Spring is in full bloom. And this month is ripe with holidays: April Fool’s Day, National Art Day and Earth Day.
Through the April showers — hopefully we’ve officially passed the snow period — there’s lots of arts and culture to indulge. Hit up a few galleries on First Friday, April 4. Grab a ticket to see an “Abbott Elementary” star DJ at Old National Centre or take the kids to watch “Encanto,” at Butler University for free.
Patina Gallery is hosting a chili cook-off fundraiser. If you’re a homebody, you can take a free, virtual Tai Chi class through the public library. Learn how to create a raised bed garden at Flanner Farms.
To keep those gray skies at bay, use this list to discover something new and exciting.
April 1-6 🔝
Family Game Night
🗓️ 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 1
📍 Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St.
🎟️ Free
Kids, teens and families are invited to play lots of board, card and dice games. Explore along with giant-sized chess, checkers, Jenga and Connect 4.
The Film Lab: Business, Finance, and Funding for Filmmakers
🗓️ 9-11 a.m. Thursday, April 3
📍 S.P.A.C.E. Lounge at The Stutz, 160 N. Capitol Ave
🎟️ $5- 10
The Film Lab, a workshop series by PATTERN, will feature industry pro Kevin Graziole of Bayonet Media. Attendees will learn how to budget for a film production and where to find funding.
Kierra Ready: From the Inside Out – An Art & Soul Exhibition
🗓️ 6-9 p.m. Friday, April 4
📍 Gallery 924 at Indy Arts Council, 924 N Pennsylvania St.
🎟️ Free
Through this collection, Kierra Ready invites viewers to experience joy as a divine gift — one that transcends life’s challenges and flourishes in community, faith and self-discovery.
Earth Day Recycled Art Show
🗓️ 6 p.m. Friday, April 4
📍 Lost Dog Gallery, 1040 E. New York St.
🎟️ Free
They say one person’s trash is another artist’s treasure — now it’s time to showcase those treasures! This exhibition sheds light on environmental issues while proving that repurposed materials can inspire art.
unknown forces
🗓️ 7-9:30 p.m. Friday, April 4
📍 Factory Arts District, 1125 E. Brookside Ave
🎟️ Free
Over 100 artists have come together for this very special First Friday event. Come and go as you please, or stay for the duration. Who knows what you may discover?
DIY raised bed garden workshop
🗓️ Noon Saturday, April 5
📍 Flanner Farms, 2424 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St.
🎟️ Free
Learn how growing food can go beyond a trendy hobby. Join the Flanner Farms for a demo on how to build DIY planter boxes.
The Pinewood Derby® Championship Race Day
🗓️ 2 p.m. Saturday, April 5
📍 Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St.
🎟️ $14 – $20
On your mark, get set, go — to the Indiana State Museum for the Pinewood Derby Championship and watch as the cars zip down the two-story, 125-foot track and across the finish line.
Bashiri Asad presents the Marvin Gaye Suite
🗓️ 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday, April 5
📍 Arts for Lawrence, 8920 Otis Ave
🎟️ $30
The concert honors the music, soul and impact of Marvin Gaye, with Bashiri Asad’s soulful flair added.
Zack Fox (DJ set)
🗓️ 8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 5
📍 Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St.
🎟️ $42.50, 18+
Zack Fox has a recurring role on “Abbott Elementary,” but did you know he also has a side hustle as a DJ? Grab your fellow music enthusiasts and hit the club to hear him spin.
Art & Soul Sundays: Josiah Ray McCruiston presents “Folks: The Fire, The Fight, and the Freedom”
🗓️ 3-4 p.m. Sunday, April 6
📍 The Indianapolis Artsgarden, 110 W. Washington St.
🎟️ Free
Josiah Ray McCruiston shares Afro-folk tales using poetry and song to describe the Black experience.
April 7-13 🔝
Trinket Club
🗓️ 6-8 p.m. Monday, April 7
📍 Re:Public at 10 East Arts Hub, 2301 E. 10th St.
🎟️ Free
A club for all the trinket enthusiasts, treasure hunters and curious collectors like myself who can’t resist tiny little gems.
Tai Chi with Christine Bhe
🗓️ 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, April 7
📍 Virtual
🎟️ Free
The public library invites you to get into a workout that combines traditional Tai Chi and Qigong with modern Western fitness.
Bebette’s Feast: Cork-Cork at the Kan-Kan
🗓️ 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 9
📍 Kan-Kan Cinema and Restaurant, 1258 Windsor St.
🎟️ $40
Where else can you pair wine with a film? Only at Kan-Kan! This month’s feature is “Babette’s Feast,” a captivating story of a French refugee serving a strict Danish religious community in the late 19th century.
Tchaikovsky x Drake
🗓️ 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 9
📍 Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle
🎟️ $15-$40
Hear 22 Drake songs woven into Tchaikovsky’s “Fifth Symphony,” by the Indiana Symphony Orchestra, three singers, one rapper, a drummer and a bassist.
soul • real • ism – An Art & Soul Featured Artist Showcase
🗓️ 7-9:30 p.m. Friday, April 11
📍 The Madam Walker Legacy Center, 617 Indiana Ave.
🎟️ $10
This multimedia show, curated by Madam Walker Legacy Center and presented by Indy Arts Council, will feature an unconventional wearable art fashion show, a visual art display and live music performances.
