Thursday is here and that means our first weekend of June is just around the corner. This week’s Thursday edition will provide you with everything you need to explore NWI this weekend, plus a rundown of NWI news and happenings. There isn’t much else to set up before we get started, so let’s get into your Thursday dose of NWI Explored.

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, 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

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.

June 2nd sees the beginning of weekly Summer Outdoor Movie Night in Downtown Valpo! Every Tuesday in Central Park Plaza, enjoy free activities and a family-friendly movie on a huge digital LED screen. Grab food from your favorite downtown Valpo spot, lay down blankets or pop open a lawn chair, and enjoy a movie under the stars.

June 3rd will be the start of 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.

June
June 3 — Steve Ball and Lauren Dukes
June 5 — Jim Post
June 10 — Leann Stutler
June 12 — Marco Villareal
June 17 — Keith Scott
June 19 — Jason Blake
June 24 — Andre Detti
June 26 — Peter Warren

on June 4th, Bananaworks 2026 Park Take Over Tour will be invading Sharp Athletic Complex in Highland (8071 Kennedy Ave.). Themed wiffleball games, kid races around the bases, dad home run derby competitions, ball game concessions, music, entertainment and a ton of activities for all ages are just some of the things you can get up to at Bananaworks Park Take Over.

Beginning on June 4th and running through the 7th, Hobart Lakefront Festival will be bringing in the beginning of summer in perfect fashion. Live entertainment, kids activities, arts and crafts, food vendors, and a beer garden comprise just some of the fun you can have this long weekend.

Presented by Off-Square Brewing on June 6th, Beer Bourbon & BBQ Fest will be invading Bulldog Park in Crown Point for its annual festival. 40 different craft beer, wine and spirits vendors will be in attendance, as well as BBQ from local favorites like Smoke on the Water, Blue Collar Bros & Southern Roots BBQ. Live music courtesy of the Icons of Country tribute band caps off what is sure to be a night you won’t want to miss.

On June 6th at Deep River County Park, Friends of Fishing will be hosting a Take a Kid Fishing Derby. Young wannabe anglers are invited out for a day of casting, learning new skills and enjoying the ease of a day of fishing. Friendly competitions and prizes will be taking place as well.

On June 6th, Carpenter Creek Cellars is hosting Paradise on Wheels - a day full of music fun and Jeeps! Live music all day, Jeep activities for all ages, ciders and slushies readily available: what else could you want for a nice summer day out and about?!

Starting on June 6th and running the subsequent TWO weekends, it’s the return of Johnson’s Farms Strawberry Festival Weekends! Strawberry U-pick days for the whole family, activities for the kids, and a wide variety of strawberry treats will all be available on these three consecutive weekends.

Opening on June 6th, Whoazone - Floating Waterpark will be open for business at Whihala Beach in Whiting. One of the best kept secrets of NWI, Whihala Beach will be some of the best fun you can have on Lake Michigan this summer. Kids can jump, bounce, run, play and splash on the Whoazone floating waterpark - from June 6th until August 16th.

Below, you can find the June Schedule for the Gary Railcats and all the associated promos they’re running this month!

You can also find the schedule for the Lake County Corn Dogs Baseball team below! The Lake County Corn Dogs are a pre-professional, independent baseball team based out of Crown Point in the Northern League.

Visit Griffith Historical Park and Railroad Museum on June 7th for Butterfly Day at the Depot. Everything the Depot and Museum have to offer will be open, as well as special learning opportunities for young ones to learn about Monarch butterflies and their migration patterns.

Chicagoland triathlon Leon’s Triathlon returns to the shores of Lake Michigan this year on June 7th. Leon’s Heroes is commemorating the 250th Anniversary of America’s founding with “America’s Race”.

Valpo Parks’ FREE community bike rides continue with this months ride: the Ice Cream Ride! Kids of all ages are welcome with no registration required. The ride will be on June 8th and will be meeting at Tower Park at 5:30pm.

Live in the ‘Ville will be Schererville (Hessville)’s kick off of Summer 2026 and it’s sure to be something you don’t want to miss. Food trucks, vendors, live music, a beer garden, fire performers, live wrestling, street performers: what else could you want!? Be there or be square when it kicks off June 12th through the 13th.

Schererville’s summer kick-off festival returns! Schererville Fest will be returning to Peter G. Redar Memorial Park this June 10th through the 14th. Live music, cold beer and drinks, bingo, food trucks, local vendors, carnival rides, games and a parade: all taking place over five jam-packed summer days. Learn all about it right here!

The season opener for NWI’s very own fun ball team, the Region Razzles, will be taking place on June 11th at Whiting’s Oil City Stadium. The Region Razzles are the Region’s answer to the phenomenon of the Savannah Banana’s, so this is sure to be fun night you won’t want to miss out on.

Dyer Summer Fest is returning for its 35th year! Taking place from June 11th through the 14th in Central Park, get ready for Live music, fireworks, carnival rides, vendors, food trucks, a beer garden, and games for all ages! Kick off summer in a big way at Dyer Summer Fest!

Broad Street Blues and BBQ Festival returns to Central Park in Griffith once again, this year kicking off summer starting on June 12th and running through the 14th. This three-day festival has plenty of live music, plenty of BBQ, and plenty of beer. Top all of that off with a fireworks show on Saturday night and you’ve got one heck of a way to welcome in the warmer months.

