Everything Happening in NWI in May

A Recap of Local and State News

Today’s Headlines

Weather Forecast for NWI

Every week, we will be cycling in a new poll for the Explorers to answer about NWI. Favorite spots, underrated meals, hidden gems and a whole bunch else will be covered. These polls will help us to build the definitive NWI Explored guide to the Northwest Indiana, completely based on input from all of you! So, make your voices heard and answer our weekly poll!

Polls will switch out on each week’s Thursday edition, so you’ve got a full week to respond!

Every issue of NWI Explored comes with The Lowdown: a roundup of the most important news and headlines around the Region and Indiana writ large.

South Shore Arts plans to host its 33rd Annual Beaux Arts Ball next month at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster. The largest fundraiser for South Shore Arts each year, it will be taking place on Friday, June 5th at 1040 Ridge Road.

Region favorite music festival Roxx Fest has announced its headliners for the 2026 festival. Daughtry, Simple Plan, Hinder and Bowling for Soup will be the headlining acts for the festival, which takes place June 19th and 20th at the Portage Mall Outdoor Festival Area.

Ahead of planned idling of local plate mills, Cleveland-Cliffs has announced that they will not lay off any workers as a result of the aforementioned idling of plant operations. The steelmaker hasn’t turned a profit since 2023 and has continued to shrink their presence in the Calumet region in recent years, idling an increasing number of operations as a result of ongoing financial struggles.

Owner of Crown Point coffee shop Kaffa Cafe, Raed Naser, has been federally charged with 11 counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering in schemes that involved his local coffee shops and his logistics company in Elkhart.

East Chicago Central and Hammond Baptist will be playing a doubleheader at the filmsite of modern classic baseball flick Field of Dreams. The games will take place on Friday, May 15th in Dyersville, Iowa on the site where the film’s climactic scenes were staged.

The State Lottery Commission has said that the Hoosier Lottery will grow its YTY ticket sales after a slump in 2025 sales. In the 10 month period between July 2025 and April 2026, the Lottery sold $1.4 billion in tickets, with expected sales at the end of June 2026 to total over $1.68 billion.

Valpo residents and businesses near Institute Street are under a precautionary boil advisory as of late yesterday afternoon. A water main break along that stretch of road is the reason for the boil advisory.

Two months after the lockout began, USW laborers and the BP Whiting Refinery will be returning to the bargaining table on this upcoming Monday. More than 800 USW Local 7-1 laborers have been locked out of the BP Whiting Refinery since March 18th, after long contract disputes failed to yield results.

Peace United Church of Christ in Gary will be closing its doors later this month after nearly 120 years of operation. The church has declined in membership over the years, but cites their NIPSCO bill doubling this past winter as the core reason for why they decided to close down for good.

Valpo City Engineer Max Rehlander announced that the city will be applying Reclamite - a sealer that extends the lifespan of asphalt by eight years- to a selection of roads within city limits as soon as this week. The roads that will be serviced with Reclamite are as follows: Valley Drive, Wall Street, Flemming Road, Somerset Drive, Old Oak Drive. These streets have been repaved in the last two years, which make them prime candidates for this life-lengthening application.

Every issue of NWI Explored, we give you the best events and spots to check out during the current month.

Tuesday is Trivia day at White Rhino in Dyer. Find out more about this weekly event at the link here. Wednesday at White Rhino is Bingo night, starting at 6:30pm.

18th Street Brewery has its weekly Music Trivia and Karaoke night every Wednesday. Doors open at 4pm, with trivia starting at 6pm. Find out more here. On Thursday nights, they also host a weekly Line Dancing night with host Mizz Coco. Find out more here.

Shady Creek Winery hosts a weekly live music event each and every Sunday. Find a schedule of upcoming artists at the link here.

Anderson’s Winery in Valpo hosts weekly live music each and every weekend. Find a schedule of upcoming performances at the link right here.

Find out info about the classes and everything the Chesterton Art Center has going on here. The Center constantly has events for beginners, young artists, and apprentices alike, so anyone looking to build their skills and learn new ones should keep tabs on what the Chesterton Art Center has going on.

Off Square Brewing in Crown Point hosts a weekly Bingo Night on Thursdays, running from 7-9 pm each and every week. One lucky number can make you the big winner of the night! Find further info here. They also host a weekly Trivia Night on Wednesdays from 7pm.

Up Your Alley in Schererville has regular specials all week, perfect for families and groups of friends. Monday is a bowling special, Tuesday is Laser Tag, Wednesday is Dark Rides, and Thursday is the Arcade. Find more info and the specific deals available each week right here.

