Fun for the kids, ’80s pop hits and more for the weekend in and near South Bend

Tribune Staff Report
·6 min read

This weekend brings June's First Fridays event in South Bend, sand sculptures in Michigan City and rafting on the East Race, among other things to do. For more events, visit southbendtribune.com or check out Joseph Dits' Outdoors Adventures column for this week about biking events and his report on paddleboards and kayaks at Pinhook Park.

Motown Machine performs June 3, 2022, on the island behind Century Center for Meet Me on the Island as part of Downtown South Bend's Inc.'s June First Fridays event.
Motown Machine performs June 3, 2022, on the island behind Century Center for Meet Me on the Island as part of Downtown South Bend's Inc.'s June First Fridays event.

‘Kids’ Night Out’ theme for June First Fridays in South Bend

SOUTH BEND — With a theme of “Kids’ Night Out,” Downtown South Bend Inc. presents its June First Fridays event from 5 to 9 p.m. June 3 throughout downtown.

Highlights include the following:

• Children’s Entertainment Stage, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in Studebaker Plaza: free entertainment by and for children, including a kids dance party, Spotlight Performers and an interactive children’s concert by Wendy Daly from The Music Village.

• ROC UR BODY, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the Gridiron: The Reducing Obesity Coalition of St. Joseph County presents a family-fun night filled with physical activity, games, dancing and more.

• DTSB Youth Talent Show, 6 to 8 p.m. in the 200 block of South Michigan Street: Anyone 20 and younger may take part, and there are no participation fees. Participants will be allowed up to 3 minutes on stage to perform in one of the following categories: vocal, instrumental, dance, tumbling, clogging or novelty/miscellaneous. No judging will take place. Late registrations and walk-ups will be permitted if there is still space available.

• SJCPL Summer Reading Club Kickoff Party, 4 to 7 p.m. at 305 S. Michigan St.: Celebrate the start of the St. Joseph County Public Library Summer Reading Club in the courtyard at the Main Library. Events include games, activities, live music with The Hillsiders, giveaways, a Zumba class with Carlitos and more while participants sign up for summer reading.

• Studebaker Car Show, from 5 to 8 p.m. at 313 S. Michigan St.: The Studebaker Drivers Club will have dozens of their cars on display.

• Urban Picnic on Michigan Street, 4 to 9 p.m. in the 200 block of South Michigan Street: Purchase food from downtown eateries for consumption at socially-distanced seating areas. Beer from Chicory Café also will be available.

• Meet Me on the Island, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the island behind Century Center, 120 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.” The event features art, food, drink, dancing and live music by the band Motown Machine. Tickets are $12. For more information, visit morriscenter.org.

• Dustin Chafin, 9 p.m. at The Drop Comedy Club in Aloft Hotel, 111 N. Main St.: Dustin Chafin headlines, with Jenni Rodriguez as the opener. A former missionary in Chile, Chafin bases much of his comedy on his sobriety of 14 years. Rodriguez has been performing her dark to aggressively sexual humor since 2019 and has appeared at The Drop Comedy Club, Valparaiso's The Market Lounge and Grand Rapid’s Laugh Fest. Tickets are $15. For more information, call 574-222-7649 or visit thedropcomedyclub.com.

For more information about First Fridays, call 574-282-1110 or visit downtownsouthbend.com.​

Frederick Stuckwisch plays the prince in Southold Dance Theater's production of “Cinderella” from June 3-5, 2022, at the University of Notre Dame's Debartolo Performing Arts Center.
Frederick Stuckwisch plays the prince in Southold Dance Theater's production of “Cinderella” from June 3-5, 2022, at the University of Notre Dame's Debartolo Performing Arts Center.

Southold Dance presents Prokofiev ballet ‘Cinderella’

SOUTH BEND — Southold Dance Theater presents “Cinderella” from June 3 to 5 at the University of Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.

With music by Sergei Prokofiev and choreography by Southold artistic director Călin Rădulescu, the ballet tells the popular fairy tale about a young woman mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters who loses her slipper and gains her prince at the royal ball.

Cinderella's prince: Namely News: Southold dancer en pointe for professional career in ballet

Performances are at 7 p.m. June 3 and 4 and at 2 p.m. June 4 and 5.

Tickets are $30-$18

For more information, call 574-233-9841 or visit southold-dance.org or performingarts.nd.edu.

