Trusted by Thousands of NWI Natives

🗺️The Call to Explore🗺️

Happy Thursday, Explorers! I hope your August has gotten off to a rousing start, even if it seems like the mild weather we’ve had the last week is about to shift for the foreseeable future. A little bit of scattered rainfall can’t shake the excitement we have for what August has in store for NWI, so we hope everyone is able to find some cool stuff to do this month before the summer officially waves goodbye.

Stay tuned over on our Instagram for more regular content and guides to your NWI weekends. We have really been cranking out cool videos and concepts over there in between the regularly scheduled programming, so show some love if you haven’t already.

Beyond that, we’re just enjoying the summer while its still here! Enjoy your weekends, Explorers! We will see you all again on Monday. Be good to one another.

— Luccas

Your NWI Weather Forecast For This Weekend

📆The Lowdown📆

A recap of the local and state-level news that you should be aware of

  • Republican Governor Mike Braun has, once again, extended the gas tax holiday that has kept Indiana’s average price of gasoline lower than the national average, despite the ongoing war in Iran that has spiked prices severely all across the US. Coming in right under the wire, the gas tax suspension was set to expire at midnight on Thursday, but will now be in effect through September 5th. A price decrease of $0.60 per gallon will remain during this period, for which Braun declared an additional energy emergency order that will take effect August 7th. This grants him another 120 day window of unilateral authority to suspend tax collection on energy, so the same provision will be re-evaluated once again once September 5th comes closer.

  • A new study from the Indiana Business Research Center concludes that workers in Northwest Indiana earn more on average than others in the rest of the state, even while economic growth in the Region has been stagnating for the last two years. Average hourly wage in Lake, Porter and Jasper counties was sitting at $24.65 in 2019, but now sits at $33.67 - still lagging behind the national average wage of $37.41 an hour, but ahead of the statewide average of $33 an hour. Growth in NWI has shrunk 2.6% this year so far from the average annual growth rate between 2019 and 2025, which sat at 4.6%.

  • A Target store has started construction in Portage, hoping to attract other big box stores to fill up the Landing at Portage retail development. The town is eyeing stores like Ross, Burlington, TJ Maxx, PetSmart and Five Below to fill in the area surrounding the new Target - bringing a more robust retail presence to the Porter County town.

  • Portage City Council has approved restrictions around data center projects this week, heavily restricting where they can be built and creating new steps for approval within the city government, adding additional, sizable hurdles for potential developers. In order to build a data center in the city of Portage, a “Technology Park” designation must be established and that is the only site that data centers can be built at. Numerous restrictions having to do with setback requirements from other property, lighting and noise restrictions, height limits, and many more. The vote to implement these restrictions was unanimous.

  • Related to our previous story, the Valparaiso Plan Commission has provided a positive recommendation to the City Council, stressing the importance of a data center moratorium for the city of Valpo. There was no end date set for this moratorium, as the commission is waiting for the city’s Unified Development Ordinance to be changed to reflect these limits on data centers in the community. Valpo City Council is expected to consider this moratorium on data centers at its next meeting on August 10th, though an end date could be instituted if the council chooses to do so during their deliberation.

  • The Hammond Teachers’ Federation has began calling for a boycott of BP, a move that will put the union in solidarity with the laborers of the BP Whiting Refinery who have been locked out of work by the energy company since May amid contract negotiations. The Teachers Federation is calling on its members to boycott BP and Amoco stations for the foreseeable future, at least as long as BP continues to lock out 800 workers from the Whiting Refinery. Their calls also encourage the public to partake in a boycott as well, believing that a widespread cessation of BP business would pressure them into returning to the bargaining table with USW Local 7-1 in good faith.

