Sunshine and rain showers and springtime, oh my! Here is our April round up of our favorite family events (and events for parents looking for a nice night out!) right here in Indianapolis and surrounding areas!
Indianapolis Moms Blog Events
April 29th 1:30-4:00pm
Bloom:: An Event to Celebrate Motherhood
We couldn’t be happier that Bloom, a celebration of all things motherhood is back at Indianapolis Moms Blog for the 2nd year in a row! This popular event, sponsored by Hancock Regional Hospital, is a favorite for Indianapolis area moms or those who are thinking of expanding their family. This is indeed a kid-free event, with the exception of young nurslings. It is rare that we as moms can get out and about on our own, and Bloom is all about taking an afternoon off and getting away from the routine for a celebration that’s all about YOU.
Cost: $25/Swag and $15/General Admission
For more info: https://indianapolismoms.com
April 1 – April 28
Broad Ripple Winter Market – 5301 N. Winthrop Ave., Indianapolis, IN
We are committed to supporting locally grown & produced foods. The Broad Ripple Winter Market brings Midtown Indianapolis and the greater Indianapolis community the very best and freshest of the season. Join Midtown’s neighborhoods of Broad Ripple, Butler-Tarkington, Mapleton-Fall Creek and Meridian-Kessler in celebrating great food, life and buying local. The market is open to all ages and off street parking is available behind Bent Rail and south of Developer Town. The Bent Rail Brewery offers a full brunch menu, libations, free WiFi and an ATM.
http://www.broadripplefarmersmarket.org/winter/
April 1 – April 14
The Sleeping Beauty – Peewinkle’s Puppet Studio at Indiana State Museum – 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Experience a vintage marionette show on a beautiful stage with velvet curtains and scenery. The cackling witch, delightful fairies and music by Tchaikovsky will enchant your children.
Tickets: $12; free for children under two. Optional post-show workshop is $3.
http://www.peewinklespuppets.org/
April 1
Who’s Yer Con – Wyndham Indianapolis West Hotel
Who’s Yer Gamers is a group dedicated to educating the general public on the variety, availability, and benefits of hobby gaming. By providing free and reduced cost opportunities (like Who’s Yer Con) to participate in publicly open events, the group fosters a positive relationship between the hobby gaming community and the public through charitable service.
Cost/registration: Visit website at: https://whosyergamers.org/
April 1
Easter Weekend at the Indianapolis Zoo
Enjoy a fun Zoo egg hunt as you look for images of eggs hidden around the Zoo all weekend (with no basket required!), learn about our young animals, enjoy the Easter photo opp and butterfly craft, plus watch the animals playing with Easter-themed enrichment.
Cost: Easter Weekend is included with admission and free for Zoo members.
http://www.indianapoliszoo.com/SitePages/Home.aspx
April 1
Indiana Comic Con – Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium
Over 400,000 square feet and 150 booths of comics, cosplay, videos, toys, action figures, anime, video games, Star Wars, artwork, trading cards, and fun! Celebrity guests include David Harbour, Sean Astin, Wallace Shawn, Jonathan Frakes, Matthew Lewis, Noah Schnapp, Michael Biehn, Sean Young, William B. Davis, Henry Thomas, and Rodger Bumpass.
Cost: $30, Friday or Sunday only; $40, Saturday only; $60, three-day pass. https://indianacomiccon.com/
April 3
A Ripple of Hope – Indiana Historical Society – 5:30 p.m.
The Kennedy King Memorial Initiative has created a series of special events commemorating the 50th anniversary of Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s famous speech in Indianapolis on April 4, 1968, the night Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed. Despite being urged to cancel his appearance, Senator Kennedy delivered an impromptu speech from the back of a flatbed truck, which was a moving message urging peace and forgiveness, offered in the midst of violence across the country. His words left a deep impression on all who heard it. The impassioned remarks he delivered became one of the greatest speeches of the 20th century and Kennedy’s call to strive for understanding and peace reverberates today. This acclaimed documentary by filmmaker Don Boggs sheds light on the fateful night of April 4, 1968 in Indianapolis. Guests will enjoy a pre-film reception followed by a panel discussion.
Cost: Film and panel tickets are free; VIP reception $25 http://www.kennedykingindy.org/
April 6 – April 21
“Murder in Triplicate” – Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site – 8 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Salon-style performances in April 2018 will include a trilogy of one act plays, each performed in a different room of the mansion, complete with candlelight, historical artifacts, and the rich ambiance of President Harrison’s original furnishings.
Cost: $19.95 Presidential Site members and students ages 6-12; $23.95 adults http://bhpsite.org/
April 6 – April 8
Opening Night – Columbus Clippers vs. Indianapolis Indians – 7:15 p.m. and 1:35 p.m.
