1 New Release Best Sellers in five categories: Living Wills, Elder Family Law, Right to Die Law, Health & Medical Law, and interestingly Geriatrics.

One of the advance copy readers shared this review on Amazon.ca

“This book is an accessible and enlightening guide to constructing a plan for end of life experience that fits with an individual’s goals, dreams and wishes … McBride's wise words, thoughtful advice and considerate attention to detail make this book a valuable guide to a happier and more fulfilling end of life experience.”

Take a glimpse yourself with Amazon’s “Look Inside” feature. I’ve got it set up so you can see quite a bit of it. I hope you will find it easy on the eyes, fun in tone, and full of ways to explore the topic.

I am thankful for all the sharing, reviews, and of course sales that have happened so quickly. Obviously, I wanna keep it going. If you share this post on January 21st or 22nd and tag me, I’ll send you via messenger “Creative Cremains”. It’s a pdf fact sheet, filled with hyperlinks, that is the most comprehensive review of options available for cremains after cremation or aquamation. I think it is fascinating stuff.

And hey, maybe you know just the right person (a podcaster, writer, bookstore, or other cool ass person) I should chat with. If you do, please let me know.

Thanks to all of you who helped make it happen. And I hope you all have healthy, happy lives for many more decades.

Oh and please buy yourself a book 😊
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BS8T6DRK/

12/05/2022

Traditionally, Krampus Night (Dec 5) is the eve before St Nicholas Day (Dec 6). So beware tonight, all you NAUGHTY ones out there. Krampus is coming for you.

I know that many of you really wished Bloomington Krampus would keep doing a parade (we won't 🤣). Here is a video of a GREAT event to remind you of the joy.

Krampuslauf Salzburg 2022Hello welcome to my youtube channel.Krampuslauf Salzburg 2022Recording at 03.12.2022Location Salzburg Austria ...

12/02/2022

Krampus Night tomorrow will be parade free, however the spirit of accountability remains. Be nice 😊

Thanks to all of our fans for your support as well as the glorious screams of terror and delight. We will all hold those memories close to our heart. ❤️ ♥️ ❤️

RAWR

IMAGE: 2012 and 2021 Krampus Krewe

11/02/2022

Sorry locals, this year we aren’t taking your Halloween candy. No parade no candy. Good luck. 😂

10/11/2022

For all who are asking, there will not be a 2022 Krampus Night parade.

The Bloomington Krampus Krewe created the event for 10 years. From day one we planned for 10 years and to end it then. We are thrilled to have made it with a fully-volunteer Krewe, no corporate sponsors, and massive support from the community.

We know that many of you are sad to lose this community event and tradition. We feel you and encourage a different perspective.

You got to see it!

You saw the beasts, screamed in terror and delight, and truly celebrated a cultural tradition encouraging good behavior and reminding us of the consequences of bad behavior.

We will help you celebrate Krampus Night in 2022. We hope to be able to release a 360-degree video recorded at the final Krampus Night and we will share our Activity Book to give you ideas for fun ways to keep the celebration going. There also may be a picture book of images from the photo booths over the years staring YOU! I'm also hearing rumors of a possible arts event selling local creations celebrating Krampus. All of that will be shared here as we get closer to Krampus Night, December 3rd.

Thanks for the epic memories! It was an honor for all of us to create Krampus Night and see the love you all shared for our efforts.

Be good. RAWR!!!!

12/17/2021

We are extremely honored by this coverage we received from the Smithsonian Folklife magazine! RAWR!

Thanks to all our fans for your support.

For the last ten years, Bloomington has been home to the largest gathering of Krampus in North America.

12/09/2021

More amazing glimpses from stunning photographers!