Have you ever made your own basket? Me neither. This weekend you can do that, if you want. You can also listen to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra on Monument Circle while eating a slice of pizza and drinking a beer. You can watch a film from Argentina. You can laugh into the night.
Here are 10 things you can do this weekend that are not scrolling through your phone or complaining about your noisy neighbors.
HAPPENING ALL WEEKEND
1. LOL at Middleground Comedy Festival
They say the best medicine is laughter, so gather your pals and get yourself a weekend dose of hee-hee and haha. Middleground Comedy Festival, April 25-28, features sets from 35 comedians. Tickets range from $10 to $30 and events will take place at various locations.
2. Shop at the Indy Gay Market
Original art, weird keychains, baked goods, macrame, and so many other things you don’t even know about yet will be available for purchase 4 to 8 p.m. April 26-27 during the Big Gay Spring Fling at The AMP at 16 Tech,1220 Waterway Blvd. These artisan pop-up markets happen about four times a year and always feature a delightful lineup that includes dozens of artists.
3. Turn every night into date night with Indy Film Fest
If the way to your heart is a good movie and popcorn, Indy Film Fest will be screening world cinema, shorts and locally made films from April 24-28 at the Living Room Theater and at Kan-Kan Cinema and Brasserie. For people who’d rather “chill” at home, there are options for streaming the films online. An all-access pass for the 21st annual festival runs for $100, but individual tickets are $12 plus fees.
FRIDAY
4. Learn about the true origins of rock ‘n’ roll
On April 26, GANGGANG and Creative Mornings are partnering for a panel discussion about authorship in rock ‘n’ roll music featuring Nicole O’Neal, Hayes Barnes, Rusty Redenbacher and Richard Gilliam at 6281 N. College Ave. Doors open at 6 p.m. and tickets are free.
SATURDAY
5. Design your own book crawl adventure
Did you have fun bookstore hopping during Indy’s Indie Book Crawl? You can do it all over again on April 27 — sans punch cards and prizes, but you still gain new books for your shelf and brownie points for putting dollars into the local economy. Loudmouth Books will have a DJ and the gift shop at the Indiana Historical Society will have discounts. There are many indie bookstores to choose from.
6. Boot scoot at Act II: A Beyonce Tribute
At Nevermore Union Station, 302 South Meridian St., they know you’ve had Beyonce’s new album playing on repeat and they want you to dress up and come out and dance. Tickets range between $15-$25. Dancing starts at 10 a.m. April 27 and will go until 2 a.m. the next day.
7. Weave yourself a basket
Your mind will be too focused on weaving sticks and forming a good handle to worry about emails or returning that voicemail (it can wait until Monday!). The class is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 27 with Natural Simplicity and takes place at White Pine Wilderness Academy, 841 W. 53rd St. Tickets are $25.
8. Head over to Monument Circle and listen to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
This event is free and includes food and beverage vendors, as well as art activities — all while music performances happen from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 27. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair so that you can sit back and enjoy a live streamed performance of the ISO from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
9. Attend The Current State Music and Arts Festival
Closer to Garfield Park, Tube Factory artspace at 1125 Cruft St. is having a music festival on April 27 with BBQ food trucks, live music performances and an art sale by Herron School of Art and Design students, as well as guest DJs.
SUNDAY
10. Butler University’s Wind Ensemble performance
This free concert has a little bit of everything — from contemporary jazz played by grad student musicians to 2023 Concerto Competition winner, Ella Sailer, performing Chin Cheng Lin’s “Marimba Concerto No. 1.” If you like Leonard Bernstein’s music, you’ll be happy to hear “Candide Suite,” which is included in the program. Music starts at 3 p.m. April 28 at the Schrott Center for the Arts, 610 W 46th St.
Jennifer Delgadillo is Mirror Indy’s arts and culture editor. Contact her at jennifer.delgadillo@mirrorindy.org.