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Welcome back to NWI Explored, your twice a week dose of everything going on in Northwest Indiana. We’re glad to see you back here to round out this last full week of March. There’s a lot coming down the pipeline as we begin to enter spring, so we hope you’ll keep on checking us out as the weather starts to fully break and the events start to pile up. Without any further preamble, this is your Thursday edition of NWI Explored.
🧭 On Today’s issue of NWI Explored🧭
March’s Events and Can’t Miss Destinations
What’s Happening Today in NWI
The Lowdown on Recent NWI News
A Preview of April’s Events
Today in NWI
A rundown of headlines, events happening today, and information we want front of mind for Explorers.
Hammond mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said earlier this week that should a Bears stadium be built at the proposed Wolf Lake site that no residents would be displaced, but some businesses would be. South of Wolf Lake Memorial Park where there are about a half dozen businesses (mostly industrial) are the businesses in question, but he remained adamant that no individual homeowners would be required to move in the event of the Chicago Bears moving to Hammond.
Gary Common Council has permitted a single group to move forward with the design and construction of the Lake County Convention Center into the proposal stage. AECOM Hunt will handle the design of the site, with Powers & Sons will partner with them to handle construction.
Here’s a feel good story for you: The Hobart Fire Department and Lake Station Fire Department aided one another in the extinguishing of a fire and rescue of numerous dogs from a house fire this past Tuesday. The twin fire departments rescued over 40 dogs from the property, with none suffering injury or looking to be in poor care.
A Region family is seeking help in funding surgery for their 6-year old’s complex brain tumor. The Hawkins family, of Lowell, was blindsided by the diagnosis of their young daughter, Penelope, with a cystic brain tumor on her pineal gland. For anyone willing and able to help out a neighbor in a time of great need, their GoFundMe is linked right here
For all Region residents still ticked off about their utility bills: the five largest investor-owned utility companies, including NIPSCO, were summoned to Indianapolis to speak before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission on Tuesday. The core of this meeting was to discuss and explain why utility bills have gotten so high across the state. The main takeaway: IURC Chairman Andy Zay says its that utilities and state regulators were too concerned with reliability that they lost sight of affordability. Maybe there is hope after all.
The National Weather Service has issued a severe weather threat for today, which stretches across all of NWI. Strong to severe thunderstorms are anticipated this afternoon and into the late evening when the cold front comes smashing into the area. Residents above the dotted line in the infographic below should worry about hail, damaging winds, and severe thunderstorms. Those below the line should be on the lookout for even more intense storms and the possibility of tornadoes.
Outside of that, here is your weather forecast for the weekend of March 26th, 2026.
United Steelworkers union leaders gathered in Pittsburgh earlier this week to prepare for impending contract talks with U.S. Steel and Cleveland-Cliffs. Local union contracts with these industry giants are up this year, so 80 local USW officials traveled to get ready for those discussions. The current market for steel portends a good position for the steelworkers going into negotiations, with the companies unlikely to seek aggressive concessions.
Amid concerns that Mount Baldy - the iconic Dunes National Park landmark - is swallowing up its own parking lot, the Dunes Park has launched a major effort to stop the dune from shifting. Access to the park and beach through Mount Baldy has been cut off and the Army Corps of Engineers has been called in to help move over 40,000 cubic yards of sand that has been displaced. Trees have been marked for removal, with marram grass and other native vegetation being put in their place to help hold the dune in place.
Winfield town officials have announced that they have approved a purchase of 120 acres of land near the town, with plans to turn the site into a “generational central park”. Approved by the Redevelopment Commission of Winfield, Town Manager Nick Bellar and Town Council, the purchase agreement will go back to the redevelopment commission in late April for a public hearing. The land, currently being used as farmland, will be purchased at a rate of $30,000 an acre - totaling around $3.6 million. The proposed plans for this park on the site will, in concept, include a nature playground, destination playground, shelters with restrooms, tennis courts, skate park, pickleball courts, a community center onsite and plenty of space for communal gathering.