Every Monday, from 7-9 pm, Journeyman Distillery in Valpo hosts a Trivia Night. Three rounds of trivia keep the night alive, with teams of up to six people fight to win the grand prize every week. Find more info right here.

Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake has a weekly wine special running through dinner service. Happy hour specials and heavily discounted bottles every single Wednesday!

Every second Saturday each month, Beale Pottery in Westville hosts a “Make Cool Stuff Club”. This is a group that meets to, well, make cool stuff in the form of pottery! Find more info about the spot and their events right here.

On the last Tuesday of every month, Downtown Highland hosts a restaurant crawl. This community event always features a bunch of the local spots offering specials and deals, so its a great way to spend an evening hopping from meal to meal. Find more info right here.

Tiny’s Coffee Bar in Miller Beach has recurrent events every single week. Check out their page to find the full slate of events.

Marina Shores Yacht Club in Portage has Live Music Thursdays every 3rd Thursday of the Month! Find more info right here about lineups and performances.

Sip Coffee House in Highland has a Wednesday Game Night every single week from 6-9pm. In partnership with the Northwest Indiana Board Game Association.

Valparaiso Pathways Committee holds Free community rides once a month during the warmer months. Click here to look at their schedule of group rides across the city.

Conway Observatory in Lowell hosts open houses once a month for all ages to come in and take a look into the deep stretches of space. Totally free and with different focuses at each open house, you can learn about a host of cool space topics across the year. Find their schedule at the link right here.

Getting into photography or a seasoned vet looking to get out there and shoot more? Lake County Parks Photo Club has regular meetings every 2nd Wednesday at Turkey Creek Golf Course, with regular field trips out in the NWI expanse. Find more info and the full schedule at the link right here.

Gibson Woods Nature Preserve in Hammond holds a weekly Hike through nature every Wednesday. Find their full schedule right here. Pre-registration is required.

Miller Beach Arts and Creative District holds a free community yoga session every Sunday, beginning at 10am at the District building. Find info and other event listings here.

For all the fellow writers out there, Tiny’s Coffee Bar in Miller Beach holds a weekly writing group each and every Saturday, starting at 10:15am. Sometimes all it takes to spark inspiration is being around fellow creatives. Find more info about the group right here

Coffee Creek Farmers Market will be running every single Wednesday from April 8th to October 28th, 3-7pm at the Coffee Creek Pavilion Parking Lot. Find full info about the market right here.

The Dig the Dunes Beer Run & Wine Walk will be starting up on April 23rd, running once a month through the summer and early fall. A new spot in the Dunes area will be selected each month, with a 2-3 mile walk/run taking place before the group kicks back to enjoy a drink along the lakeshore. Find full information at the link right here and find the schedule right below.

Starting on April 25th, and running every Saturday through August, Indiana Dunes National Park’s 1966 Hiking Challenge begins! 19 hikes that cover 66 miles of the Dunes Park trails, celebrating the foundation of the park in 1966. Every Saturday at 8:00 am, hokes will take place in different areas of the park ranging from 1-7 miles. Complete them all and you earn a free 1966 Hiking Challenge sticker to show off to the world. For more details and specifics, click here.

Whiting Cruise Night runs every month on the 3rd Wednesday, starting on May 20th and running through the summer. Find more information about the event right here.

Chicago Street Theatre, Valparaiso - info here

Memorial Opera House, Valparaiso - info here

Canterbury Theatre, Michigan City - Info Here

La Porte Little Theatre, LaPorte - Info Here

4th Street Theater, Chesterton - Info Here

Beatniks on Conkey, Hammond - Info Here

Footlight Players, Inc, Michigan City - Info Here

Indiana Ballet Theatre Company - Info Here

Marian Theatre Guild, Whiting - Info Here

Towle Theater, Hammond - Info Here

Valpo University Theatre- Info Here

Ticket information and the full schedule can be found right here.

Scheeringa Farms and Greenhouses in Highland will be hosting a Sip and Succulent party on May 14th, a workshop event that will cover the basics of succulent care and ensure long-term success! The event is BYOB and costs $5 for entry, with a whole host of gear and materials available for purchase as well. Info for this event can be found right here.

The Fifth Annual Sugarbelt Mead Festival will be taking place on May 15th in Bulldog Park, Crown Point. Presented by Manic Meadery, this festival features meads from over 20 different meaderies from all across the country, alongside food trucks, live music and a complimentary swag bag with ticket purchase. Obviously, this event is 21+ and tickets can be found right here.

City of Hobart’s Roller Skate Night at the Hobart Police Court Complex Building will be taking place on May 15th, starting at 6pm. DJ Donnie will be keeping the party going on the decks and Kristy’s Krisp Fizzy’s will be providing drinks for this all-ages event. Find full info in the image below.

