Tim’s Picks: Five for your Memorial Day weekend
'Round the Fountain, Columbian Park goes Bicentennial for Memorial Day weekend, art and more. Your guide to five choice picks for your Greater Lafayette week.
Support for this edition comes from the Wabash River Ride. The Wabash River Ride is on Aug. 23. This cycling event will leave from Fort Ouiatenon and traverse routes ranging from 16, 32, 62 and 100 miles. There are route options on both paved routes and multi-surface roads for road and gravel cyclists alike. This bike tour has fully-supported resupply stops, mobile support and a finisher’s meal. With all of the options available, the Wabash River Ride really is your adventure, your choice. Early bird pricing of $35 ends May 31, with student discounts available for those in college or under 18 years of age. Find more information at www.wabashriverride.com
And now, presenting …
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
Opening reception for “Flowers on the Battlefield” by Craig Martin, 6 p.m. Friday, May 23, Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, 102 S. 10th St., Lafayette — You’ve seen his murals around Lafayette and West Lafayette, and, if you were lucky, you saw him stealing the show in Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette’s recent production of “Urinetown: The Musical.” This weekend, you can see Craig Martin’s first artistic talent — visual art that transforms galleries into bright feasts for the eyes. A former director Purdue University Galleries, Martin has since become a top local visual art talent. His murals like “Mythic Wabash” and “Send” were hits and instantly made the public spaces more vibrant. And speaking of vibrancy, Martin’s newest exhibition, “Flowers on the Battlefield,” consists of expressive mixed media floral drawings executed with acrylic, pastel and conté pencils. The artist said, “In challenging times, the fragility of art objects may be the perfect reminders of what we are in our better selves – much as flowers growing on battlefields can be the perfect reminders of the futility of our tumultuous history in the grand scheme of things.” The show runs through Sept. 7. Local jazz act Junk Trio will perform during the opening.
Bicentennial celebrations, Saturday-Monday, May 24-26, Columbian Park, Lafayette — Traditionally, Columbian Park is buzzing during Memorial Day weekend. For 2025, the historic Lafayette park will be the place to be for a weekend full of Lafayette bicentennial events starting Saturday and running through Monday. Lafayette’s 200-year history will be represented by a pop-up exhibit in the Columbian Park Carousel Building. Hosted by the Tippecanoe County Historical Association, the displays showcase different stories in Lafayette’s history including the founding of our fair city, Columbian Park, and the Wabash and Erie Canal. The exhibit is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Monday. Columbian Park will also discount attractions like the Columbian Park Express train and pedal boats to $1 per person. Other weekend wonders at the park include:
Half off admission to Tropicanoe Cove from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday
Jefferson High School baseball double header at 11 a.m. Saturday in Loeb Stadium
Food trucks from noon-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Field Day at Loeb Stadium with inflatables, games and obstacle courses from 1-5 p.m. Sunday
A free screening of “Finding Nemo” at Loeb Stadium at 6 p.m. Sunday.
The Tippecanoe County Veterans Council will host its Memorial Day program, “Lafayette, We Are Here!” at 1 p.m. Monday on the Columbian Park Memorial Island stage. The event will feature keynote speaker Col. Seth P. Bretscher of the U.S. Air Force.
Lafayette Citizens Band with The Riverboat Ramblers will perform music fitting for Memorial Day as well as a special Lafayette bicentennial set at 7:30 p.m. Monday appropriately on the Memorial Island stage. Food trucks will be nearby starting at 6 p.m.
’Round the Fountain Art Fair, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 24, Tippecanoe County Courthouse, downtown Lafayette — After celebrating 50 years in 2024, the annual ’Round the Fountain Art Fair will now set its sights on the next 50 years of showcasing artists from near and far. The works will be displayed and sold around the stately Tippecanoe County Courthouse in downtown Lafayette. The juried event will feature more than 70 regional artists of every medium imaginable. Proceeds from the Fair support area high school arts education, after-school art programs and public art projects. Admission is free.
Punk vs Metal BBQ VI with The Mound Builders, Yesterday’s Chips, Lollygagger and Pigmale Brains, 7 p.m. Sunday, May 25, People’s Brewing Company, 2006 N. Ninth St., Lafayette — The annual outdoor celebration of punk, heavy metal and smoked meats returns to give your Memorial Day weekend a sonic and savory jolt. Local punks Yesterday Chips will celebrate 10 years as a band alongside Lafayette metal legends The Mound Builders. Out of town guests include the wild sounds of Pigmale Brains and Chicago punk trio Lollygagger. Be sure to experience the pulled pork, but be careful to not pull a hammy in the smoke, er, mosh pit. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. Tickets.
Heather Redman and the Reputation, 8 p.m. May 31, People’s Brewing Company, 2006 N. Ninth St., Lafayette — Last seen in Lafayette opening for CoyoteBear at Duncan Hall about a year ago, Heather Redman and the Reputation returns to headline a special engagement at People’s. Redman’s vocals are stunning, especially in front of the seasoned players in the Reputation. The horn lines are exquisite, and the soulful grooves are many. The Dayton, Ohio, outfit is one of the Midwest’s best. Do check out Redman’s latest single, “Overtime.” $12. Tickets.
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
Thanks, again, for support from the Wabash River Ride, coming Aug. 23. Early bird pricing of $35 ends May 31, with student discounts available for those in college or under 18 years of age. Find more information at www.wabashriverride.com.
Thank you for supporting Based in Lafayette, an independent, local reporting project. Free and full-ride subscription options are ready for you here.
Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.
50% off Tropicanoe Cove on a 50º day...I think I'll wait for 80/80...
"...the displays showcase different stories in Lafayette’s history including the founding of our fair city,..." shades of Click and Clack! You made me smile.