Related: the town has also secured state funding - ~$1.2 million- to expand town emergency services through reallocation of funding by the state.
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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.
In partnership with the NWI Ultimate League, we want to issue a special announcement about their spring leagues!
NWI Ultimate, with partnership of the Portage Parks Department, is the preeminent local ultimate frisbee league for NWI. Featuring COED divisions for all ages, these leagues are open to new players and seasoned experts. Find all the information at the link right here or in the infographic below.
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]!
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.
Local Theatre
A Rundown of all the local theatre companies and their upcoming productions.
Chicago Street Theatre, Valparaiso - info here
Jellofish; running from March 27th to April 12th
Memorial Opera House, Valparaiso - info here
La Porte Little Theatre, LaPorte - Info Here
Moon Over Buffalo; running from May 1st to 10th
4th Street Theater, Chesterton - Info Here
Hamlet; running from June 5th to 21st
Beatniks on Conkey, Hammond - Info Here
The Nerd; running April 10th to 19th
Footlight Players, Inc, Michigan City - Info Here
The Legend of Georgia McBride; running from April 9th to 19th
Indiana Ballet Theatre Company - Info Here
Marian Theatre Guild, Whiting - Info Here
Show runs from April 18th to 26th
Towle Theater, Hammond - Info Here
Doublewide Texas; running from May 1st to 17th
Valpo University Theatre- Info Here
Ticket information and the full schedule can be found right here.
The Final March Events
Byway Brewing in Hammond will be hosting another entry in their Byway Comedy Series on March 26th - with headliner Sonal Aggarwal, plus Matt Torres, Lyssa Laird, Alan Ford and Sharup Karim. Tickets are $10 and can be found at the link here.
Journeyman Distillery in Valpo’s Comedy on the Rocks series is continuing on March 27th, with headliner Katie Meiner, opener Stone Norment, and host Jeff Webb. Doors are at 7pm and tickets are $22, which can be bought at the link right here.
Hobart Art Theater will be hosting JUMP - the Ultimate Van Halen Experience on March 27th. Tickets and more info can be found right here.'
Four Corners Winery in Valpo welcomes all to their Adult Easter Egg Hunt on March 28th. Grab some friends and sip some wine while hunting for eggs, backdropped by live music and all the fun. Prizes are to be won as well. More info can be found right here.
Whiting will be hosting its Easter Parade on March 28th in Downtown Whiting. Starts at 2pm.
Theatre at the Center in Munster will be hosting two shows of a Ben-Hur Live Radio Play on March 28th. Tickets for both the early and late show, as well as all the info you need, can be found on their site right here.
Comedy legend Chris Tucker will be taking the stage at the Hard Rock Casino in Gary on March 28th. Tickets and more information can be found at the link right here.
The Hoosier Home and Hobby Show will be coming to Villa Cesare in Schererville on March 28th, starting at 9am. This is an event for hobbyists and homeowners, featuring local businesses, memorabilia collectors and athlete guest signers. Food trucks will be on site as well. Find more info at the link right here.
On March 29th, Head by the Theatre at the Center to take in NWI Symphony’s Presentation of Requiem for the Living, with the Symphony Chorus. The Symphony Chorus will be performing composer Dan Forrest’s modern Requiem mass, with the performance beginning at 2:30pm. Find tickets and further information at the link right here.
Veteran Stand-up comedian Susan Rice is performing two shows at Hobart Art Theater on March 29th. Susan is known for her observational humor, especially about aging. Tickets for the early and late show can be found right here.
Fans of trading card games and collectors abound will have a field day on March 29th when The Porter County Card Show comes to the Porter County Fairgrounds once again. The show will have hundreds of tables of sports, Pokemon, Memorabilia, Collectibles and more! Free to attend, the show starts at 9am and runs to 3pm. Find more information right here.
