There’s plenty to keep us busy and inspired throughout the cruelest month, including an astronomical marvel. On April 8, during the total solar eclipse, the moon will completely cover the sun, making it look and feel like evening. Fingers crossed for cloudless skies for the four minutes of totality, because the US won’t experience another eclipse like this until 2044.
Keep reading for experiential inspiration from the biggest happenings coming in April — and check out how XP Land XLISTERS are involved in everything from eclipse viewings over the skies of Texas to Earth Day celebrations and two of the world’s biggest music festivals.
SOLAR ECLIPSE 2024
Atlas Obscura’s Ecliptic Festival: April 5-8; Hot Springs National Park, AR
Ecliptic — hosted by Atlas Obscura at Cedar Glades Park near Hot Springs — combines the solar eclipse viewing with the 20th annual Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival. The fest will feature art installations, speakers, DJs, films and a diverse lineup of international bands and artists, including Angel Olsen, Blonde Redhead, Allah-Las and more.
These immersive experiences combined with the park’s natural settings will celebrate both a cosmic wonder and a milestone in music festival history. And whether you’re a camper or a glamper, there are plenty of on-site accommodations available for guests wishing to bathe in the moonlight throughout the fest.
Texas Eclipse Festival: April 5-9; Burnet, TX
Texas is one of the best places to see this month’s eclipse; dozens of towns will experience totality, and forecasts show clear skies for much of the state. To celebrate, the Texas Eclipse Festival will feature a convergence of art, space, technology and mindfulness, including Meow Wolf’s “Gone Fishing” — an immersive and performative art installation.
The project, from XLISTER Corvas Brinkerhoff and the Meow Wolf team, will tap into local Burnet traditions of lake life and fishing, with experiences like “Fished Connections” at the fishing pond and neo-burlesque variety shows in this mini-town by the docks.
Total Eclipse of the Heart Festival: April 6-8; Russellville, AR
For three days — and just $100! — Total Eclipse of the Heart Festival will feature blues performances, hot-air balloon rides, ax throwing and a live Q&A session with NASA scientists. And, for the happy couples in the crowd, turn up with the appropriate paperwork and you can get married just minutes before totality with “Elope at the Eclipse.”
NASA-hosted solar eclipse events: April 8; Various locations
“Eclipses have a special power. They move people to feel a kind of reverence for the beauty of our universe. Their power is not only to unify us on Earth, but to further science and discovery,” said NASA administrator Bill Nelson during a recent briefing. NASA is set to host numerous eclipse viewing parties and celebrations across the country, including many in the path of totality. Read more here.
CONFERENCES
TED2024: April 15-19; Vancouver, BC
Celebrating the conference’s 40th anniversary, TED2024 is a celebration of the future and the people leading the way. Aiming to promote lifelong learning and global betterment, this year’s event features over 80 engaging TED Talks, interviews, performances and surprises in TED’s pop-up theater designed by David Rockwell, built from 8,000 custom pieces of Douglas Fir. Attendees — who pay $12,500 for a standard ticket — can expect dance parties, inspired dinner conversations and the opportunity to make meaningful connections. Speakers include Emmy-winning drag icon RuPaul, Chris Duffy of “How to Be a Better Human,” NYU’s Scott Galloway discussing the theft of generational wealth, and musician Kesha on the alchemy of pop.
CULINARY
Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival: April 4-7; Pebble Beach, CA
Since its 2008 inception, the Pebble Beach Food & Wine festival has emerged as one of California’s most prestigious culinary events. The festival features culinary experiences with top chefs and winemakers — including Elizabeth Falkner, Stephanie Izard, Marc Murphy, Nancy Silverton and Andrew Zimmern, among others — alongside rare wines from over 175 wineries, in a stunning oceanfront setting.
Over four days, attendees can enjoy immersive experiences, from tasting pavilions and seminars on caviar and Scotch, to events like the James Beard Foundation Opening Night Reception, against the backdrop of Pebble Beach’s famous golf courses. Additionally, a portion of ticket sales supports The Roots Fund and the Pebble Beach Company Foundation, blending gourmet excellence with philanthropy.
FESTIVALS
Coachella: April 12-14, 19-21; Indio, CA
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary at the Polo Grounds. And this year’s layout includes significant changes, such as the Sahara tent’s relocation to facilitate a larger audience and the introduction of Quasar, a new stage for extended DJ sets. Lana Del Rey; Tyler, the Creator; and Doja Cat will headline, with Ice Spice, Blur, J Balvin, Peso Pluma, and more down the bill. Additionally, Gwen Stefani and No Doubt will give their first performance together since 2015.
Off-site, events like Revolve Festival and Neon Carnival continue to attract A-listers and provide high-energy entertainment, enriching the Coachella experience beyond the festival grounds. XLISTER and president and CEO of Goldenvoice Paul Tollett is the visionary behind not just Coachella, but also Stagecoach for country music fans (more below), Desert Trip (aka “Oldchella”) for classic rockers, and — making its debut in 2023 — Power Trip, for metalheads.
Milan Design Week: April 16-21; Milan, Italy
Salone del Mobile, also known as Milan Design Week, has stood as the world’s largest and most prestigious design fair for over fifty years. Beyond the main exhibition, there are citywide installations, exhibitions, and pop-ups, emphasizing the fair’s extensive influence on urban spaces. Over the decades, Salone del Mobile and Fuorisalone have evolved, spotlighting young designers and bridging design with other fields, maintaining their pivotal roles in shaping design trends and industry standards globally.