  • Related to our previous story, BP - the London-based energy giant - recorded an uptick in profits for its second quarter from the first quarter of its 2026 fiscal year. In the first quarter, BP recorded $3.2 billion in profit (and $2.35 billion at the same time the previous year). This past quarter, amid the ongoing lockout of BP Whiting Refinery workers that has left 800 workers without pay for over five months, BP recorded a profit of $5.7 billion. This steep uptick in profit can be chalked up to the Trump Administration’s war in Iran spiking crude oil prices to recent record highs, but it certainly paints a certain picture to those locally who are struggling to put food on the table while unable to work. BP and USW Local 7-1 have yet to make substantial progress on a unilateral contract agreement, with either side insisting the other is not acting in good faith.

  • Local grocery chain Strack & Van-Til, a subsidiary of supermarket chain Hy-Vee, has announced that they will be eliminating third-party delivery price hikes, ensuring that customers pay the same price no matter how they shop. Prior to an undisclosed investment by Hy-Vee, apps like Instacart, Uber Eats and DoorDash could charge prices that were higher than the in-store sticker price - claiming that the convenience of to-your-door delivery required a premium. Strack & Van-Til will be absorbing that difference between store price and third-party premium charges so that the barrier is removed for those who might not be able to shop in store due to illness, disability or -simply- because they feel like not leaving the house.

  • Slot attendants at Blue Chip Casino Hotel and Spa, located in Michigan City, have voted to unionize and join Teamsters Local 135. The 22 employees, which include slot attendants and dual-rate employees, voted overwhelmingly to join the uni0n, which is based in Indianapolis but has a LaPorte office. Teamsters Local 135 represents 12,000 workers across the state across a variety of industries, but have made a concerted effort to have more substantial presence in the casino industry as of late. This marks the first time the Teamsters have organized workers at a Boyd Gaming establishment.

  • The shortlist of books nominated for the 2026 Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Awards has been announced and it includes five authors hailing from Northwest Indiana!

    • Rosanne Tolin, Chesterton, was on the middle grade shortlist for her book, “Freedom’s Game” - the story of two Jewish girls in an orphanage during the Nazi occupation of France, deciding whether to trust the word of new coach to lead them to safety in Switzerland.

    • Carolyn R. Boiarsky, Hammond, was on the nonfiction shortlist for her book, “Lead Babies and Poisoned Housing: Environmental Injustice, Systemic Racism, and Governmental Failure” - an exploration of the ways that governmental neglect and uneven policy along racial lines led to the displacement of more than a thousand minority East Chicago residents.

    • Acamea Deadwiler, Hobart, was on the nonfiction shortlist for her book, “Daddy’s Little Stranger” - a memoir detailing the neglect and rejection Deadwiler felt from multiple father figures over her life and the strength she found to build something beautiful out of the darkness.

    • Shifa Safadi, Valparaiso, was on the middle grade shortlist for two books. The first, “Amina Banana and the Formula for Friendship”, is about a third grade child who is nervous about making friends after emigrating from Syria to Indiana. The other book, “Kareem Between”, is a novel-in-verse following a Syrian American boy fighting to join the middle school football team while facing questions about who he is and what he wants to be.

    • Michelle McGill-Vargas, Merrillville, was on the debut shortlist for her novel, “American Ghoul” - a historical fiction novel following a recently freed slave and a vampire who begin a new life with one another in the Reconstruction period following the American Civil War.

We Want to Hear From You!

🎟️What’s Going On in NWI?🎟️

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

  • Free Events are highlighted in GREEN

Every Friday throughout the Summer, take to Sheridan Plaza in Whiting for a FREE , all ages concert.

Find the week-to-week schedule for the South Shore Adult Baseball League right here!

The historical local baseball team, the Deep River Grinders, have their summer schedule listed right here as well.

Journeyman Distillery’s third annual Summer Music Series - a twice-a-week live music experience out on the lawn in front of the distillery. Grab a cocktail or a handcrafted meal and lay out under the string lights for a great night of courtyard music and vibes. Find the June schedule below.

Gary Railcats August Promo Schedule!

Valpo Downtown Summer Concert Series Schedule!

2026 Crown Point Car Cruise - Every Tuesday

August’s Biggest Events!

The premier regional MMA Event of the summer, Punch-A-Palooza comes to Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana on August 7th.

Fun for the whole family on August 8th with the DeMotte Chamber of Commerce’s Touch of Dutch Festival. Parade, car show, free live music, craft vendors, food trucks and vendors, fireworks, giveaways - and that’s not all! Free admission and free shuttle services make this a great option for people looking for a cheap/free weekend event! Mark your calendars for August 8th!

August 8th will mark the return of the WHAM! Midnight Bike Ride - a 30-mile ride through Hammond, Whiting, Highland and Munster complete with pre-ride entertainment and treats. A completely unique weekend excursion that is completely free to take part in!

Lakefront Park in Whiting will be filled with music on the evening of August 8th, as the Whiting Park Festival Orchestra will be performing to continue their “Summer with the Symphony” concert series! August 8th will be “River Rhapsodies”, featuring music celebrating the world’s most famous and resplendent waterways.

Enjoy a laid-back afternoon in the garden, complete with curated wines and sultry live jazz at Friendship Botanic Gardens’ Wine and Jazz Fest! Local food trucks will be attending as well, so make this a night to remember. Tickets are available at the link right here.

NWI Fun Ball will be played at Oil City Stadium, Whiting on August 13th. Come out and support our own homegrown fun ball team!

Downtown Valpo will be alive with the vibes of yesteryear as Central Park Plaza is taken over by Brewskifest! Pay tribute to retro beers, vibes, and music on August 15th - complete with food trucks and a retro 70s car show. Whether you remember the 70s or wish you were born then, this is your chance to take a trip down memory lane!

August 15th will be the Inaugural Mississippi Street Blues Festival, brought to you by the Brown Family Ranch. Hosted by Dr. J, the Prime Minister of Blues and Marvin Lyles, this festival will have scores of performances by blues maestros, food, other entertainment and all the reflective bluesy-ness you can muster.

Take part in a 44 year-old tradition and visit the Lubeznik Arts Festival, taking place August 15th &16th (with free admission on the 16th!). Over 80 artists, food and drink vendors, exhibitions, family entertainment and live demonstrations: what more could you want!

Valparaiso Mural Walk returns to downtown Valpo this August, with Kickoff taking place on August 22nd from 9am -3pm.

The Great Kankakee Jamboree - Stoney Run County Park, Hebron on August 21 & 22nd

Kielbasa Fest, August 22nd in Kosciusko Park (East Chicago)

Pints in the Park - August 22nd, Wicker Park (Highland)

Rockopelli Music Festival 2026 will be taking place in Bulldog Park, Crown Point, on August 22nd!

Celebrate the end of the summer with the 6th Annual Vino al Fresco! Taking place in Thomas Centennial Park in Chesterton, the festival will take you on a journey through the world of wine, along with live music, unlimited tastings and a commemorative glass!

Gary Air Show Weekend will be taking over the shores of Lake Michigan the weekend of August 21st through the 23rd. Completely free to attend! Learn more right here!

An ever-evolving slate of events will be added throughout the month!

🎶🎶Live Music in NWI! 🎶🎶

🌽Farmer’s Market Rundown🌽

A look at the local farmer’s markets and the like that will be running imminently

Recurrent Events:

  • Here we will try to aggregate all of the weekly specials available to Explorers around the Region. If you own a local business and want people to be aware of your weekly specials or events, let us know by sending an email to [email protected]!

  • Every Thursday this summer is Music on the Porch Day at Fair Oaks Farms. Clock in for some live tunes while looking out at the scenic farmland of Fair Oaks Farms. Click here for a schedule and more info.

  • Every Tuesday, from 4-8 pm, is Crown Point Car Cruise Night this summer. Meeting at Bulldog Park each week, take in some classic cars and take a classy drive around town!

  • 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

  • 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.

Happy Exploring,

Eric & Luke, The NWI Explored Team

❝

“My hometown... was always there, at all times, unchanging. What I think... is not that we go back to our hometowns, but that someday our hometowns come back into each of our hearts.”

Jiro Tanaguchi

Keep Reading

© 2026 NWI Explored.
beehiivPowered by beehiiv