Top 10 Best Things to do in South Bend Indiana 2022 [This Weekend]

South Bend is a city situated on the St. Joseph river and located in Indiana. It has a lot to offer in terms of art, history, sports and spirituality. Its most prominent feature is the University of Notre Dame. The tertiary institute has breathtaking fixtures like the gold-domed main building and the Grotto of our Lady Lourdes.

There are museums in surrounding areas showcasing the local automotive history and holding world renowned works of art.There are also parks to hike for the more athletic visitor and ice rinks for skating.

You won’t struggle to find things to do when visiting South Bend. Read on to add some destinations to your own shortlist.

Jump to:

1. South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana
2. Studebaker National Museum
3. Snite Museum of Art
4. Potawatomi Zoo
5. Basilica of the Sacred Heart
6. St. Patrick’s County Park
7. The University of Notre Dame & Notre Dame Stadium
8. Grotto of our Lady Lourdes
9. Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium
10. South Bend Farmer’s Market
11. Compton Family Ice Arena

Studebaker National Museum

This museum is for the car lover that’s also interested in automotive history. This particular museum documents over a century of the region’s automotive and industrial history.

You can learn about the Studebaker Corporation while taking in the “National Treasures” the museum has on display. Most notable of which is the carriage Abraham Lincoln rode into Ford’s Theatre with.

The museum has a mixture of permanent and changeable exhibitions. The latter is always updated to keep things interesting, current, and educational. The facility is available for hire for parties and social events. You can also rent one of the classic vehicles with a chauffeur service within a 15km radius of the museum.

Snite Museum of Art

This museum is located in the University of Notre Dame (another spot on the list). It has 30,000 pieces, all centered around art history from around the world. The museum has educational programs with interactive tours and hands-on activities.

Some of the notable holdings include:

• The Jack and Alfrieda Feddersen Collection of Rembrandt Etchings
• The Janos Scholz Collection of Nineteenth-Century European Photographs
• The John D. Reilly Collection of Old Master and Nineteenth-Century Drawings

There is also an outdoor exhibition dotted with sculptures. It is intended as a place to contemplate art in the setting of nature. It includes sculptures by artists such as Deborah Butterfield, Peter Randall-Page, and Richard Hunt.

Potawatomi Zoo

The Potawatomi Zoo is the oldest in Indiana. It’s home to over 400 animals and attracts around 200,000 visitors every year. What started as a modest duck pond has grown into an impressive 23-acre zoo rich in local history.

The exhibits include:

• Animals from Africa – black-and-white colobus monkeys, fennec foxes, southern ground hornbills, lions, plains zebra, Diana monkeys, African wild dogs, warthogs, greater kudu, and ostrich.
• Animals from Asia – Amur tigers, Sichuan takins, red pandas, and muntjac.
• Animals from Australia – emus, red kangaroos, grey kangaroos, Bennett’s wallabies, yellow-crested cockatoos, brush-tailed bettong, honeyeaters, laughing kookaburras, and black swans.
• Animals from the Americas – American bison, otters, Chacoan peccaries, bobcats, red fox, eastern screech owl, red-tailed hawks, prairie dogs, American alligators, capybaras, giant anteaters, crested screamers, blue-and-yellow macaw, and green-winged macaw.

The zoo also has a petting and feeding area and a learning center to educate the public. They actively participate in conservation by breeding several endangered species. They participate in over 56 Species Survival Plan programs.

Basilica of the Sacred Heart

Basilica of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic church located at the University of Notre dame. The bell tower is 218 feet tall with a 12 feet tall golden cross, making it the most towering university chapel in America. The church has 44 large stained glass windows, murals and three altars.

This place of worship allows visitors to partake in mass and tour the venue themselves. All group tours must be booked in advance. Mass takes place at 11:30 a.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. on Sundays. This worship location is also available for weddings and baptisms.

St. Patrick’s County Park

St. Patrick’s County Park is a pet-friendly park with 398 acres of wooded trails, picnic shelters, and a playground. There are trails for those that wish to hike, cycle or run. There are easy-going and strenuous hikes with different levels of elevation.

Bodies of water in the park include ponds and the St. Joseph River. In early October, you can rent canoes and kayaks to use along the river. The Red Barn, an apple orchard, and Goodhew Gazebo (known spot for outdoor weddings) are close by.

During the winter, the park is excellent for skiing, and in the summer, they host a children’s Outdoor Adventure day camp.

The University of Notre Dame & Notre Dame Stadium

The University of Notre Dame is a very frequently visited site in Indiana. There are public tours available for visitors that don’t intend on enrolling. The tours will guide you through :

• The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes
• Basilica of the Sacred Heart (mentioned above)
• The Golden Dome
• The Hesburgh Library

There are many restaurants on campus, with the most notable being Rohr’s. The campus also hosts many sporting events and museum exhibitions open to the public.

The university is also well renowned for its rich athletic history. Though they are highly competitive across many sports, the one that stands out is the legendary football program.

Popular home game weekends draw crowds into the Notre Dame Stadium. The games are full of pageantry and tradition. The Friday pre-game traditions include a pep rally, a midnight drumming circle, student group performances, and photo opportunities.

There is a free shuttle service on game day that picks up passengers around Southbend and drops them off at the Eck Visitors Center. The shuttle also runs for several hours after the game. Another highlight is the Notre Dame Marching band that plays before kickoff.

Grotto of our Lady Lourdes

This local rendition is a seventh the size of the famous French shrine, but it does contain a stone from the original Grotto. Students and members of the public can light a candle and quietly reflect in this tranquil space. It does get busy and possibly crowded during football weekends, however.

This spot is known to be a popular location for marriage proposals. The changing of the seasons is especially beautiful in the Grotto, and it looks most spectacular at night once many candles have been lit. This location is especially enjoyed by the students and community that partake in the Roman Catholic faith.

Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium

This stadium is located in downtown South Bend. It was built in 1987 and has won several awards for its renovations and overall quality. The stadium can seat 5000 spectators and is home to the South Bend Cubs.

Ballpark tours include a guided trip around the Four Winds Field, lunch, and the option to meet the South Bend Cubs mascot. The recent renovations have added a children’s play area and a Tiki Hut for adults to relax.

South Bend Farmer’s Market

The South Bend Farmers Market is hosted from Tuesday to Saturday from 7 am to 3 pm. There are dozens of local vendors that sell their goods each day. The categories of interests include:

• Baked Goods
• Coffee, Tea, Spices, Popcorn, CBD Products
• Handmade Gift Items, Candles, Soaps, Books & more
• Jewelry
• Meat, Seafood, Eggs & Dairy
• Plants & Fresh Flowers
• Prepared Foods
• Fresh produce

There is a Cafe, a popular pit stop to refuel before shopping recommences. The venue also has bathrooms, ATMs, and a community room. Keep in mind that not every booth is occupied by the extent of the vendors every day. Some days are busier than others.

Compton Family Ice Arena

This facility has two ice rinks (one of which is Olympic sized) and is also part of the University of Notre Dame. The arena can seat 5,022 people and is named after Kevin and Gayla Compton. The Ice arena has several programs available. One of which is a learn to skate program suitable for beginners.

The other programs offered are:

• Adult draft hockey league (all players must be USA hockey registered)
• Drop-In Hockey
• Figure Skating (Must have active USFS membership.)
• Public Skating

There are eight locker rooms available for campus members and the community.