Correction: This article has been updated to correct the date of Louisiana Earth Day. It is April 28. 225 regrets this error.
All month
GETTING FESTIVE April in Baton Rouge is full of fun festivals and recurring outdoor live music events. From music to fitness to saving the environment, these events are just as educational as they are enjoyable:
Join local leaders at the 2019 Health Summit to tackle important issues focused on the wellbeing of children and families. Find the event on Facebook
April 5
• The Music in Our Schools Benefit Concert is coming to the Manship Theatre. Teachers and students throughout East Baton Rouge Parish School System will perform with Broadway star Jennifer Holliday.manshiptheatre.org
• Mega Art Night, hosted by The Smiling Dog and Vaudeville Entertainment, will feature live music, live art, creative entertainment and more than 50 vendors. Find The Smiling Dog on Facebook
April 5-6
BREC hosts Bioblitz, a two-day biodiversity extravaganza. Attendees will search all corners of Hooper Road Park to document the different kinds of wildlife and critters they find. brec.org
April 6
Celebrate the Baton Rouge Zoo’s 49th birthday at the Zippity Zoo Fest. Enjoy face painting, activity booths, sweet treats and more. brzoo.org
April 7
Taste of PerPHection, a fundraising event for Baker High School seniors, will be held at the Baker Municipal Center Auditorium. Enjoy tastings from local chefs, live painting and musical performances. Find the event on Evenbrite
April 9
LSU students present undergraduate research at the 2019 Discover Day at the LSU Student Union. Find the eventon Facebook
April 11
Photo by Raegan Labat
• Pretty scenery—and delicious food—awaits with Gourmet in the Garden. Capital City chefs will face off, creating dishes with local ingredients against the picturesque backdrop of LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. Attendees will be able to vote on their favorite dish, and awards will be given throughout the night. Find the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens on Facebook
•Get your head banging, because Carnivàle Icône is coming to the Raising Cane’s River Center. The group features Steve Aoki, Snoop Dog, Nelly, Riot Ten and Kyroman. raisingcanesrivercenter.com
April 14
All are welcome to participate in the Girls on the Run 5K. The run begins at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and proceeds benefit the national Girls on the Run program. girlsontherun.org
April 18-19
• Crop will hold its fourth annual conference in Baton Rouge. Join artists, designers, photographers and all kinds of creative moguls for this two-day event filled with speakers, workshops, live music and much more. cropcons.com
April 20
Join the River Center Library branch for a reading of Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett. Following the reading, kids will have the opportunity to build their own gingerbread person. Ages 5-9. ebrpl.com
April 27
• The Mid City Micro-Con celebrates diversity in the comic book community, providing free booths for local creators and free entrance to anyone interested in learning more about the world of comics. Come explore it all at Goodwood Library. ebrpl.com
• Enjoy cooking for a great cause at the 2019 Clash of Cooks Jambalaya Showdown. Hosted by Ochsner Baton Rouge, all proceeds go to families battling cancer. clashofthecooks.com
• Battle of the Canvas, a live painting competition, is coming to Tin Roof Brewing Co. battleofthecanvas.com
• Join Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge for the annual Active for Autism 5K. fhfgbr.org
ARTS EVENTS: THIS MONTH’S BEST BETS
April 4
Courtesy Wander Eye Photo
Head over to the Old Governor’s Mansion for Of Moving Colors Productions’ gala, “Monochrome in the Mansion.” Grab a ticket and get ready for an enchanting night—just be sure to wear a solid-color outfit. ofmovingcolors.org
April 7
As part of the “Free First Sunday” events at downtown museums, LSU Museum of Art curator Courtney Taylor will lead a tour of the new exhibit, “Across the Atlantic: American Impressionism through the French Lens.” lsumoa.org
April 13
Join the Louisiana Art & Science Museum for a night of mystery, photography and master storytelling. The museum will show Finding Vivian Maier, a riveting documentary about Maier, a nanny who secretly took more than 100,000 photographs throughout her life. Following the show, visitors will be able to see her work in the museum’s main galleries. lasm.org
April 22-26
Calling future artists! The Arts Council will be hosting Artsplosion, a spring break camp focusing on Spanish culture with a week of dance, art, music and fun. artsbr.org
April 25-28
Playmakers of Baton Rouge winds down the season with its second to last performance, 13. Follow young teenager Evan Goldman as he deals with major events spanning from his parents’ divorce, a big move, a new school and, of course, typical teen drama. playmakersbr.org
April 26 and 28
Opera Louisiane will perform the French classic Carmen, a tragic story of a young couple’s passion, adventure and love. The show will take place at Manship Theatre. operalouisiane.com
April 26 — May 12
Theatre Baton Rouge’s production of The Explorer’s Club opens this month. The comedic show is set in 19th century Britain and follows a group of male explorers and what happens when a female explorer wants to join the group. theatrebr.org
MUSIC EVENTS: THIS MONTH’S BEST BETS
April 2
As I Lay Dying, a California heavy-metal band, will perform at the Varsity Theatre. Get ready for a night of hard rocking and head knocking! varsitytheatre.com
April 5
Dust off those cowboy boots, because Sara Evans is coming to Baton Rouge. The country music icon will perform at L’Auberge Casino & Hotel, performing classics and music off her new album, Born to Fly. lbatonrouge.com
April 5
Arkansas country artist Joe Nichols will perform at the Texas Club. Nichols is best known for hits like “Sunny and 75” and “Gimmie That Girl.” thetexasclub.com
April 7
I hope you dance … and sing to Lee Ann Womack’s greatest hits. The Grammy Award-winning artist will perform at Manship Theatre. manshiptheatre.org
April 9
Courtesy Warner Bros
Jenny Lewis, known for her solo work and as the lead singer of Rilo Kiley, is coming to the Varsity. Lewis will perform both old favorites and songs off her new album, On The Line. varsitytheatre.com
April 20
With more than 18 albums under his belt, you can’t miss the musical stylings of Robert Earl King when he comes to Baton Rouge. The Houston-born songwriter and entertainer will perform at the Varsity Theatre. varsitytheatre.com
April 24
Mid City Ballroom welcomes trippy Georgia band Of Montreal to the Red Stick. Known for its creative performances and experimental pop sounds, you will not want to miss this performance. midcityballroom.com
