Gather your family or friends, get in the car and attend one, or all, of these exciting festivals or events scheduled for the week of April 27-May 3, 2026.
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR — Lest We Forget of Southwest Michigan is hosting a viewing of the film “The Crossing” with Jeff Daniels as George Washington from 7 to 9 p.m. April 28 at Lake Michigan College, Room D-105, 2755 E. Napier Ave., Benton Harbor. Low on men and supplies, Washington decides to risk it all on one last daring attack on the town of Trenton. However, to do that, the army must cross the Delaware to a seemingly hopeless battle.
VICKERS THEATRE CINEMA — Vickers Theatre, 6 N. Elm St., Three Oaks, will offer the following films this week. For tickets and more information on each movie, go to vickerstheatre.com. Tickets: adults, $12; seniors/students, $10.
• April 30 at 7 p.m.: Shane (1953) Not Rated.
• May 1, 2, 3 at 4 p.m.; May 1, 2, 5 at 7 p.m.; May 3 at 1 p.m.: Michael (2026), Rated PG-13.
DEBARTOLO PERFORMING ARTS CENTER — University of Notre Dame, will offer the following films this week in Browning Cinema. For tickets and more information on each movie, go to performingarts.nd.edu/event/:
• April 30, 6:30 p.m.: The Artist (2011), Rated PG-13, $7 adult, $5 senior (65+), free student/child.
• May 1 and 2, 7 p.m.; May 3, 4 p.m.: OBEX (2025), Not Rated, $7 adult, $5 senior (65+), $4 student/child.
• May 2, 1 p.m.: Eugene Onegin (Tchaikovsky) The Met Opera Live in HD, 2 intermissions, Tickets: $23-$16.
• May 3, 1 p.m.: The Endless Summer (1966), Not Rated, Professor Pfinklepfunder’s $1 Sunday Films.
FIRST FRIDAYS GREEN DAY CELEBRATION — Goshen downtown is all about outdoor adventures and the environment for May’s First Fridays celebration from 5 to 9 p.m. May 1. Eat and drink at your favorite downtown restaurant. Enjoy family activities and various promotions from downtown shops. Find a schedule of events at downtowngoshen.org/events/2026-may/.
FIRST FRIDAYS “PEDALS & PETALS” — Head to downtown South Bend from 5 to 9 p.m. May 1 with your bike decked out to show off your most creative floral-inspired ride in a decorating contest followed by a bike parade at 7 p.m. Enjoy live music, art exhibits, dining specials and more. For more information, go online to downtownsouthbend.com/may.
MAY FIRST FRIDAY FEATURES EVANS FRASSINE — Lubeznik Center for the Arts, 101 W. Second St., Michigan City, is hosting it free First Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. CT May 1. Enjoy the soulful sounds of Evans Frassine, a talented blues and soul guitarist, songwriter and vocalist and student at Chesterton High School. On display will be “Art From the Start” exhibition, showcasing creative work from Michigan City Area Schools’ elementary students and Stacia Yeapanis’ “Color Is my Dopamine.”
ARCHITECTURAL WALKING TOUR — Fun and informative guided walking tour of South Bend’s landmark buildings at 6 p.m. May 1. This month, participants will tour the West Washington area. Begin at Ambassadors for Christ Church, 302 W. Washington St., South Bend. The cost is $10 (cash only and small bills). Reservations can be made online at downtownsouthbend.com/walking-tours or by calling 574-282-1110.
DISNEY’S “FROZEN-THE BROADWAY MUSICAL” — Premier Arts invites you to experience the magic of “Frozen” when it takes stage May 1-3, including two youth shows starring 165 local children, at The Lerner Theatre, 410 S. Main St., Elkhart. The musical includes the film’s beloved songs by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, along with new music written for the stage. “Frozen” is a powerful tale of sisterhood, acceptance and finding the real meaning of true love. Performances are on May 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m.; May 2 (all-youth production) and May 3 at 2 p.m.; May 3 (all-youth production) at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $34.65-$19.20 and can be purchased at thelerner.com/events.
EARTH DAY FESTIVAL — This family-friendly event invites visitors of all ages to explore how native plants, clean water and healthy landscapes sustain life in our watershed. Enjoy guided nature walks, kid-friendly activities, vendors with plants, wood carvings and more for sale, live demonstrations, community partners dedicated to conservation and seasonal stewardship tips. Admission is free with a free lunch of a hot dog, chips and water. Earth Day Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 2 at Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation Ruddell Pavilion, 11586 N. Indiana 13, Syracuse; wacf.com/events/earth-day-festival.
DERBY DAY — Watch the Kentucky Derby on a jumbo screen at the Ball Band Biergarten from 5 to 8 p.m. May 2. During the event there will be games, food trucks and live music by the Michael Kelsey Band. Wear your derby hats to win prizes. $5 entrance fee. All ages are welcome. The Biergarten is in Ironworks Plaza, 235 Ironworks Ave., Mishawaka.
RUTHMERE DERBY DAY – SIGNATURE EVENT — Ruthmere Derby Day will be held from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 2. The grounds of Ruthmere Mansion, 302 E. Beardsley Ave., Elkhart, will be transformed into a sprawling estate of Derby-related activities. Tickets are $100-$85 at Ruthmere.org. Choose your horse to win at The Gate and you may win a choice of concert tickets or free membership. Watch the race on the giant screen TV, bid on Ultra-Rare Bourbon Auction, hors d’oeuvres, drink tickets, photo ops with Sarge, the horse, and limited home tours available during the event. This is a 21 and older event. No exceptions.
