April 2026’s calendar of can’t-miss events around the Capital Region
April 11
Experience the romance of Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madama Butterfly at the River Center Theatre for Performing Arts. Opéra Louisiane presents this night of dramatic storytelling with voice and orchestra. operalouisiane.com
April 11-12
Shop for native trees, shrubs, perennials, ferns and more at LSU Hilltop Arboretum’s Spring Fling Plant Sale. Buy plants from nurseries across the South and stock up on gardening goodies at the Vendor’s Village and Hilltop Gift Shop. lsu.edu/hilltop
April 12
Purchase pup-approved merch at the Parish Pets & Friends Pet Market. Partnering with Full Moon Market, Mid City shop Parish Pets is welcoming other local vendors so shoppers can treat themselves and their furry friends. Find it on Facebook.
April 12
Read your book and eat it too at the East Baton Rouge Parish Library’s first-ever Baker Faire. The Main Library at Goodwood will host cottage bakers, along with other vendors selling baking-themed accessories. Expect demonstrations, education sessions and other treats. ebrpl.com
April 17-18
Get tangled up in the full-length ballet Rapunzel at the River Center Theatre for Performing Arts. Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre performers will tell the story of the classic fairy tale through dance. batonrougeballet.org
April 17-19 + 22-26
The LSU College of Music & Dramatic Arts brings The Play That Goes Wrong to LSU’s Reilly Theatre. This Oliver Award-winning comedy is a play-within-a-play with actors attempting to keep the production going despite the comedic obstacles they face.
lsu.edu/cmda/theatre
April 18
Craft, shop and mingle at this year’s Baton Rouge Fiber Arts & Makers Festival. This fiber-focused art fair, held at the Artists Loft Market, welcomes makers and shoppers of all kinds. thekeycreative.art
April 24
Attend an elegant evening fundraiser at Burden’s mystical Windrush Gardens. An Evening at Windrush supports the LSU Rural Life Museum with offerings including music, drinks and food prepared by chef John Folse. lsu.edu/rurallife
April 25
Get wild at Perkins Rowe with animal ambassadors from the Baton Rouge Zoo. Wild Day at the Rowe will include family-friendly activities, zoo animal appearances, demonstrations, live music and more. perkinsrowe.com
April 25
From the minds of local book lovers, Baton Rouge Fantasy Ball brings magic to the Lyceum downtown, featuring performers, vendors and more. The event is inspired by the book series A Court of Thorns and Roses. batonrougefantasyball.com
On the road
NEW ORLEANS
April 4: Crescent City Classic, ccc10k.com
April 16-19: French Quarter Fest, frenchquarterfest.org
April 20-26: Zurich Classic, zurichgolfclassic.com
ACADIANA
April 8-12: Cycle Zydeco, cyclezydeco.org
April 10-12: Scott Boudin Festival, scottboudinfestival.com
April 22-26: Festival International, festivalinternational.org
This article was originally published in the April 2026 issue of 225 Magazine.
