5 Fun Spring Activities in South Bend

Jayne Hornich, Editor

March 19, 2025

Photo Credits: Google Images and Canva

Spring is just around the corner… FINALLY! The days of being cozied up inside with a cup of hot chocolate are coming to an end and life is beginning to feel like it’s worth living! As we prepare for the warm months full of sunshine, you may find yourself wondering what fun activities you can enjoy, by yourself or with friends and family. Without having to do any of your own Google searching, I give you a list of five fun sources of entertainment in South Bend for the springtime!! While some of these places may seem boring because you’ve been to them a hundred times, just remember if it was fun once, you can always enjoy it again. Plus, if you bring a friend, you can both get cute and aesthetic Instagram photos!

First up is the one and only, Potawatomi Zoo, a quaint little oasis to visit the animals of South Bend. Treat yourself to a train ride, feed the giraffes or just walk around and see all the beauties that Potawatomi has to offer. You can also grab a sweet treat with a friend or family member at one of the concession stands and follow that up with a carousel ride. At the end of your visit, wander around the gift shop and maybe even gift yourself a stuffed version of your favorite animal that you saw. Not only is the zoo a way to entertain yourself on a warm and bright day, the surrounding park can also be a great place for a fun picnic or reading spot. Admission to the zoo is only $14 for ages 15 to 61 or you could could get yourself a membership card for $55, allowing access to the zoo for one year at any time during operating hours, free admission to select zoo events, and discounted admission at a multitude of zoos nationwide!

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Next is the East Race Waterway, a place to gather your friends and take a very quick trip down the river. The East Race is open from June 1 until Labor Day, allowing a big chunk of time to get down there and hop on a raft. The whole trip from top to bottom is approximately 1,900 feet and some areas may require you to maneuver the raft around rocks. You will definitely get splashed so make sure you’re prepared but that’s honestly what makes the experience even more enjoyable. Your adventure will be over quite rapidly so you may consider going down a few times! One ride down the rapids costs just $6 or you could purchase a day pass for $20. If you’re a mega fan of rafting, you might even consider purchasing a season pass for $75, allowing you unlimited rides all summer.

Are you an adventurer or hiker?? The Potato Creek State Park is an excellent place for you to enjoy the nature that surrounds the paths and get a nice walk in on a warm day. Not only does the park consist of multiple paths with different distances and difficulties, it also includes a small lake in the middle and camping opportunities. Whether you want to bring a paddleboard or kayak to explore the water and observe the beauty of the park or stay the night in one of Potato Creek’s cabins, the park has so much to offer. Grab a friend and head down to the park for a jaunt, a trip around the lake or a night in the woods. Whatever you decide to do, Potato Creek is the one place a nature lover will never get bored! It costs just $7 for admission to the park and from there, options are almost endless!

The South Bend Farmers Market is a great place to shop around and support local farmers and small businesses! Enjoy a delicious meal at the diner located inside the market and then take a loop and consider buying something from one of the many awesome vendors. Located less than a mile from Cloud Walking Cafe, consider grabbing a yummy baked good or fun beverage after pondering the market. Additionally, you can always take a walk alongside the river right next to the market. The farmers market doesn’t have to just confine you to that specific place, there are many other fun sources of entertainment that surround it to make it a full fun spring experience.

Last up is not necessarily a place, but a fun activity to do with your best friend or even a group. Taking a bike ride around Notre Dame, Potato Creek, the river or even your own neighborhood can be a great way to get outside during the spring! If you’re looking to incorporate another activity into your bike ride, you and your friend can make a super simple wildflower bouquet. All you need is a small piece of cardboard with some holes punched into it and as you bike around South Bend, pick new flowers to put in the holes until the cardboard piece is completely full!

Spring is an amazing time to get yourself up and outside again after a dark and depressing winter season. South Bend has so many entertaining places for you and your friends and family to create fun and memorable experiences. No more bed rotting, get outside, be active and just have fun!

Source for certain activities: https://www.visitsouthbend.com/things-to-do/shopping/

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About the Contributor

Jayne Hornich

Jayne Hornich, a driven and compassionate senior at John Adams, is beginning her first year with The Tower. As she tackles her final year of high school and starts college applications, Jayne is second guessing every decision she has ever made! Throughout her lifetime, Jayne has wanted to go into many careers. From being a veterinarian to a gymnastics coach to an elementary school teacher, she has explored all the possibilities. Growing up in her hometown of Piscataway, NJ and beginning high school in South Bend, IN, Jayne has gotten to be a part of different environments and a multitude of exciting opportunities in which she achieved great things. If she had to narrow it down, Jayne would say her proudest achievements are earning her black belt in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) at the age of nine (the youngest ever in her dojo), competing at the Hunterdon County 4-H fair at the age of eight with a llama, and passing Mr. Bart’s honors pre-calculus class (even if she only took it for a semester.) Jayne has always considered her to be an introvert and overall shy person. She loves to watch tv, especially Grey’s Anatomy and Criminal Minds, her absolute favorites! Jayne also loves being creative, such as drawing, poster making, and the occasional painting. For every school project involving a poster, she HAS to use her own poster board, pens, and markers or else she doesn’t feel like it’s her best work. Recently, Jayne has also started designing stickers, which has been an enjoyable creative outlet for her. Though she has her introverted and shy side, Jayne is very outgoing and chatty when it comes to her friends. She loves hanging out with her close friends and getting some food, going to the mall, having sleepovers, or even just chilling on TikTok. Other hobbies Jayne enjoys doing are spending time with her animals (all 40+ of them), playing the New York Times games even though they drive her insane sometimes, traveling, and singing. As a writer for The Tower, Jayne hopes to improve her writing abilities and create some entertaining articles for the students at John Adams. Jayne is known to be a person who writes A LOT so get ready for some lengthy, but fun, pieces this year.