TABOR HILL DERBY DAY PARTY — Don your finest Derby attire and experience the charm and excitement of the Derby complete with wine, bites and festivities from noon to 6 p.m. May 2 at Tabor Hill, Vineyard Lounge, 185 Mt. Tabor Road, Buchanan.
PLANK’S TAVERN DERBY DAY — Join Plank’s on May 2 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and do the Derby right. Southern-inspired bites and cocktails. Dress to impress and enter the best dressed and best hat contests. Plank’s Tavern, 800 Whitwam Drive, St. Joseph.
FIVE MEDALS – A LIVING HISTORY EXPERIENCE — History comes alive in Nappanee at this living history experience from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 2 and 3 at The Farm at Amish Acres, 1600 W. Market St., Nappanee. Experience early American life through live demonstrations, hands-on learning for all ages, and authentic camps and traders. Learn about frontier skills and daily life, historical crafts and trades, and military life. Admission, adults, $9; children (ages 6 to 11), $4; children (ages 5 and younger) free.
“IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU” — South Bend Civic Theatre presents this hilarious wedding day musical where anything that can go wrong does. The story has quite a cast of characters that you will enjoy getting to know. Performances are at South Bend Civic Theatre, 403 N. Main St., South Bend. Evening showtimes are May 1, 2, 8, 9 at 7:30 p.m. Matinees are May 3 and 10 at 2 p.m. Purchase tickets $35-$27 at sbct.org or by calling the box office at 574-234-1112.
“HOME, I’M DARLING” — Twin City Players presents Laura Wade’s new dark comedy about sex, cake and the quest to be the perfect 1950s housewife. Surprisingly funny, thought-provoking social comedy about the workings of a marriage. Performances are May 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m. and May 3 at 2 p.m. at TCP Playhouse, 600 W. Glenlord Road, St. Joseph. Tickets are $20-$15 at twincityplayers.org or through the box office at 269-429-0400.
SPRING NATIVE PLANT SALE — Wild Ones South Bend Chapter will host its Spring Native Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 2 at Pinhook Park, 2801 Riverside Drive, South Bend. Seven nurseries will offer a variety of native plants, trees, and shrubs. Local ecology groups will also be on hand for educational outreach.
SPRING GARDEN MARKET & PLANT SALE — Fernwood Botanical Garden, 13988 Range Line Road, Niles, will host its market and plant sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 2. Fernwood members may also attend the sale from 8:30 to 10 a.m. A mix of vendors with plant materials and handcrafted artwork for the garden and beyond will be available to help customers. Garden tickets: $12-$7; fernwoodbotanical.org.
BARKER MANSION’S HISTORY HOUR: LASSEN’S RESORT & THE GOLDEN AGE OF CEDAR LAKE — Guest speaker Julie Zasada, executive director of the Cedar Lake Historical Association, will discuss the resort era of 1880-1930 when thousands of vacationers were brought to the shores of Cedar Lake. The presentation will be from noon to 12:45 p.m. CT May 3 at Barker Mansion, 631 Washington St., Michigan City. Tickets: Lecture and self-guided mansion tour, $20; Lecture and guided mansion tour at 1 p.m., $30.; barkermansion.org/events.
ANTIQUES ON THE BLUFF — Find hidden treasures among antique and vintage items along Lake Bluff Park in downtown St. Joseph from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 3. The event features more than 50 vendors on the first Sunday of the month, May through October. Rain or Shine.
SPECIAL CREATURES — Fire Arts Inc. will showcase the exhibit “Special Creatures” through May 29. The show features work done by Fire Arts studio artists and select members of the Michiana art community. Fire Arts Inc. is at 305 E. Colfax Ave., South Bend, and is open noon to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
2026 ALUMNA EXHIBITION AT MOREAU GALLERY — Saint Mary’s College alumna Mary Ann Roach Butkovich ’64 work will be on display through May 30. The exhibit is titled “You Paint Too Pretty — My Art Journey.” Moreau Gallelry, Moreau Center for the Arts, Saint Mary’s College, South Bend.
“A SIMPLE SANCTUARY – MYSTERY MUSICAL” — Based on a novel by Beverly and David Lewis about Melissa James, who is pursued and living on the run. She finds sanctuary and friendship in Amish country. Part suspense and part romance. Through June 18, Blue Gate Music Hall, 175 N. Van Buren St., Shipshewana. Tickets, dates and times at thebluegate.com, $39.95.
ZOO LUMINATE — This year’s Zoo Luminate, a Chinese lantern experience, will be held through June 28, Wednesdays through Sundays, 7 to 11 p.m. at Potawatomi Zoo, 500 S. Greenlawn Ave., South Bend. This year’s theme is “Sea to Believe” with dozens of lanterns depicting undersea animals, habitats, aquatic scenery and more. Admission: $22-$18; Zoo members receive a discount. Children 2 and younger are free. Weather permitting, the train and carousel will be open at $3 per person. Concessions are available and the gift shop will be open. Purchase tickets at potawatomizoo.org/zooluminate/#.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: What events are happening in South Bend area from April 27 to May 3?
Reporting by Cheryl Morey, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
