Welcome all! This is your regularly scheduled Thursday entry of NWI Explored, for January 22nd, 2026. We’re almost through our first month of 2026! Does it feel like it to y’all? I have felt like a passive participant since the new year, so when I realized we’re almost into February already that was a shocker. Regardless, there’s still so much to go through to make sure all of you are able to explore NWI to its fullest extent, so let’s get into your Thursday entry of NWI Explored.

The Remaining January Events Across NWI

The Lowdown on NWI News

Today in NWI

A Sneak Peek of What February Has in Store

First things first, we have to talk about the thing we’ve all been talking about this week…or, atleast, since Monday evening.

My alma mater (and the alma mater of many from the Region, I’m sure) Indiana University has made history in an almost incomprehensible way. IU won the College Football National Championship for the very first time in the schools history, with an undefeated season to boot. It’s hard to not feel incredibly proud about my school and I wish they could’ve taken care of business just a few years earlier so I could’ve capped off my senior year in Bloomington with the once-in-a-lifetime party that is currently happening down there. Really cool stuff!

Now onto the topic of really NOT-cool stuff, we’ve got some weather to talk about. Huge potential this weekend for brutally cold temperatures, with a lesser chance of a massive snow storm coming through the area. The projections differ depending on which weather service you use, but going off of CBS Chicago’s maps, we might be spared the brunt of the winter weather. Find the forecast map and the weekend forecast as we currently see it below.

Weekend Forecast for 1/22 Onward

Every issue of NWI Explored comes with The Lowdown: a roundup of the most important news and happenings around the Region.

NIPSCO and United Steelworkers Local 12775 have begun contract negotiations, coming as NIPSCO is planning modernization efforts and a renewed effort paid to service reliability.

Speaking of NIPSCO, in light of staggering price increases to utility services, Region locals have planned a protest against these unfair price hikes.

In a report released Wednesday at the Community Health Net Health Centers in Gary by the Gary Advocates for Responsible Development, environmental specialists are urging Region steel mills to invest in green technology in order to stay competitive and at the cutting edge.

Two Northwest Indiana communities are planning on obtaining additional alcohol sale permits for new restaurants, thanks to a Senate Public Policy Committee legislation decision.

Indiana Dunes State Park has jacked up out-of-state entrance fees, rising from $12 a carload to $20.

Every issue of NWI Explored, we give you the best events and spots to check out during the month of January. Enjoy a sneak peek of February’s big ticket events at the end, as well!

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.

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.

The Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education is hosting an Artist-in-Residence art display this month. The Artist-in-Residence program gives professional artists the opportunity to live in the Dunes Park for two weeks in exchange for a piece of art reflecting support for the national lakeshore. These pieces are all on display, completely free to view. Learn more about this really cool project here.

Miller Beach Arts and Creative District is hosting ten artists from this year’s community art show for a live discussion of their artistic process, as well as the unifying themes of their work on exhibition. Voices: Artists Talk is a free live conversation covering everything from how artists can use their creative output to reflect uncertain times to responsibility as a member of a local community. Find out more info right here.

Hobart Art Theater is hosting Austin, Texas native and country rising star George Birge on January 22nd. Birge began his career in the country duo Waterloo Revival before launching his solo career in 2021. He has collaborated with artists like Nelly, Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt, and even toured with them. Doors are at 6pm and tickets can be found here.

Over at the Memorial Opera House in Valpo, January 22nd will see the Bad Momz of Comedy take the historic stage. Seen on the Kelly Clarkson Show and selling out shows nationwide, the Bad Momz of Comedy is a showcase of hilarious comics from all over, with over 80 female comedians in their roster. This is sure to be a fun night, so grab your tickets now. Find more info right here.

For those with a taste for the finer things, Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake will be hosting a Cask Masters Scotch Dinner. This three-hour, multi course guided dinner will take you through a hand-crafted menu, paired with some of the finest single-malt scotches. Guests will be guided through the dinner with a Scotch specialist who will take diners through the heritage of each pour, taking the dinner from simple to elegant through exceptional craft and knowledge. Find reservations and a full menu right here.

January 22nd will also see the Harlem Wizards coming in to the Hammond Civic Center for a night of spectacular basketball theatrics. It’s much more than just a basketball game, so even non-sports fans will find a lot to enjoy with this show. Find tickets and further information right here.

Horseshoe Casino in Hammond will be hosting an iconic slate of 90s artists as they welcome the I Love the 90s Tour to their stage on January 23rd. Artists like Vanilla Ice, Rob Base, Tone Loc, and Young MC will grace the Venue stage to bring the audience back to the days of Coogi sweaters and MTV. Find out more info and grab tickets here.

Miller Beach Arts & Creative District is hosting a screening of comedian and disruptor Lizz Winstead’s documentary feature “No One Asked You”: an exploration of Winstead’s journey across America to support abortion clinic staff and bust stigmas. Iconic figures and comedy legends pop up all across this road trip movie centered around the conversations surrounding abortion. The screening is happening January 23rd, for $10 a ticket. Find more information right here.

Martin Lawrence, comedy legend and acting superstar, will be gracing the Hard Rock stage on January 24th on his “Y’all Know What It Is!” tour. This is an all-new stand up set that Lawrence is performing: his first national tour since 2016. Find out more info and grab tickets here.

ZZ Top tribute band Eliminator will be gracing the stage at the Theatre at the Center in Munster on January 24th. This Chicago-based ensemble has been playing the raw, blues-tinged sound of ZZ Top since 1992, so this is sure to be a fun show. Tickets and more info available right here.

America’s Antique Mall in Highland will be hosting a Dry January themed Mocktail Pub Crawl on January 24th. Shop the halls of vintage and modern barware and antiques with over 25 vendors offering a wide variety of mocktails to sip while you browse. This is the perfect Saturday activity for those abiding by Dry January. Find out more info right here.

Porter County Card Expo will be taking place on January 25th, from 9am to 3pm. Over 150 tables of sports, Pokemon, Memorabilia, and Collectibles will be available across the halls of the Porter County Fairgrounds this day. This is a family friendly event and is completely free to attend. Find out more here.

At the Memorial Opera House in Valpo, Megabeatles! will be returning to the historical stage for their 11th year in a row. This tribute band is made up members from the Crawpuppies and Chris & Lou and always puts on a great show. Beloved hits, deep cuts, and all the nostalgia you can handle are all on the menu. Find tickets and further info right here.

Byway Brewery in Hammond is hosting another entry in their Byway Comedy Series on January 29th at 6:30pm. This comedy night is headlined by Ruben Ramirez, with featured performers being Mike Maxwell, Noah Wolf, Sonal Aggarwal, and Cecilia Conzalez. