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🗺️The Call to Explore 🗺️

Happy Thursday, Explorers! Welcome back to NWI Explored for yet another week. We hope you’ve been enjoying your July thus far and have taken advantage of the beautiful weather this week. NWI is in the busy time as of right now, with something going on somewhere every single night, so there should be plenty to keep you all busy during the nascent dog days of summer. Fair season is upon us, as well, so hopefully we all get to experience some classic Midwest fair food and entertainment in the coming weeks.

Over on our Instagram, we’ve been actively posting NWI-themed reels and recaps of weekly events for reader convenience. If you haven’t already, make sure you’re following us over there @nwiexplored!

Other than that, stay safe out there during this last week and change of July! There’s a lot to explore out there in NWI right now and we hope to see some of you out and about. Be good to one another and enjoy your Thursday edition of NWI Explored!

— Luccas, NWI Explored

Your NWI Weather Forecast For This Weekend

📆The Lowdown📆

A recap of the general goings-on around NWI and Indiana writ large.

  • Hard Rock Casino in Gary has donated $45,000 to the Gary Literacy Coalition, a program that centers on bringing elementary and middle school students with literacy issues up to their expectant reading levels. With this donation, the coalition hopes to use the money to pilot a community literacy initiative, supplying students with books, literacy kits and materials and family engagement activities.

  • The Gary Common Council has passed a resolution that puts its support behind a federal initiative to establish a national healthcare system. This resolution provides backing to the proposed Medicare for All Bill of 2025, which has sat in the U.S. House of Representatives since being introduced last April. The Common Council also urges Congress to enact universal healthcare legislation, citing common concerns about the current healthcare system like rising costs and the many Americans who are underinsured or entirely without health insurance. The Common Council also passed a resolution that urges U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel Corp. to implement new provisions and production practices with environmental consciousness in mind. The resolution urges these companies to take meaningful action to reduce harmful emissions from the Gary Works site, claiming that such actions would promote economic competitiveness and job preservation.

  • An episode of Gordon Ramsay’s hit show “Kitchen Nightmares” featuring Hessville staple Freddy’s Steak House premiered this past Tuesday. Locals were made aware that the show was filming at the restaurant last year, but what actually transpired during that filming has only come to light now. Chief among Chef Ramsay’s complaints were simplifying the menu, sourcing meat locally instead of getting product from Canada (Freddy’s now sources their meat from local favorite Meats by Linz), and updating their decor to reflect a more modern visage. Freddy’s has served the Hessville neighborhood of Hammond for more than 63 years and the changes they’ve made in the wake of Ramsay’s visit are, according to owner Jim Kamradt, worth making a visit to see. The restaurant’s episode of “Kitchen Nightmares” is available to watch on Hulu.

  • Master negotiations between U.S Steel and Cleveland-Cliffs and the United Steelworkers Union have kicked off this week. The initial proposition from the steel companies included a cumulative pay increase of 18.2% within a five-year contract, with a $4,000 bonus. No changes were proposed to profit sharing, holidays or vacation time, or either main pension plans the USW workers are a part of. Union leaders did make note that they weren’t ecstatic about the company releasing a highlight reel of their proposal to the public before the union was even able to review the initial contract offer. Current contracts between the steel companies and USW are set to expire on September 1st.

  • During Tuesday’s Board meeting, the Hammond School Board rescinded a resolution that would have defunded the school district’s transportation program beginning on Jan. 1, 2027. The main reason for repealing this resolution is that the district found funding for the program, of which has been slowly defunded year over year going back to 2023 after local voters rejected an operating referendum that was offered to help fund transportation initiatives. Luckily, the district will continue to offer transportation for students through the 2027 school session.

  • The U.S. Economic Development Administration has awarded Bloch Quantum Tech Hub more than $30 million in federal funding. Bloch Quantum Tech Hub has a facility at Purdue University Northwest, the Roberts Impact Lab, currently under construction at the site of the former Franciscan Health Hospital on Hohman Avenue. These investments will help to bring quantum technology to the PNW campus and get it out of the lab and into real-world applications. Researchers in the Roberts Impact Lab will develop quantum sensing technologies and deduce new commercial applications for these technologies - such as in manufacturing, energy, defense and infrastructure.

  • The Pipeline Patriots, Whiting’s new baseball team, has been kicked out of the Crestwood Collegiate League during the season. The reason cited for their expulsion is that cash meant to pay umpires for calling games kept disappearing. The Crestwood Collegiate League, which is a summer league meant for college baseball players across Chicago’s south suburbs and South Side, also said they planned to exit Northwest Indiana entirely. The Pipeline Patriots will play out their last few scheduled games, with plans to bring the team into a different local league like the Regional Collegiate Baseball League - which consists of local teams like the Lake County Corn Dogs, Little Calumet Beavers, East Chicago Thunder and Post 94 College Prep.

  • First Financial Bank has entered an agreement to acquire Musnter-based Finward Bancorp - parent company of the 116 year-old Peoples Bank. Peoples Bank CEO Benjamin Bochnowski has said that this move will allow them to accelerate their strategy in serving Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana - creating stronger regional capabilities, resources and better service.

  • Voters who live the following school districts can expect a school referendum question on their general election ballots come November. The districts in question are: Crown Point Community School Corp; River Forest Community Schools; School City of Whiting; and Tri-Creek School Corp. Additional operating funds over the next eight years to improve or maintain existing programs, transportation and school services due to property tax cuts last year are the chief reason for this referendum.

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On occasion, 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!

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🎟️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.

Summer Schedules

  • Free Events are highlighted in GREEN

Here is 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.

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.

July Promotions for Gary Railcats!

Valpo Downtown Summer Concert Series Schedule!

The schedule for Running Vines Winery in Chesterton’s July Events!

Coming Up in July!

South Shore Arts presents The Family Arts Fest! Complete with hands-on art projects, live music, food vendors and more! Learn more here.

Downtown Valpo’s Summer Concert Series Begins on July 9th, running every Thursday through August 27th

The Northwest Indiana Symphony will once again be doing their South Shore Summer Music Festival this year - a traveling swath of performances across NWI throughout the month of July. They begin in Lansing, IL on July 17th, then go to: Valpo - July 22nd; Gary - July 24th; Crown Point - July 25th; Munster - July 28th; Griffith - August 1st.

Buckley Homestead’s Guided Hikes Through the Night - Every Tuesday in July!

2026 Crown Point Car Cruise - Every Tuesday

Pop-Up Play Dates - Courtesy of the Lake County Parks Dept.

Take part in the 2026 Evans Scholars Invitational - where the PGA Stars of tomorrow compete in the premier golf invitational of the area. Running from July 23rd to the 26th at The Glen Club in Glenview, Illinois!

You can find out the live music accompanying this next event down below in our Live Music Recap, but this is your official notice that the Porter County Fair is back! July 23rd to August 1st, partake in a unique combo of rides, food, 4-H exhibits, activities and tons of live music.

For the 5th year running, South Shore Roller Derby’s Summer Crush is back and better than ever. Inspired by the challenges and trials of strength from classic shows like “Legends of the Hidden Temple”, this year’s summer showdown will surely be fierce, competitive and a whole lot of fun. July 24-26!

Three days of music, art, food and fun, LaPorte Lakefest will be taking over the city on July 24-26th. Live the Lake Life all weekend with this year’s slate of live music, steamboat rides and even a brewfest. There’s something for everyone this year at Lakefest!

Three decades running (and no sign of stopping soon), Whiting’s iconic Pierogi Fest returns once again this July 24th through the 26th. A host of wacky characters lead you through tons of food vendors, plenty of pierogis of all different varieties, the Mr. Pierogi Songfest, Buscia’s Cooking Show, and so many other unique events you can’t get anywhere else! Below, you can find the full entertainment schedule for the festival as well.

Kites Over Kid Biz returns to Stoney Run County Park again, filling the sky with kites on Sunday, July 26th. Giant kite displays and a massive kite show kick things off before giving way to a Kid Biz Market - where young people are able to sell handmade goods, crafts and stuff from small businesses. Creativity and youthful ingenuity flow freely at Kites Over Kid Biz!

Humane Indiana Wildlife and Four Corners Winery invite you to partake in a special celebration on July 26th: Wine and Wildlife! Live wildlife ambassadors, arts and crafts for kids, and a connection to nature are all on the docket for this special event.

The next installment in Journeyman Distillery’s Jazz Sessions is coming up on July 26th! Slow down, sip a cocktail and enjoy some live jazz from some of the finest Jazz musicians in Chicagoland!

The legendary and award-winning XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix returns to the shores of Lake Michigan - running from July 27th to August 2nd. High speed races, meet-and-greets, block parties, golf outings, live music, a brewfest and tons for the whole family to partake in: this is sure to be an event you won’t want to miss out on. The full itinerary can be found right here.

Mansion After Hours: The History of the World’s Fair of 1893 at Barker Mansion

Downtown Valpo’s Sidewalk Days returns on July 31st and August 1st. Find the list of participating retailers right here. Shop local and find one-of-a-kind goods at all of the lovely proprietors in downtown Valpo during this special weekend sale.

The City of East Chicago’s FUSIC Fest

The 67th Annual Chesterton Art Fair will be held in Dogwood Park, starting August 1st.

A Slate of August Events will be added starting next week!

🎶🎶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

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