The Indianapolis Indians, Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, play their home games at Victory Field, which has received numerous national accolades as one of the best minor league stadiums in the United States. Celebrate the 2018 season opener with Bike to the Ballpark from Sun King’s downtown brewery to Victory Field. A spectacular fireworks display follows the game. Gates open at 5:30 pm.
http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t484
April 6
Curator’s Choice Series: Deep Roots – Eiteljorg Museum – 12 p.m.
Join Dr. Scott Shoemaker, the Thomas G. and Susan C. Hoback curator of Native American art, history and culture, on the first Friday of April for a talk about the different ways in which Native artists use and represent plants through a selection of items from the Eiteljorg’s collection.
Cost: Talk included with museum admission. Free for Eiteljorg members. http://www.eiteljorg.org/
April 7
Reduced Shakespeare Company: William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged) – Butler University – 2 p.m.
A fast, funny, and physical telling of “William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged) as performed by the three-man comedy troupe, Reduced Shakespeare Company. The Reduced Shakespeare Company is a three-man comedy troupe that takes long, serious subjects and reduces them to short, sharp comedies. The “Bad Boys of Abridgment” have created nine stage shows, two television specials, several failed TV pilots, and numerous radio pieces – all of which have been performed, seen, and heard the world over.
https://butlerartscenter.org/butler-arts-presents-2017-2018-season
April 11 – April 22
The Little Prince – Butler University – 7 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s tale shares universal truths about love and loyalty. This childhood favorite is the story of a pilot stranded in the desert who meets an enigmatic young prince who has recently fallen from the sky. Let your imagination take flight in this adventure that celebrates fantasy and friendship.
Cost: $15, adult; $10, seniors; $5, students. https://butlerartscenter.org/
April 12
Broadway’s Next Hit Musical – Franklin Performing Arts Center – 7 p.m.
The hilarious Broadway’s Next Hit Musical is the only unscripted theatrical awards show. Master improvisers gather made up, hit song suggestions from the audience and create a spontaneous evening of music, humor, and laughter. The audience votes for its favorite song and watches as the cast turns it into a full-blown improvised musical – complete with memorable characters, witty dialogue, and plot twists galore. BNHM has been seen recently at The Triad, Tribeca Film Festival, and at the New York Musical Theater Festival, among many others.
Tickets and Information: https://www.franklinschools.org/Page/825
April 13
Haunted Indianapolis Downtown Ghost Walk – Monument Circle – 8 p.m.
Visit society and the wicked backlife of Indianapolis in this tour. Visited are haunted theatres, businesses and other areas where the living chose to become dead and walk forever. Meet north side of Monument.
Cost: $18, adults; $15, children (8-12) and seniors (65+). No children under 8. Reservations required.
April 13
Carriage House Concert Series: Tim Grimm and Jon Brooks – Indianapolis Propylaeum – 7:30 p.m.
A “Moveable” Flying Cat Concert. Canadian singer-songwriter Jon Brooks writes, “The highest aim of song is to evoke sympathy to offer that rare sight of ourselves in others.” Based in Toronto, Jon tours the United States regularly. In 2010 he was a Kerrville New Folk Festival winner, evoking this comment by festival founder Rod Kennedy: “Jon speaks and sings words that need to be spoken and sung, does it beautifully, perfectly, and with absolute finesse.” Tim Grimm is a bit of a Renaissance man in the performing arts world. For the past 15 years he has blended his love for songwriting and travel with acting in theater, film and television. He has composed music for the theater, most recently the wildly successful Finding Home: Indiana at 200 at the Indianapolis Repertory Theater. His most recent release, A Stranger in This Time hit the top of the Folk DJ charts for two months in a row in early 2017.
Cost: $20-25. https://www.thepropylaeum.org/
April 14
Darci Lynne and Friends Live – Old National Centre – 7 p.m.
Coming off her record-breaking finale performance on season 12 of NBC’s America’s Got Talent, 13-year-old ventriloquist Darci Lynne brings her jaw-dropping talent, hilarious puppets and vibrant personality to Indianapolis.
April 13
Peanut Butter & Jam: Rainforest Rhythm Jam – The Center for the Performing Arts, Carmel
Designed for children ages 1-7, Peanut Butter & Jam sessions encourage young children to become engaged in the arts.
Get ready to find your groove and share your rhythm with Ms. Lisa from Bongo Boy Music! Kids will experience a creative rhythmic adventure playing drums and percussion while having a great time ‘Jammin’ in the Jungle! A great way to celebrate Earth Day!
Cost: $10. Two adults free with every child ticket purchase.
April 15
An Evening with David Sedaris – Clowes Memorial Hall, Butler University – 7 p.m.
With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, DAVID SEDARIS has become one of America’s preeminent humor writers. The great skill with which he slices through cultural euphemisms & political correctness proves that Sedaris is a master of satire and one of the most observant writers addressing the human condition today. Sedaris is the author of the collections of personal essays Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary, & Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls, all of which have become bestsellers. Sedaris’s pieces appear regularly in The New Yorker & have twice been included in “The Best American Essays.” Since 2011, he can be heard annually on a series of live recordings on BBC Radio 4 entitled “Meet David Sedaris.”