Partake on a fairy themed adventure with the 10th Annual Fairy Festival, taking place in Hawthorne Park (Portage) on June 13th. This annual family event benefits local non-profits and allows kids of all ages to partake in an immersive experience that really lets them feel like they’re transported to a fairy forest. Find out more about the event and what its supporting right here.

Summer Greek Fest returns to the Region, taking place on June 13th & 14th at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Hammond. The whole weekend will be celebrating Greece - with food, pastries, music and a gathering of friends and family in celebration!

The Town of Munster will be holding a celebration of America’s 250th Birthday on June 14th in Heritage Park, starting at Noon. Live music, old time food and beverages, a costume contest, prizes, raffles, and so much more will be available to all ages as the town and its residents gather to celebrate the birth of our nation.

Byway Brewing will be holding a Walking Dead Trivia Night on June 16th. Test your knowledge of the ever-present, mega-successful horror franchise and grab a pint of something nice at the same time. This event is FREE to attend.

Four Corners Winery is hosting a Cocktails + Canvas Night on June 17th. Unwind, sip and paint your worries away during this fun social night event, where the drinks and the creativity are allowed to flow freely!

Hendricks Cocktail Creation Tasting Event will be taking place at Asparagus on June 17th. Enjoy cocktails made with three unique expressions from Hendricks, paired with a selected appetizer and all the good vibes you can handle. Tickets can be found at the link above.

Join the folks at Lighthouse Restaurant for a Caribbean Castaway Social Experience, featuring Planteray Rum, taking place on June 18th. A great experience to take your dad out to for Father’s Day, the event will be a high-energy night of connection and indulgence - courtesy of Planteray Brand Ambassador Victor Bouvier.

Fun for the whole family is on the docket for Dino Day Party in the Park in Peter G Redar Memorial Park in Schererville on June 19th. Fun, food and all the dinosaurs you can handle will be available at this roaring good time.

Hammond’s Annual Juneteenth Celebration will take place on the holiday (June 19th), at 1200 Highland St. The day of unity, freedom and empowerment will be topped off with a live DJ, local vendors, free activities for families, community engagement projects, and so much more! FREE to attend.

Rock out at ROXX Fest 2026 when it comes around on June 19th and 20th, at Portage Mall Outdoor Festival Area. Two days full of live music, great food, and community building will make sure this weekend is one for the ages. See the details down below.

June Events will be continually added as we move through the early part of the month!

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration announced this week that they would implement a moratorium on Applied Behavior Analysis provider agencies, under the guise of strengthening quality of service and integrity.

Applied Behavior Analysis is a therapeutic treatment offered to children with autism, so this change in the IFSSA’s Medicaid policy will make it harder for families to cover costs associated with this treatment. The moratorium applies to newly established businesses providing ABA for children with autism and prevents them from billing Indiana Medicaid for treatment costs - reducing access for families across the state.

As locked out BP Whiting Refinery workers await a resolution to their months long contract dispute, Crown Point joins a growing list of local municipalities who have approved resolutions to support laborers currently out of work.

Hammond and East Chicago were the first two cities to pass resolutions reinforcing support for workers at the BP Whiting Refinery. These resolutions are acts of good will, reaching out to NWI families and the broader community to recognize the hardship that hundreds of families have been put under due to this worker’s lockout. As of the time of writing, a resolution to this ongoing lockout has not been finalized, but BP and USW Local 7-1 representatives will be meeting this upcoming Friday, June 10th, to continue negotiations.

A multi-phase project to resurface portions of Ridge Road (through Gary and parts of Calumet Township) has begun as of this week.

The first portion of Ridge Road that will be resurfaced is located between Colfax Street and Whitcomb Street. In Mid-June, a stretch from Hatcher Blvd. to Harrison Street will be resurfaced. Then, the area from Whitcomb Street to Hatcher Blvd. will be resurfaced into next year. The City of Gary and Lake County are taking on different parts of this multi-part resurfacing plan. Anyone travelling on Ridge Road during this month should expect lane closures, stops, and disruption to flow of traffic while the project is ongoing.

Amidst multiple billion dollar data center projects across the area, Amazon Web Services has announced plans to restore 425 acres of native habitat along the Kankakee River - nearby where they’re about to start building a data center outside of Wheatfield.

The company is pursuing the construction of multiple data centers in the area, with three water replenishment projects in NWI to offset the water input needed to run the massive cloud computing buildings. Alongside those plans, 425 acres along Bogus Run - a Kankakee River waterway- will be restored, and 325 acres of Shirley Heinze Land Trust’s “Big Eastern” property will be subject to invasive vegetation culling to restore the land there. AWS says that they will also allocate funds to restore woodlands in the area, establish native sand prairie areas and monitor the area in the long-term as well. These restoration and conservation efforts come on the back of profound controversy around the environmental impact of these massive data center projects - with some studies claiming that data centers consume around 5 million gallons of water every day, polluting local water sources and pulling in massive amounts of energy as well.

Republican Governor Mike Braun has announced plans to continue the suspension of state gasoline excise tax and state sales tax on gasoline, for at least another month.

The suspension of these tax collections on gasoline began in April, with Indiana gas prices dropping by 62 cents by the end of the month and holding at this lower rate through May and into June. Currently, Indiana is among the lowest in the country in gas prices.