Downtown South Bend hosts April First Fridays with theme, "Game On!"

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Downtown South Bend will be hosting the April First Fridays on Friday, April 7, where the theme will be "Game On!"

You can enjoy free behind the scenes tours at Four Winds Field in advance of their April 11 opening day, board games at Barnaby's & Chicory, discounts at Unique Boutique for sports fans in their team's gear, a new brew at South Bend Brew Werks in honor of the Cubs, sports comedian Costaki Economopoulos at The Drop with a meet and greet with him at Four Winds Field prior, a Super Smash Bros Tournament at the Bendix LAN Center, and sports-themed food at Fiddler's & Woochi.

And in honor of the recent season three release of Ted Lasso, there will be some "football" fun on the gridiron with the South Bend Lions and the chance to make your own “Believe” sign at the DTSB tent.

Downtown Business First Fridays’ Activities:

Aloft/WXYZ Bar (111 N. Main St.) Live @ Aloft in the WXYZ bar will feature DJ Outlaw playing your favorite tunes. Live @ Aloft features local artists, groups or DJs playing music every Friday from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. in the WXYZ lounge.

The WXYZ bar also has "Cocktails for a Cause" with $1 from every cocktail for a cause sold donated to their featured charity of the month.

Also take advantage of their First Fridays special, buy one flatbread pizza and get a second flatbread pizza at half off.

Barnaby’s (713 E. Jefferson Blvd.) invites you to come dine and play board games this First Fridays.

 They will have some board games available and welcome families to bring their own games.

They will also have their First Fridays special of $4 pints, plus their First Saturdays special, any large two-topping pizza, an order of breadsticks, and a pitcher of pop, or a 2 liter on carryout orders, for only $22 plus tax from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Bendix LAN Center (120 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd.) The Bendix LAN Center, powered by Xfinity in partnership with Michiana Smash and the Garage Arcade Bar, is hosting a Super Smash Bros Tournament this First Fridays in the Bendix Lan Center, located on the lower level of the Century Center.

There will be both a Super Smash Bros Melee and Ultimate tournament.

Participation is free and cash prizes will be awarded.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and registration must be done online at this link by 6:30 p.m.

Walk-ins are allowed prior to 6:30 p.m. as well.

The Garage Arcade Bar will host a 21+ after party with live music by Satellite 40.

Bruno’s (131 S. Michigan St.) Get one 14″ one-topping pizza for $15.

Chicory Cafe (105 E. Jefferson Blvd.) will have board games and chess boards out, plus live music by Craig Turner from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

They also have their usual specials: 16 oz. Hurricanes and Blue Raspberry Long Islands for $5 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Dainty Maid Co. Food Hall (231 S. Michigan St.) is one of newest First Fridays participants.

They will have special extended hours for dinner on weekend nights including First Fridays, with dining options from Oak + Ash, The Beard & The Boss, Smashed, Propaganda Pizza, Hall Pass, and a Roaster Called Revenant from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

DEAR EVAN HANSEN Ticket Giveaway (Online Contest) Dear Evan Hansen comes to the Morris Performing Arts Center April 25 to 30, and now is your chance to win two tickets to the opening night show.

A letter that was never meant to be seen, a lie that was never meant to be told, a life he never dreamed he could have. Evan Hansen is about to get the one thing he’s always wanted, a chance to finally fit in.

Winner of six Tony® Awards including Best Musical and the Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

Enter to win by clicking the link on the April First Fridays website.

The giveaway opens at 5:00 p.m. on Friday and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday evening.

DTSB will contact the winner next week.

The Drop Comedy Club (111 N. Main St.) Now relocated to the Aloft Hotel and features amazing comedy shows every Friday and Saturday night.

This First Fridays they will have headliner Costaki Economopoulos for one night only with two shows.

He is a sports commentator and stand-up comedian, best known for being a regular guest on the syndicated Bob and Tom Show.

That segment has spun off into “Quick Snaps" on Sirius XM Satellite Radio and podcast.

The first show is at 7:00 pm. with the second at 9:00 p.m.

Fiddler’s Hearth (127 N. Main St.) Get a sweet sports-themed dessert at Fiddler's Hearth this First Fridays, the ballpark sundae with popcorn ice cream, salted butter caramel sauce, brown butter

blondie, peanut brittle, and butter cotton candy.

Also enjoy live music by Kennedy's Kitchen from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and check out Fiddler's Hearth baseball tees which will be for sale.

Fire Arts (305 E. Colfax Ave.) Fire Arts Inc. invites the public to the opening reception of their Annual Juried Show, "Vernal Reawakening."