Known for their over-the-top antics and comedic sensibilities, Steel Panther is taking to the Hobart Art Theater stage on March 30th. The show starts at 7pm and tickets can be found here.
Joanne Shaw Taylor - Blues-rock guitarist and singer/songwriter will be performing at the Hobart Art Theater on March 31st at 7pm. Tickets can be found right here.
What to Expect in April
April 1st is Opening Day at Johnson’s Farm in Hobart. They have a wide array of plants and garden supplies, as well as baked goods and locally made goods. Find more info here.
Also on April 1st, White Rhino in Dyer will be hosting a curated Uncorked. Unreal. Uncanny experience. A ticket gets you 5 premium bourbon and wine tastings, paired with light appetizers and a lively social atmosphere. An illusionist will be performing and there will be a caricature artist on site as well. Tickets can be found here.
Scheeringa Farms and Greenhouses in Highland is hosting an Easter-themed Charcuterie Workshop on April 2nd. You’ll get a step-by-step walkthrough of designing the board just in time for the season. Tickets can be found here. On April 3rd, they will also be holding an Easter Centerpiece Workshop. Tickets for that can be found here.
The Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City will be hosting their Annual Poetry Slam on April 3rd, from 5pm to 8pm. Performers from all walks of life will be given a platform to share their original works, with the event being conducted in a tournament style. Poets will perform in single elimination “matches” until the last one standing is crowned the LCA Poetry Slam Champion. Should be a fun time! Admission is free and all are welcome, so find out more at the link right here.
April 2nd through the 4th, Oak Ridge Prairie County Park in Griffith is hosting a Wonderful Egg Wander. All across the park are oversized, hand-painted wooden eggs just waiting to be found by explorers. Fun for all ages! Find more info right here.
Festival Park in Hobart is holding an Easter Egg Hunt for ages 0-12 on April 4th, starting at Noon. Take a picture with the Easter Bunny, win prizes, do crafts, and celebrate the holiday out and about. More info can be found here.
There are a whole host of restaurants and venues hosting Easter-themed brunches. Below, you can find a list (with links for those that have) to all the spots holding such events.
Villa Cesare (900 Eagle Ridge Drive, Schererville) Reservations only, April 4th
The Grand Catering and Events (Downtown Crown Point) April 5th
Journeyman - The American Factory (258 S. Campbell, Valpo) April 5th
Center for Visual and Performing Arts (1040 Ridge Rd, Munster) April 5th
White Hawk Country Club (1001 White Hawk Dr,, Crown Point) April 5th
Farmhouse Restaurant (754 N 600 E, Fair Oaks) April 5th
Bon Vie (54 Main St., Hobart) April 5th Reservations Required
Culinary Misfits (208 S. Main St., Crown Point) April 5th
Lighthouse Restaurant (7501 Constitution Ave, Cedar Lake) April 5th
Seasons Lakehouse Restaurant (1048 N Lake Shore Drive, Crown Point) April 5th
One13North (crown Point)
Provecho (Crown Point)
Lucrezia (Chesterton)
Gino’s Prime and Surf (Dyer)
Heston Supper Club (LaPorte)
Gamba Ristorante (Merrillville)
Kolasa’s Polish Peasant (Michigan City)
The Heron Bistro (Michigan City)
Rosebud Steakhouse (Munster)
41N Tavern (St. John)
Nisi Greek Taverna (St. John)
Maple + Bacon (Valpo)
Live Music Coming Up Soon
Hobart Art Theater
Debutants @ The Memorial Opera House (April 10th)
The Petty Kings (Tom Petty Tribute) @ Theatre at the Center (April 10th)
More Events to Come. We will have the slate of April events expand out to cover the full month over the course of the next couple editions. Trying to not overload these emails for the sake of the readers!
That’ll do it for this Thursday Edition of NWI Explored. Be good to one another!
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.”
