Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect a schedule and location change announcement from The Flower Fest.
April 3 + 17
Kiddos are welcome in the kitchen at BREC’s Chefs R Us. These cooking classes suited for little ones teach basic cooking skills and introduce new ingredients. brec.org
April 4 + 5
Baton Rouge’s Flower Fest is making a splash in its fifth year raising funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Take a lap around Electric Depot and Red Stick Social to find blooming displays by local and out-of-state artists that play off this year’s Under the Sea theme. Shop the vendor market, grab floral-themed art or get a few snaps at the Instagram-worthy photo ops. theflowerfest.com
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April 4-6
Celebrate local music’s journey from the swamp to the stage at the Baton Rouge Blues Festival. The festival boasts three days of live music downtown, echoing from North Boulevard to Lafayette Street. Find a spot near one of the stages, or stroll through the setup to enjoy food and art vendors, activities, musician interviews and more. brblues.org
April 5 + 6
The Baton Rouge Zoo’s Zippity Zoo Fest doubles as a birthday party this year as the zoo celebrates its 55th anniversary. Meet the zoo’s residents at animal encounters, learn about wildlife at education stations and grab some grub at the food court. brzoo.org
April 10-12
Need to secure your next read or stock a barren bookshelf? Browse over 70,000 books at the Friends of the LSU Libraries Book Bazaar held at LSU’s John M. Parker Agricultural Coliseum. Find all genres, cheap novels and even highly sought-after collectibles. lib.lsu.edu
April 12
Louisiana-based Indigo Hemp Co. is bringing back its popular Canna Fest for the second year. Held at Beauvoir Park, this festival aims to bring cannabis awareness and education to the community. Expect local art and food vendors, live entertainment and educational talks. indigopapers.com
April 13
Hop over to the LSU Rural Life Museum for An Old-Fashioned Easter Celebration. Every bunny is sure to have a good time egg dyeing, paquing and participating in egg hunts. The Easter Bunny himself will also make an appearance. lsu.edu/rurallife
April 26 + 27
Follow the wind to West Baton Rouge for Kite Fest Louisiane. Pack lawn chairs and watch the sky fill up with colorful kites, or bring your own and try to catch some air. There will also be plenty of activities at this free event, like a fireworks show, kite decorating and a kite-making workshop. westbatonrouge.net
Arts Agenda
April 4 + 5
Slip on your boots and two-step to the Livingston Fair Grounds for Rock the Country. This traveling music festival features acts like Nickelback, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Shenandoah. Along with live music, there will be DJ sets, food vendors and more. rockthecountry.com
April 4-6 + 11
Follow the journeys of the March sisters at Red Magnolia Theatre Company’s production of Little Women, a new adaptation by Heather Chrisler. Attendees can scoop tickets to the show or opt for the VIP (very important patron) experience on April 5, with a three-course, prix fixe dinner at Brasserie Byronz and an Uber voucher. redmagnoliatc.org
April 13
Brush up on your sketching skills this spring with a figure-drawing session at LSU School of Art’s Glassell Gallery in the Shaw Center for the Arts. The free class provides room to create along with a model for inspiration—attendees only need to bring their own art supplies. design.lsu.edu
April 24
Indie-rock band STRFKR is set to bring wacky stage costumes and hits like “Golden Light” and “Open Your Eyes” to Chelsea’s Live. chelseaslive.com
April 25
Put on your boogie shoes, and get down to L’Auberge Casino Hotel for a performance by KC and the Sunshine Band. Rock out to the band’s disco and funk sound, and sing along to old faves like “Keep it Comin’ Love” and “I’m Your Boogie Man.” lbatonrouge.com
April 26
Fleur De Stitch’d is back with its annual Baton Rouge Fiber Arts & Makers Festival. This year’s fest will be held at The Artist’s Loft Gifts & Antiques and will feature hand-dyed yarns and other locally made, fiber-based artwork. fleurdestitchd.com
On the road
New Orleans
April 4 + 5: Hogs for the Cause, hogsfest.org
April 10-13: French Quarter Festival, frenchquarterfest.org
April 19: Crescent City Classic, ccc10k.com
Acadiana
April 11-13: Semi-Annual Antique Fair and Yard Sale, oldschoolhouseantiquemall.com
April 23-27: Festival International de Louisiane, festivalinternational.org
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April 25 + 26: Cody Johnson & Friends, cajundome.com
This article was originally published in the April 2025 issue of 225 Magazine.