Milan Design Week also stands out as XLIST council member Azamit’s favorite experience year after year. “I like all the little installations that are hidden across the city and aren’t open during the year, like old palazzos and vacant warehouses. It’s so fun how brands and artists showcase their work — especially when it’s immersive,” Azamit said in an interview with XP Land in 2023. “There’s always a story behind every installation. No one says, ‘Here, come see my work in a showroom that has nothing to share with the public.’ The most difficult part is choosing which ones to go see.”
Stagecoach: April 26-28; Indio, CA
This year’s lineup underscores Stagecoach’s commitment to mixing genres and celebrating both established and emerging talents within and outside traditional country music boundaries. Morgan Wallen will be a first-time headliner alongside festival veterans Eric Church and Miranda Lambert; also, surprisingly, Post Malone joins the lineup, planning a “special set of country covers” and marking his first appearance at a country festival despite his known affinity for the genre. Other diverse acts will include the Beach Boys, Nickelback, Wiz Khalifa and Leon Bridges, with Diplo returning to host a late-night tent set and “Diplo’s HonkyTonk.”
ART INSTALLATION
Single-Use Reflections: April 4-17; NYC
Environmental artist, activist, speaker and XLISTER Benjamin Von Wong collected 20,000 plastic household and beauty bottles for an installation coming to New York’s High Line for Earth Day. In collaboration with Kiehl’s Since 1851, “Single-Use Reflections” is a thought-provoking sculpture highlighting the urgent need to address the 400 million metric tons of plastic waste produced globally each year. This installation not only showcases the Kiehl’s brand’s dedication to eliminating single-use plastics by ensuring all product packaging is reusable, refillable or made from recycled materials by 2030, but also encourages public engagement with sustainable practices for a healthier planet, in honor of Earth Month.
Public Pool Exhibition: April 5-7; Sandy Valley, NV
Renowned artist and XLISTER Cj Hendry is poised to make waves in the desert with her latest exhibition “Public Pool.” The experience features an inflatable swimming pool as well as sculptures made of polyvinyl chloride (AKA floaties) and original hyperrealistic pencil drawings. Unlike many artists of her stature, Cj operates independently of galleries, choosing instead to connect directly with her 750k Instagram followers by providing a personal glimpse into her artistic journey through photos and videos.
IMMERSIVE
Nomadic School of Wonder “Wild Horses”: April 5-7; Ivins, UT
Barbara Groth — XLISTER and founder of Nomadic School of Wonder — facilitates transformative experiences through nature, art, community and play, bringing a unique blend of creativity and leadership insights to participants. Through programs like “Wild Horses,” taking place at Utah’s Windhorse Relations, participants engage directly with mustangs, learning about leadership, presence and the power of non-verbal communication through establishing a “willing relationship” with these animals. This immersive approach not only enhances personal growth and leadership skills, but also fosters a deep appreciation for the natural world and the beings that inhabit it.
SPORTS
Wrestlemania XL: April 6-7; Philadelphia
Taking place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, WWE’s WrestleMania XL marks the 40th iteration of the iconic wrestling event, featuring talent from WWE’s Raw and SmackDown brands. This marks the first WrestleMania following WWE’s acquisition by Endeavor (departing from McMahon family ownership) and will be the last event to livestream on the WWE Network, with future content moving to Netflix in January 2025.
Roman Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Cody Rhodes, in a highly anticipated rematch following their confrontation at WrestleMania 39. Then, at The Showcase of the Immortals, Cody and World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins will go head to head with Roman and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The Masters: April 8-14; Augusta, GA
The 2024 Masters Tournament will feature top golfers like Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, and possibly Tiger Woods, competing for an $18 million prize pool and the coveted green jacket. Jon, now part of LIV Golf, aims to defend his title, while PGA’s top-ranked Scottie looks to continue his winning streak following victories at The Players Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
To attend the Masters, fans can enter Augusta National’s annual ticket lottery or buy tickets on the secondary market, though prices can be steep, sometimes exceeding Super Bowl prices. The tournament is also famous for its affordable concession menu, with items like the iconic pimento cheese and egg salad sandwiches still costing just $1.50 each.
Boston Marathon: April 15; Boston
Held every Patriots Day, the Boston Marathon kicks off at precisely 9:02 am, with professional runners expected to finish between 11:45 am-12 pm. This year, a record 33,000 athletes applied to race, with over 22,000 accepted, half of whom are first-time racers (among the participants, 660 have completed at least 10 consecutive Boston Marathons). In a race known for its strict entry requirements, athletes without qualifying times can join by raising a minimum of $5,000 through the marathon’s charity program. Spectators can enjoy the race from numerous spots, including the Scream Tunnel at Wellesley College, Heartbreak Hill near Boston College, and the finish line on Boylston Street.
THEATER
What the Constitution Means to Me: April 4–21; Madison, WI
In her celebrated play What the Constitution Means to Me, Heidi Schreck — once a teen who earned college scholarships through Constitutional debate competition — now reflects on her idealism versus the realities of 21st-century womanhood. Directed by Forward Theater Company artistic director, native Wisconsinite and XLISTER Jennifer Uphoff Gray, Colleen Madden takes on Heidi’s role, inviting audiences to ponder the significance of the Constitution today and to question the essence of American identity.
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