White Rabbit presents XO / XV
🗓️ 9-11:00 p.m. April 11-12
📍 White Rabbit Cabaret, 1116 Prospect St.
🎟️ $25 – $30
Hop down to the White Rabbit to celebrate 15 years of glitz, glam and giggles with two nights of burlesque and drag!
Big Gay Spring Fling
🗓️ 4-8 p.m. April 12 and 13
📍 The AMP at 16 Tech, 1220 Waterway Blvd.
🎟️ Free
The Big Gay Market will feature over 50 LGBTQ artists and small businesses for its first ever spring fling.
Indianapolis Color Throw Festival – Holi Hungama 3.0
🗓️ 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, April 13
📍 Waterfront Hotel and Conference Center, 2930 Waterfront Parkway W. Drive
🎟️ $15
You won’t want to miss Indy’s largest Holi festival. Gather friends and family for a day full of color, music and joy.
April 14-20 🔝
April Art Dish
🗓️ 6-9 p.m. Monday, April 14
📍 Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St.
🎟️ $175
Culinary mastery meets creative expression with BBQ legend Michael Gomez and award-winning artist Stephanie Spay, as they blend flavors and art in the breathtaking setting of the Harrison Gallery.
Queery Radical Book Club
🗓️ 7:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 15
📍 Irvington Vinyl and Books, 202 S Audubon Road
🎟️ Free
Meet up with readers to discuss Camila Sosa Villada’s “Bad Girls,” a book about a trans woman’s gritty yet tender journey to find community on the margins.
Free Community Movie Series: “Encanto”
🗓️ 7 p.m. Thursday, April 17
📍 Schrott Center for the Arts, 610 W. 46th St.
🎟️ Free
Take the whole family to watch the Madrigals family in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical house called an Encanto at Butler University’s free community movie series.
Super Chili Bowl Cook-off
🗓️ 5-8 p.m. Saturday, April 19
📍 Patina Gallery, 2201 E. Michigan St.
🎟️ General admission $10, VIP $40 for admission and a bowl of chili, 21+
Spice up your night at Patina Gallery’s very first event! It’s more than just a cook-off — it’s a fundraiser to fuel future art exhibits, workshops and community events.
April 21-26 🔝
Carlos Rolon: Threads of Resurgence Closing Reception
🗓️ 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, April 21
📍 Newfields, 4000 N. Michigan Road
🎟️ Newfields members are free, General admission tickets start $13
“Threads of Resurgence” features six large-scale works by artist Carlos Rolon upcycled from FEMA-distributed tarps that were used as makeshift roofs in Puerto Rican communities impacted by climate disaster.
Bluegrass Open Jam
🗓️ 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 23
📍 Duke’s Indy, 2352 S West St.
🎟️ Free
Dust off that banjo you’ve been meaning to play and head over to Dukes for a jam session! Not quite ready to strum along? No worries — kick back with a drink and some delicious food instead.
The Humans
🗓️ 7 p.m. Thursday, April 24
📍 The Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre, 705 N. Illinois St.
🎟️ $20-$40
Directed by Matthew Reeder, “The Humans” takes place over the course of one Thanksgiving where the everyday and the extraordinary intertwine.
Genesis Theatre Company’s musical tribute to women in the bible
🗓️ 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. April 24-27
📍 The Jewel Center, 3333 N. Illinois St.
🎟️ $40 (meal and ticket)
This musical is based on the biblical accounts of various women – including Eve, Delilah and Jezebel. You’ll laugh and cry as you sing along to gospel music, jazz, R&B, favorite show tunes and Hymns.
Trunk Show
🗓️ 10 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Saturday, April 26
📍 Eiteljorg Museum, 500 W Washington St.
🎟️ Free
Explore a collection of over 250 Inuit artworks, including stunning sculptures and vibrant prints, available for purchase.
April 27-30 🔝
The Art and Spirit of KP Singh Exhibit Reception
🗓️ 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 27
📍 Simon Room at the Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St.
🎟️ Free
Artist KP Singh shares his journey of creating artwork inspired by Indiana, India, and beyond—on display at the Central Library from April 2 to April 29!
Indy Pitch Clinic
🗓️ 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, April 29
📍 The Box Indy, 1413 E. Riverside Drive
🎟️ $5
This event is a collaboration between Indiana Filmmakers Network and Indy Film Fest to offer local filmmakers tips for improving their pitching skills.
Indy Reads Lit Stage Open Mic
🗓️ 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday April 30
📍 Indy Reads, 1066 Virginia Ave.
🎟️ Free
The Lit Stage open mic welcomes people of all ages, art forms and languages to share their talents including singing, skits, dancing, comedy, poetry and essay reading. Keep it family-friendly.
A correction was made on April 1, 2025: The date of the event was moved from April 23 to April 30.
Free Dinner Skate Party
🗓️ 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 30
📍 Skateland, 3902 N. Glen Arm Road
🎟️ $10-$14
Dust off your skates or rent some for a special night at Skateland. Skaters will get a free slice of pizza and a drink!
Mirror Indy reporter Mesgana Waiss covers arts and culture. Contact her at 317-667-2643 or mesgana.waiss@mirrorindy.org.
Chelsea Reynowsky is a Mirror Indy freelance contributor and digital marketing coordinator at the Indy Arts Council. You can reach them at creynowsky@indyarts.org.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
