South Bend’s June Fun Guide: Festivals, Films and Family Adventures

A quick glance at South Bend’s calendar shows a packed week of activities from June 1‑7. The first event on the list is an exhibition that takes a look back at America’s symbols of freedom. Visitors can stroll through the Midwest Museum of American Art, see patriotic icons like Uncle Sam and think about how flags shape our identity. The show runs until July 31, with free admission for kids under three and a moderate fee for adults. If history buffs want to watch a movie, the local library hosts a screening of Steven Spielberg’s “The Post. ”The film dramatizes the 1971 decision by The Washington Post to release the Pentagon Papers. It’s a PG‑13 thriller that starts at six in the evening on June 1. The next day, a play called “Abigail/1702” arrives in Mishawaka. It follows Abigail Williams, the main accuser from Salem’s witch trials, as she tries to escape her past. Tickets are inexpensive and can be bought online or at the door. June 3 brings a camera‑history talk at The History Museum. Two owners of Gene’s Camera explain how photography evolved and why they bought the shop. The event is low‑cost, but reservations are needed. Also on that day, the Studebaker National Museum opens an exhibit about pioneering women drivers. It highlights how early female motorists fought discrimination while driving their cars. The exhibit stays open until mid‑July. Classic car lovers have a chance to see vintage vehicles at the Swan Lake Resort from 5 p. m. to 8 p. m. , with dinner options available at the resort’s Chophouse. Artists can check out a new collection called “It’s in the Air” at Cloud Walking Coffee. The exhibit will stay open until late July and features up to a hundred pieces that visitors can buy. The Vickers Theatre in Three Oaks offers two films this week: a 1990 Italian romance and a new PG‑13 thriller. Tickets range from ten to twelve dollars. The Essenhaus Classic Car Cruise‑In is a free event where people can display their cars or simply walk around to compare models. It takes place in Middlebury and runs from late afternoon into the evening. Goshen celebrates its First Fridays tradition with a downtown party on June 5. Food, drinks and family activities fill the evening. Meanwhile, South Bend’s downtown hosts a “Kids’ Night Out” that includes face painters, balloon artists and a Studebaker car show. A guided walking tour of South Bend’s historic buildings starts at six in the evening on June 5. The tour is inexpensive and focuses on downtown landmarks. Elkhart’s Civic Theatre stages a musical adaptation of “The Sound of Music” from June 5‑7. Tickets start at nineteen dollars and show times vary through the weekend. A library program in Michigan City brings Gene Stratton‑Porter to life with a first‑person portrayal. It takes place in the afternoon on June 5. The Dunes Arts Summer Theatre opens its season with a comedic thriller called “Deathtrap. ”The show runs through June 14, offering a mix of suspense and humor.Cassopolis hosts a beach bash at Stone Lake with beer gardens, food trucks, live music and fireworks on June 5‑6. Saturday features a vendor market and a drone show in the evening. The Acting Ensemble presents a comedy titled “The Antichrist Cometh” from June 5‑14. The play follows a married man who discovers he might be the antichrist, and it offers laughs while exploring good versus evil. The 43rd annual Studebaker Car Show takes place at the county fairgrounds on June 5‑6. More than a hundred vendors sell parts, accessories and memorabilia while a car corral showcases all kinds of vehicles. Twin City Players stages the musical “The Prom” from June 5‑28. The story follows Broadway stars who help a small town host its own prom, and tickets range from fifteen to twenty dollars. Families can join the Fantastic Fishing Derby on June 6. Children and teens up to seventeen years old are invited, with no license required. The event starts at eleven in the morning. The Safe Paws Recovery Housing hosts a 5‑K walk on June 6 to raise funds for companion animal support. The free family walk begins at nine in the morning, with dog treats and competitions for pups. Kayaking along the St. Joseph River is offered on June 6, with a route from Bristol to Elkhart. Participants need life jackets and may bring their own kayaks or rent one for a fee. Elkhart’s National New York Central Railroad Museum offers a free walking tour celebrating 175 years of rail in the area. The two‑and‑a‑half‑mile walk starts at the Beardsley Discovery Center and includes a lunch stop. The Three Oaks Township Library hosts an exhibit on legendary pitcher Mark Fidrych at noon. The event is free and includes a box of Cracker Jack. A kids’ fishing clinic runs from nine to noon on June 6, teaching safety and conservation while featuring live fish displays. The Village of Winona hosts an art fair on June 6‑7 with 70 juried vendors, live music and kids’ activities. An annual junk market called “Junk in the Trunk” takes place on June 7, where people can buy crafts and antiques from vendor trunks. The Rebel Art Fest in South Bend runs from noon to eight on June 7, featuring local artists and musicians with food vendors. Antiques on the Bluff offers a weekend of vintage treasures at Lake Bluff Park, open from ten to five on June 7. Quilt gardens along the heritage trail are open until September, blending quilting with gardening and art for a unique visitor experience. A musical based on a mystery novel runs through June 18 at Blue Gate Music Hall, with tickets priced near forty dollars. Potawatomi Zoo’s Lantern Festival runs until June 28. The theme is “Sea to Believe, ” featuring undersea lanterns and a carousel, with discounted rates for zoo members. The Motels4Now Art Workshop exhibits “Listen Up” at the Civil Rights Heritage Center until July 31, offering ten pieces for sale. Finally, St. Joseph Lighthouse tours operate every Saturday through September, giving free access to the first floor and a fee for the top.