American Theatre Guild presents the national touring production of the musical version of "An Officer and a Gentleman" from June 3 to 5, 2022, at the Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend.
American Theatre Guild presents the national touring production of the musical version of "An Officer and a Gentleman" from June 3 to 5, 2022, at the Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend.

Broadway in South Bend up where it belongs with 'An Officer and a Gentleman'

SOUTH BEND — As part of its Broadway in South Bend series, American Theatre Guild presents “An Officer and a Gentleman” from June 3 to 5 at the Morris Performing Arts Center, 211 N. Michigan St.

Based on the 1982 film, the musical tells the story of Zack Mayo, a candidate in the U.S. Navy’s Officer Training School who must overcome strenuous training to become a Naval aviator. Along the way, he also meets and falls in love with a local woman, Paula Pokrifki, who works in a factory but dreams of becoming a lawyer.

A chat with an actor: Characters gain depth in musical version of 'An Officer and a Gentleman'

The new musical adaptation by writer and director Dick Scanlan uses hit songs from the 1980s for its soundtrack, including songs by Rick Springfield, Styx, Debbie Gibson, Richard Marx, Wilson Phillips, Pat Benatar and the Joe Cocker-Jennifer Warnes duet from the film, “Up Where We Belong.”

Tickets are $133.50-$38.50.

For more information, call 574-235-9190 or visit morriscenter.org.

Michigan City and The Sand Lovers LLC present the inaugural Singing Sands Sand Sculpting Festival from June 3 to 5, 2022, at Washington Park in Michigan City.
Michigan City and The Sand Lovers LLC present the inaugural Singing Sands Sand Sculpting Festival from June 3 to 5, 2022, at Washington Park in Michigan City.

Michigan City stages inaugural Singing Sands Sand Sculpting Festival

MICHIGAN CITY — The inaugural Singing Sands Sand Sculpting Festival takes place from June 3 to 5 at Washington Park.

A celebration of Michigan City’s lakefront and beach, the event features master, semi-pro and amateur sand sculpting contests with sculptors coming from seven states; sand sculpting shows; food and craft vendors; live music and beach bar; and a kidszone.

Michigan City partnered with The Sand Lovers LLC, a professional sand sculpting and event management company that specializes in major sand sculpting events, to present the event. Their events include the American Sand Sculpting Championship in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., and the Blue Water SandFest in Port Huron, Mich.

The music lineup includes the Together Band and Indika Reggae on June 3; Dan Moser, Audios Pantalones, Derek Caruso & the Blues Fuse Band, Sankofa and Sofa King Revolution on Saturday; and Invisible Cartoons, Cadillac Starship and Hurricane Reggae on Sunday.

Future development: Developer has big plans for boutique hotel, condos, public art in Michigan City

The schedule is 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. CDT June 3 and 4 and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. CDT June 5.

One-day tickets are $8, and a three-day pass is $18; $5 and $12 for Michigan City residents. Free for ages 6 and younger with a paid adult.

All tickets are sold at the gate.

For more information, visit emichigancity.com/1246/Singing-Sands-Festival.

People look on as rafters take on the rapids on the East Race during the SB 150 celebration festivities on Saturday, May 23, 2015, in South Bend. The East Race opens for the season June 5, 2022. ROBERT FRANKLIN, SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE FILE
People look on as rafters take on the rapids on the East Race during the SB 150 celebration festivities on Saturday, May 23, 2015, in South Bend. The East Race opens for the season June 5, 2022. ROBERT FRANKLIN, SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE FILE

South Bend's East Race Waterway opens for the season

SOUTH BEND — The East Race Waterway opens this weekend for the rafting season, starting June 5. There’s a new, temporary floating dock, and only two of the three water gates are functioning. But that shouldn’t change the experience for rafters this summer, Venues, Parks and Arts Executive Director Aaron Perri told Joseph Dits for this week's Outdoor Adventures column.

Repairs at the East Race: East Race rafting starts while gates being repaired. Also, catch free fish, Elkhart fest.

Rafters must be at least 54 inches in height, children 15 and younger that meet the 54-inch requirement need to be accompanied by an adult in the raft.

East Race rafting hours will be noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays, potentially running through Labor Day weekend. Cost is $6 for one raft ride, $10 for two rides, $15 for three and $20 for an unlimited day pass. Book passes at eastracewaterway.gr8.com.

The East Race is located at 126 S. Niles Ave., in the East Bank Emporium Parking Lot.

For more information, call 574-299-4765.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: First Fridays and things to do in South Bend this weekend