April is a time of renewal and transformation, from Ramadan to Passover to Easter. It's also the time of year when trees start to bud, snow boots make way for rain boots, and flowers begin to bloom in New Iberia. April brings with it not only the celebrations of several religious holidays, but also brings days of acknowledgement and awareness for everyone in our community.
Here are 10 special holidays and events your family can mark in April:
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Autism Awareness Month
April 1-30
One in 59 children born in the United States is on the autism spectrum. World Autism Awareness Day is recognized on April 2nd however the entire month is recognized for what is considered to be the fastest-growing developmental disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Want to know more about autism? Read "The Warner Boys: Our Family's Story of Autism and Hope" by Ana and Curt Warner, whose twin sons were diagnosed with autism at 5 years old.
You can can also connect with national groups like autismspeaks.org for more information, resources or to get involved. We also have a group in Acadiana, The Autism Society of Acadiana that you can reach out to for information and support. Our local chapter serves Iberia, Vermilion, and St. Martin parishes.
Brittany's Project is another organization in Franklin that focuses on and offers support for individuals with disabilities to enjoy life through recreation, social events, and other resources. They will be offering an Easter Egg Hunt for anyone with an intellectual or developmental disability on April 1st. Get all the details on our calendar here.
 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services |
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
April 1-30
All families need help sometimes and as parents it is up to us to stay informed. Take the time this month and make a commitment to learn new ways to strengthen child and family well-being. Find out more from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services from resources to ways you can get involved in your community.
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April Fool's Day
April 1
Kids are all about April Fool's Day! Here are seven ideas for fun (and harmless!) April Fools' Day pranks to play on your kids. Have fun! But always watch your back.
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Ramadan
March 22-April 21
Ramadan, which started in March, is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of prayer, reflection, community, and fasting from sunrise to sunset. It is observed as a commemoration of Muhammad's first revelation and its annual observance is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Ramadan lasts about a month, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next. To learn more about this religious holiday, get some recipes, and craft ideas for the kids, read 5 Ways to Celebrate Ramadan With Kids.
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Passover
April 5-13
Passover, also known as Pesach — the Hebrew word for Passover — is celebrated during the spring, the time of rebirth. This holiday also celebrates social justice, freedom, and equality — very relevant concepts today. Here are eight common questions and interesting facts about Passover.
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Easter
April 9
Christians around the world mark this holiday in celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This date changes every year as it falls in accordance with the Spring Equinox. Christian churches celebrate the Easter Tridumm, which includes Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. This religious celebrations comes after after the 40 days Lent, which includes, fasting, penitence and preparation for this most holy day.
This day is of course also is a day kids look forward to because the Easter Bunny visits with baskets full of goodies and treats. We have plenty of bunny hopping fun and Easter egg hunts happening in New Iberia and around Acadiana this month. Be sure to check out our 2023 Easter Family Fun Guide for all the details!
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Day of Silence
April 14
The Day of Silence is a national student-led demonstration where LGBTQ students and allies take a vow of silence to protest the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ people in schools. They bring awareness to ways their schools and communities can become more inclusive. GLSEN is a national organization that offers workshops, webinars and resources to participate in this day. Find more, including lessons and activities, here.
While Louisiana does not have a local chapter, we do have other groups in Acadiana that offer support, information and resources to the LGTBQ community and it's allies. You can get more information from groups like Pride Ride in Jeanerette and Pride Acadiana on how to get involved.
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National Park Week
April 22-30
Celebrate America's treasured parks! National Park Week is a time to explore amazing places, discover stories of history and culture, and volunteer! Louisiana has 5 national parks for you to explore. Get the family together and plan a trip to one of these parks listed below and explore a national park near you!
Cane River Creole - Natchitoches
El Camino Real de los Tejas - Louisiana/Texas
Jean Lafitte National Park and Preserve - Marrero
New Orleans Jazz National Park - New Orleans
Poverty Point - Pioneer
Vicksburg National Military Park - Louisiana / Mississippi
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Earth Day
April 22
This is a great day to assess how your family impacts the environment and think about small changes you can make to help our environment. Enjoy a day at Rip Van Winkle Gardens in New Iberia, talk a walk in City Park, plan a park clean up with the kids, or head over Cypremort Point for a day on the beach. We have a lot of beautiful places here in Louisiana where you can celebrate today and give back to Mother Earth.
Get connected with earthday.org for info on local, regional and virtual events. Get some resources for the kids like printables, crosswords and more here.
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National Library Week
April 23-29
Libraries are at the heart of our communities and schools, providing a public space where all community members can come together to connect and learn. I have always loved my local libraries and made sure to share that love with my kids as early as possible. You can get so much more than just books from your local libraries!
My kids always enjoyed participating in the book reading contests, after school events and workshops, and I have created some funky art projects myself in some of the adult programs.
Our calendar is always filled with local events from the area libraries! Here are the links to the local libraries in our area so you can keep up with the resources available to you:
Macaroni KID New Iberia loves sharing all the news, events, and
local celebrations that include all families in our area!
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If your business or organization would like to be featured as part of a national day or monthly holiday and advertise your services, please let us know! You can also submit your local free or low cost events for review directly on our events calendar.
Also, if our readers have celebrations in your family for the upcoming months that you would like to see featured, please email suggestions to us at mackidnewiberia@macaronikid.com.
We'd love to hear from you!
