South Bend community letting their inner child shine at VPA’s adult recess

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — School might be out of session for kids, but recess was in full swing Fri. evening for those above the age of 21 at VPA’s Adult Recess Summer 2025.

The event featured classic school-yard fun at the Charles Black Community Center with games like kickball, large scale Connect 4 and Jenga, sack races and more.

Zachary Toth, a Notre Dame graduate student, who just moved to town attended the event in hopes of making new friends.

“I’ve went the first few weeks here, you know, not knowing hardly anyone” said Toth.

Kelli Austin, South Bend VPA’s Special Assistant Manager, said the goal of Fri. was exactly that: to give adults the space to connect with one another.

“For us big kids… come out… get together and let’s have some fun,” said Austin. “We have adult grape juice, as I like to call it, for us to come out and enjoy and we’re just gonna let loose and let our hair down.”

Austin said VPA aims to have a quarterly Adult Recess in every season, each with a different theme.