The Circus is Coming!

PLUS: Moms day events, summer concerts, and more.

May 02, 2025

Happy Friday! This newsletter is for the newbies, the lifers, the townies, and the domers.

In today’s digest:

  • Authors at the Morris

  • Meet Spud!

  • Curated Events

  • The Circus is Coming!

This issue is 1,128 words, a 3.5-minute read.

The Digest

Manuscripts in May

Join the literary celebration at the Morris Performing Arts Center's Granada venue on Thursday, May 1, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

This free event, part of the Equity in the Arts Program by the City of South Bend and the Morris Performing Arts Center, features three local authors sharing insights into their writing processes, reading excerpts from their works, and signing books.

Books will be available for purchase on-site through Brain Lair Books.​

Featured Authors:

  • Cat Rambo: An acclaimed speculative fiction writer with over 300 published works, including the Nebula Award-winning Carpe Glitter. Their latest novel, Rumor Has It, is a space opera adventure.​

  • Spencer Hixson: A Mishawaka-based urban fantasy author known for A Sinister Love. His upcoming novel, Fate & Fortune, explores time travel and the complexities of altering one's destiny.​

  • Aja Ellington: Author of Love Letters to My Girls an Anthology

Humane Society: Meet Spud!

Adopt Spud, a 5-year-old mixed breed, looking for his forever home!

This cutie seems like he would be the perfect companion for just about anyone!

Be sure to schedule an appointment or visit during their visiting hours: Monday through Saturday, 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.

The Happenings

Curated picks 📆 

Candlelight Tributes

Experience the magic of live music under a sea of candles at South Bend's Scottish Rite! Candlelight Concerts enchantingly tribute iconic artists and composers, creating unforgettable evenings of music and ambiance.​

Upcoming Performances:

  • Candlelight: Tribute to Queen and The Beatles

    • 📅 Date: May 30, 2025

    • 🕕 Time: 6:30 PM

    • 📍 Venue: South Bend Scottish Rite

    • 🎟️ Tickets: Starting at $35

  • Candlelight: Tribute to Coldplay

    • 📅 Date: May 30, 2025

    • 🕗 Time: 8:45 PM

    • 📍 Venue: South Bend Scottish Rite

    • 🎟️ Tickets: Starting at $35

Check out the Details!

Summer Jams at Four Winds

Get ready for an exciting lineup of live performances at Four Winds Casino South Bend this spring and summer! From high-energy bands to lively karaoke nights, there's something for every music lover to enjoy.​

Upcoming Concerts at Four Winds Casino South Bend:

  • Zero
    📅 Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025
    🕘 Time: 9:30 PM
    📍 Venue: Kankakee Grille
    🎸 Rock and pop band delivering hits from yesterday and today with shredding guitars and killer vocals.​

  • The Distance
    📅 Date: Sunday, May 4, 2025
    🕔 Time: 5:00 PM
    📍 Venue: Kankakee Grille
    🎤 Solo acoustic performance blending rock, Motown, country, and pop for a sing-along experience.​

  • Karaoke Night
    📅 Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
    🕕 Time: 6:00 PM
    📍 Venue: Kankakee Grille
    🎤 Join in for a fun-filled evening of karaoke with friends and fellow music enthusiasts.​

  • Spring Fling Party with DJ Gino J
    📅 Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025
    🕘 Time: 9:00 PM – 1:00 AM
    📍 Venue: Edgewater (Third Floor of the Hotel)
    🎧 Dance the night away at the Spring Fling Party featuring DJ Gino J spinning the hottest tracks.

    Check out the Details to purchase tickets!

More events

A mix of things happening this weekend and into next week!

🌺 Pedals and Petals:  Downtown South Bend's May First Fridays, themed "Pedals & Petals," celebrates cycling and spring with a bicycle parade, plant swap, live music, art exhibits, and more on May 2 from 5–9 PM. ​Details

👩 Moms in Business: Connect with fellow entrepreneurial moms at the Women in Business – Mom Meetup on May 6 in South Bend. Details

🌹 Bubbles and Blooms: hosted by Connect 574 and the South Bend Girls Group on May 7, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at The Cellar Wine Bar & Kitchen. This is for all genders and age groups! Details

🖼️ ‘EN BLOOM’ Opening at Bunbury Gallery: Join the opening reception for Terrible Tony’s En Bloom floral art exhibit at Bunbury Gallery on May 2, from 5–9 p.m. Details

🎵 Howard Park Summer Concert Series: The Howard Park Summer Concert Series in South Bend offers free live music on First Fridays from May to September, featuring genres like Latin, rock, and soul from 6–8 PM. Details

🎬Mondays at the Movies: Join us Monday, April 7 at 6 PM for a free screening of The Exiles (1961) at the Main Library, followed by a community discussion on social justice themes. Details

✨Coming soon✨

🎪The Circus Comes to Town: Cirque Italia's Water Circus Gold dazzles in Mishawaka from May 9–12, 2025, at University Park Mall with gravity-defying acts, aerialists, and a 35,000-gallon water stage under the big top. ​Details

👟 Fathers & Sons Sneaker Dance: The Father's Day Father & Son Sneaker Ball Dance is a stylish event on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at 5:00 PM at the Century Center in South Bend, IN, inviting fathers and sons to celebrate their bond with music, dancing, and fashionable sneakers. Details

🎤 Comedic Timing: Comedian Alan Ford headlines The Drop Comedy Club in South Bend for a one-night-only performance on Friday, May 2, 2025, at 9:00 PM, featuring fellow comic Will Hill Tickets

🧱 R&B at the Brick: May 10, 2025, from 8 PM to midnight features the Zo Keyz Band and DJ Macmane, offering an evening of soulful music and dancing at The Brick in South Bend. Details

⛳ Mishawaka Firehouse Golf Outing: The 2025 Mishawaka Fire Golf Outing is a fundraising event on Monday, June 9, 2025, at 9:00 AM at Eberhart-Petro Municipal Golf Course in Mishawaka, IN, supporting the local fire department.Tickets

⚾️ Take Mom out to the Ball Game: Is your mom as big a sports fan as mine? Celebrate her with Tickets to the South Bend Cubs!

Rapid Fire Hits

Quick headlines and things to know from all around 🌐

WNBA Tips off in South Bend: ​South Bend is buzzing with excitement as the WNBA preseason begins, featuring a game between the Dallas Wings and Las Vegas Aces, with notable former Notre Dame stars like Jackie Young and Arike Ogunbowale.(Details)

South Shore Line Upgrades: Indiana lawmakers have allocated up to $28 million in the new state budget to expedite the South Shore Line's upgrade, aiming to reduce travel time between South Bend and Chicago by up to 15 minutes. (Details)

Affordable Housing in Near Northwest: A $2.5 million project is underway to build 16 new rental homes on West Marion Street and Leland Avenue in South Bend's Near Northwest side, aiming to provide affordable housing for families.(Details)

Happy Friday! See you around the Bend!

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