Tiny’s Coffee Bar is hosting a bird-themed art exhibit titled Birds of a Feather on May 15th, welcoming bird lovers and Audubon members to the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival (which we’ll highlight below). Gary area artists will have their art featured and hold talks about their art and process, there will be an art market, bird themed cocktails and app specials! Learn all about this event right here.

Come one, come all and celebrate the most important day in NWI craft brews, as Three Floyds’ Dark Lord Day returns once again on May 16th. This is the only day of the year that the public can by Three Floyds’ legendary Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout, as well as celebrate and sample everything the iconic brewery has to offer. Tickets and more information for this event can be found at their website.

Comedian Josh Wolf will be performing two shows on May 16th at the Hobart Art Theater - an early and a late show. Wolf has been a touring comedian for over three decades, appearing on The Late Late Show and Lights Out with David Spade and hosting his own podcast with his son, Jacob. Tickets and more information can be found right here.

For the Love of Ireland Feis in Bulldog Park will be taking place on May 16th and 17th, celebrating Irish culture and featuring a multitude of Irish experiences. Food will be provided by Tavern on Main and the weekend will be spotlighted by Irish dance competitions, live performances and a Parade of Champions.

From May 14th through the 17th, The Indiana Dunes Birding Festival will be taking place! Hosted by the Indiana Audubon Society, this event is in celebration of the biodiversity and abundance of migratory birds that the Indiana Dunes brings to our area. If you or someone in your life is into birding, this one is not to be missed. Find all the details at the link right here.

Live the life of a trader on the waterways of the Midwest over a quarter century ago with the 40th and Final Voyager Rendezvous, a Lake County Parks event. This is a family-friendly event all about the history of the trading routes of settlers and natives along these lands, with a canoe ride serving as the centerpiece. Participants can also look forward to a trading session with Native Americans, Tomahawk throwing, hot food, cold sarsaparilla, and a whole bunch of storytelling! Learn all about the event at the link right here.

Join Dig the Dunes and botanist Nathanael Pilla on a Wild for Wildflowers Spring Hike, on May 16th. The hike starts in Marquette Park, down the Chanute Trail and onto the beach. Attendees receive a Dig the Dunes drawstring bag full of goodies. Find tickets and information right here.

The Griffith Historical Park and Railroad Museum will be holding a Butterfly Day at the Depot on May 17th. Watch the whole area come alive with the return of the monarch butterflies. Learn more about this FREE Event at the link right here.

Get a taste of vintage baseball entertainment when the Home Opener of the Deep River Grinders (against the Blue Island Brewmasters) comes around on May 17th, at 2 p.m.. This FREE event will be a nostalgic trip back to simpler times - when baseball was just getting started and everyone was sitting in the stands sipping on sarsaparilla. Find more information at the link right here.

LaPorte County Historical Society Museum will be hosting a lecture - free to the public - titled “From Tobacco Plantation to La Porte Pioneer Woman: The Remarkable Life of Susannah Pottenger-Brown”. The talk will take place at the Historical Society Museum on May 19th at 7 p.m. On May 23rd, the museum will be hosting a Children’s Storytime and Activity, free to the public, at 10:30 a.m. And, finally, on May 30th the Museum staff will guide participants through a guided Patton Cemetery Tour, starting at noon, 2pm and 4pm. More information about these events and even more from the LCHSM can be found here.

Byway Brewing will be hosting a Comedy Night on May 21st, beginning at 5 pm. The show will be headlined by Vic Pandya, with sets from Ron Hexagon, Luiz Arevalo, Aubrey Wilson and Des Mulrooney.

Celebrate the Home Opener of the Gary Railcats on May 22nd and check out their various May promos in the image below!

Deep River Waterpark will be celebrating its opening weekend and opening for the season from May 22nd to May 25th.

Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum is holding Ice Cream Train Rides open to all ages starting on May 23rd. Enjoy a refreshing local treat from Sallie’s Small Batch Ice Creams and take a leisurely trip through the NWI countryside.

Indiana Dunes State Park is holding a Wildflower Wander Hike on May 23rd, starting at 10am. This is a FREE event for all ages, exploring a few different ecosystems in search of those early spring blooms. On the 24th, they will be holding another FREE all-ages event, known as Salamander Gander, where participants will be meeting some little amphibian friends and then going out into the state park to find some of their own.

Byway Brewing and 18th Street Brewing’s NWI Bike-N-Brew will begin it’s summer run on May 23rd, starting at noon. This is a fun, laid-back trek through Highland and Hammond - capped off with a relaxing afternoon of beer and food. Find more information about the rides and what they’re all about at the link right here.