As time passes and life seems to emerge from a cold darkness, there is a sense of hope. A metamorphic time of rejuvenation, reinvention, imagination, Spring returns.

What is your vision for a new Spring season? Fantasy or reality, it is a time of rebirth or revitalization.

This event goes from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Four Winds Field (501 W. South St.) Opening day for the South Bend Cubs is April 11, and there's a special treat for this First Fridays, free behind the scenes tours at Four Winds Field.

From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. you will be able to take a tour which includes both the home and visiting locker rooms, the 1st Source Bank Performance Center, the Team Store, and the United Federal Credit Union Rooftop deck.

There will also be a special free meet and greet with comedian, Costaki Economopoulos from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Home Plate Suite during the stadium tours.

Costaki will be headlining two shows at The Drop Comedy Club this First Fridays.

Meet Costaki, get autographs and photos, purchase merchandise, and buy tickets to one of his First Fridays shows if they're not sold out.

Friends of the Library Book Sale (333 S. Michigan St.) will have bargains on books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, and more for both kids and adults at The Friends of the Library Book Sale  between 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

The Gridiron In honor of the recent season three release of Ted Lasso, there will be some "football" fun on the Gridiron this First Fridays with the South Bend Lions.

There will also be a soccer dart board activity and the chance to make your own “Believe” sign.

There may even be a special visit from Coach Lasso.

This event is from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Howard Park (219 S. St. Louis Blvd.) The VPA Adult Recess Event and Great Egg Hunt have been rescheduled to April 7.

This free event is open to anyone 21 and older.

Come hang out, enjoy the live music, have some drinks and food from food trucks!

Registration is now full for the Great Egg Hunt portion of the event, but the other components are still open to anyone 21 and over, for free.

7:00 pm. to 9:00 p.m.

Ironhand Wine Bar (1025 Northside Blvd.) Country florist will have their camper shop in front of the wine bar this Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with lovely fresh bouquets and plants for your Easter weekend.

Also enjoy live music by Lucas Miner 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and their First Fridays wine special with 20% off bottles of MI Cabernet Franc.

Perry Vine (121 S. Niles Ave.) Another new First Fridays participant, Perry Vine, recently opened inside the Emporium Building and will be doing tastings this First Fridays, with one free tasting per customer.

Additional tastings are $1.50.

If you plan to buy a glass, you’re welcomed to bring your own meal and dine in the atrium area adjacent to the store.

Please note seats are limited.

They will also have bottles for sale.

Bring back your clean bottles and receive 10% off your next purchase.

4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

South Bend Brew Werks (321 S. Main St.) will release a brand-new lemon göse, a sour beer with coriander, sea salt and lemon, this First Fridays called Go Cubs Göse.

If the weather is good, they will also have their cornhole boards out.

They will also have karaoke from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

South Bend Chocolate Cafe (122 S. Michigan St.) Two for $20 any crunch or pretzel combo.

South Bend Museum of Art (120 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd.) Visit the South Bend Museum of Art this First Fridays for the reception of the University of Notre Dame MFA Exhibition exhibit.

Admission is free to this exhibit and the exhibits and galleries.

The 2023 Scholastic Show is also still on display and will be up through April 29.

5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

St. Jo Coffee Co. (305 S. Michigan St.) The St. Joe Coffee Co., a new coffee shop located inside the St. Joe County Library's Community Learning Center will be featuring 50% off their April specialty drinks, the Birthday Cake Latte with cupcake syrup, whipped cream, and rainbow sprinkles, and the Blooming Lemonade, lemonade with blackberry and lavender syrup.

8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.)

Tippecanoe Place/Studebaker Grill (620 W. Washington St.) Half price appetizers will be available In the Studebaker Lounge.

Unique Boutique International (122 S. Michigan St. Suite 110) Unique Boutique International, located just east of the South Bend Chocolate Café, will be offering 50% off to sports fans wearing their team's cap, shirt, or jersey this First Fridays.

Woochi (119 N. Michigan St.) Woochi will be offering 50% off their special themed cocktail & sushi roll this First Fridays, The Halftime Treat for $6, and the Grand Sumo Roll for $10 with spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, crabmeat, cucumber, avocado wrapped in seaweed and spicy mayo and unagi sauce.

5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

DTSB First Fridays is an immersive community experience showcasing the best of what downtown South Bend has to offer.

Taking place, the first Friday of each month all year long, with a different theme each month, First Fridays features live music, dining and retail specials, art receptions, kid-friendly activities, and much more.

First Fridays are sponsored by Fetch! Pet Care, Kruggel Lawton, the South Bend Cubs, South Bend Orthopedics, and U93.