Welcome back to this short week of NWI Explored! This is your Thursday edition of NWIE and we hope you find something great to cap off May with this weekend. As we enter June, we will be trying to cover an even wider variety of events and incorporating even more free, open to the public events as well. In holding ourselves to that, we need help from all of you! Shoot us an email if you’ve got an event you want to plug ([email protected]) and let the Explorers know what the best way to spend time around the Region is this summer. That’s all we have for now, so enjoy your Thursday edition of NWIE!

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!

In a partnership between Midwest Urban Strategies, the Center for Workforce Innovations and others, NWI will be home to the 2026 Annual Convening of Workforce Works - The Urban Rural Connection. From June 2nd to the 4th, employers, educators, representatives and community organizers will be participating in guided tours, presentations and on-site programming across three NWI cities - Michigan City, Gary and Rensselaer. This event is meant to give workforce leaders an opportunity to experience what happens when the systems of employment interact positively with the needs of the communities they service.

Local supermarket chain Strack & Van Til, which is the largest grocery store chain in the Region, will be extending their hours at several locations. For the first time since 2018, many of the stores will stay open until midnight. Stores in Winfield, Demotte, Lowell, Cedar Lake and Crown Point (Franciscan Dr.) will be open from 6 am to 11pm. Stores in Schererville, Portage, Munster, St. John, Crown Point (Broadway) and Highland will be open from 6 am to midnight.

A long-in-progress lawsuit between East Chicago firefighters and the city will continue on for some time, after the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled on Tuesday that there was improper procedure on behalf of Lake Superior Judge Kristina Kantar in her final judgement on the case last year. The award of cash payments and additional time off for firefighters were among the core issues within her ruling, with the appellate panel claiming that Kantar committed reversible error by not notifying affected firefighters of the class-action lawsuit and giving them an opportunity to opt-out. After this ruling, the case must be restarted by Kantar, following the procedure for class actions in accordance with the Court of Appeals ruling. This restart of the case is win for the East Chicago Professional Firefighters Local 365, who previously argued that their damages owed should have been determined by a jury. The litigation between the City of East Chicago and ECPF Local 365 stemmed from disputes over a new work schedule, proposed by the city, that would have disrupted firefighter sleep schedules and personal lives.

Road work will be taking place on U.S. 6 between Mander Road and C.R. 350 East, starting on this upcoming Monday, to install a bridge deck overlay at Coffee Creek. Construction will take place through the end of July, so residents and commuters who use U.S. 6 in Porter County for travel will have to utilize alternative routes.

The City of Hammond has called for an end to the nearly three month long lockout of over 800 union workers at the BP Whiting Refinery, who have been out of work since mid-March after contract disputes with the energy corporation. The Hammond City Council voted unanimously in approval on Tuesday for a resolution that voices support for members of the USW Local 7-1 and calls out BP for continuing the lockout of workers. East Chicago City Council is, at the time of writing, voting on a similar resolution tonight as well.

Werner Graf, grandson of the original owner of the long-running Graf Dairy in Michigan City, has acquired the former dairy building at 1615 Franklin St. - hoping to transform the historical building into a new Graf Dairy Business Complex. He hopes to turn the space into a restaurant, bar , events venue, ice cream parlor and extra space for other businesses to lease. The building was originally built in 1931, with production of milk out of the building halting in the 60s. It was then a flooring store for some time before laying dormant. Graf says that there is a lot of restoration work to be done, but that it is a dream of his to return it to glory for the town of Michigan City and its history.

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.

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.

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.

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