Taking place in Washington Park on May 23rd and 24th, Michigan City’s Food + Music Fest is returning. Two days packed with live music, tons of food from local food trucks and all the fun you can muster.

Hesston Steam Museum in LaPorte will be holding their opening weekend festivities for the season soon, beginning on May 23rd and running through that weekend. Find more information about the museum and what they’ll be doing to celebrate this summer season at the link right here.

Valparaiso’s 20th Annual Memorial Day Concert will be taking place once again on May 25th at the Memorial Opera House. This FREE concert will be in support of the Christian Food Pantry of Valpo, of which attendees can bring non-perishable food items with to donate. Honor the day with this inspiring afternoon of music and history.

Crown Point Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony will also be taking place on May 25th at the Civil War Trail (347 Maple Lane). City officials, members of American Legion Post 20, Crown Point High School Choir and local Boy and Girl Scout Troops will be in attendance to honor the day and recognize those who fought for our freedoms and sacrificed it all.

Members from Munster VFW Post 2697 and American Legion Post 16 will be holding a Memorial Day Ceremony on May 25th at the Community Veterans Memorial in Munster. All can gather here to stand in recognition of American armed forces lost in combat.

Honor the heroes we’ve lost this Memorial Day at Main Square Park in Highland for their Memorial Day Ceremony on May 25th.

Sandy Oak Ranch will be holding a Red, White and Wild! family event in honor of Memorial Day on May 25th. Recognize the day of remembrance, take in some wildlife, and spread some family fun in the process.

May 27th will be the Home Opener of the Lake County Corn Dogs Baseball Team, Crown Point’s pre-professional, independent baseball team. The game will be played at Center Ross Park starting at 7pm.

Barker Mansion is hosting a Mansion After Hours Cocktail Tasting and Tour Experience on May 27th, offering an immersive touring and tasting experience to patrons. Sample classic cocktails inspired by the 19th & 20th centuries, with small bites and a cash bar.

Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake will be holding a Patio Kick-off Party on May 27th, starting at 5pm. Celebrate the reopening of their patio and the official start to summer with lakeside cocktails, live music, fireworks and a smattering of inspired tapas. This is an early taste of everything patio season has to offer.

Taking place in Bulldog Park on May 29th and 30th, Crossroads Northwest Indiana Chamber will be holding their Annual Corn Roast. Delicious roasted corn on the cob, food from local vendors and food trucks, and live entertainment for the entire family, this is sure to be a wonderful weekend of fun and summer joy.

Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City will be hosting a FREE Family Day for the public on May 30th, starting at 1pm. This drop-in event allows kids of all ages to create their own art and take in some of the great pieces in the Center’s current exhibition, ‘Cosmic Connections’. For further information about this event, click here.

Indiana Dunes State Park will be holding an event on May 30th that will highlight the intersection between arts, history and film at the historic Indiana Dunes. This FREE event is sure to be an interesting one, tracing the history of Lake Michigan and the Dunes’ relevance to art and film in the 20th century.

Centennial Park’s Bark in the Park event will be taking place on May 30th, starting at noon. This is a dog-friendly event that is the best opportunity for you and your four-legged pals to discover new dog products, treats, services and fun! Demonstrations and samples will be provided by local organizations and vendors as well.

Journeyman Distillery’s Dirty Boots Country Line Dancing Night is making its return on May 30th, beginning at 6pm. An evening of cocktails, live music, dancing and big ole cowboy boots, this is sure to be a hit. Tickets include a welcome cocktail, line dancing lessons and all the live entertainment you can handle for the night.

The Dunes Dash 5K in support of Save the Dunes will be taking place on May 30th. This annual run allows participants to explore the scenic West Beach of Indiana Dunes National Park and support the continued advocacy for preservation and conservation surrounding the Lake Michigan lakeshore.

South Shore Roller Derby’s Off Track Art Festival is rolling into the Promise You Art House in Highland on May 30th. This event will be in support of the South Shore Roller Derby League, with attendees able to purchase art from local artists, participate in a silent auction, peruse a local bake sale, food trucks and enjoy live entertainment along the way.

Fuzzyline Brewing’s Pups and Pints Event is taking place on May 31st, starting at 11 am. Bring your furry friends and sip on some cold, local brews at this dog-centric hangout and adoption event, in partnership with Hydrant Pet Center. Music will be provided by DJ Downtown Jeremy Brown, vendors will be present and there will be more cute puppies in need of a home than you can count.

May Events will continue popping up in the newsletter on each upcoming edition of NWI Explored.