April 21
Hustle for the House 5K – Clay Terrace – 8 a.m.
The 2nd Annual Hustle for the House is a 5K Walk/Run benefiting the St. Vincent House that supports Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital. The race is open to people of all ages and abilities. Come join the excitement as you run through Clay Terrace with hundreds of others by participating in the Second Annual 5K presented by Athleta and Mainstreet. As you wrap up your run enjoy a tasty mimosa or bloody mary in the commemorative cup (non-alcoholic beverages available as well). The race will start and finish in front of Prime 47 Steakhouse.
https://raceroster.com/events/2018/15941/hustle-for-the-house-5k-at-clay-terrace
April 21
Crawl for Cancer – Broad Ripple Village Association
Teams of 10 people will travel to five Broad Ripple bars where each team will be given four tickets good for four pitchers of beer. Everyone is invited back to the after-party for live music and more fun!
http://www.crawlforcancer.org/indy
April 21
Hustle for the House 5K – Clay Terrace – 8 a.m.
The 2nd Annual Hustle for the House is a 5K Walk/Run benefiting the St. Vincent House that supports Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital. The race is open to people of all ages and abilities. Come join the excitement as you run through Clay Terrace with hundreds of others by participating in the Second Annual 5K presented by Athleta and Mainstreet. As you wrap up your run enjoy a tasty mimosa or bloody mary in the commemorative cup (non alcoholic beverages available as well). The race will start and finish in front of Prime 47 Steakhouse.
https://raceroster.com/events/2018/15941/hustle-for-the-house-5k-at-clay-terrace
April 25 – May 13
Wicked – Old National Centre – 7:30 p.m. and 1 p.m.
Back by “popular” demand. Variety calls Wicked “a cultural phenomenon,” and it continues to break box office records and sell out in record time. Winner of over 100 international awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards, Wicked is “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster” (The New York Times).Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the Land of Oz One—born with emerald green skin—is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good makes for “the most complete—and completely satisfying—new musical in a long time” (USA Today).
https://indianapolis.broadway.com/shows/wicked-ss2/
April 27
Victory Field Classic – 5:30 p.m.
Each year Victory Field hosts a variety of exciting events in addition to the full Indianapolis Indians home game schedule including a variety of Indiana high school, college, and university baseball games. This event is a high school baseball doubleheader featuring Lawrence North vs. Lawrence Central and Carmel vs. Noblesville.
http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20140501&content_id=73951710&sid=t484&vkey=team1
April 28 – August 28
Summer Concert Series – Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park – 7 p.m.
The Summer Concert Series returns this spring through the summer, featuring acts such as ODESZA, Kidz Bop Live and Jason Mraz!
https://www.whiteriverstatepark.org/venue/farm-bureau-insurance-lawn-at-white-river-state-park/
April 28
Naptown Roller Derby
The Tornado Sirens and the Warning Belles are proving to Indianapolis and the world that roller derby isn’t just a bunch of fights and flash!
https://www.naptownrollerderby.com/
April 29
symFUNy Sunday – Discover the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra – Hilbert Circle Theatre – 3 p.m.
Each year, the ISO presents the Discovery Concert Series. These performances are specially designed for young audiences, and more than 16,000 students from schools across Indiana travel to the Hilbert Circle Theatre to attend. Now it’s your turn to join in on the fun as we open up this special performance for families!
https://www.indianapolissymphony.org/season/17-18-season/symfuny-sundays
April 24 – May 20
Noises Off – Indiana Repertory Theatre
Ever gone to a play and something went wrong? What happens when everything goes wrong? Rehearsal implosions, backstage shenanigans and onstage disasters have the cast on life support—and the audience in stitches!
Cost: $25 and up http://www.irtlive.com/plays-and-events/2017-2018-season/noises-off
April 26 to May 6
Indy Film Fest XV – Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields
What started as a two-day festival in 2004 has since expanded to include year-round events that empower audiences to connect with films, filmmakers, and one another.
April 27 to May 12
Hairspray: The Musical – The Tarkington at the Center for Performing Arts, Carmel – 7 p.m.
The 1950s are out, and change is in the air! It’s 1962 in Baltimore, and the lovable plus-size teen, Tracy Turnblad, has only one desire – to dance on the popular “Corny Collins Show.” When her dream comes true, Tracy is transformed from social outcast to sudden star. She uses her celebrity and newfound power to dethrone the reigning Teen Queen, win the affections of heartthrob, Link Larkin, and along with her friends and fans – change the world… all without denting her ‘do! Hairspray, winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, is a family-friendly musical, piled bouffant-high with laughter, romance. Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman’s crisp pop score is full of deliriously tuneful songs including “Good Morning Baltimore”, “Without Love” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat.”
http://thecenterfortheperformingarts.org/
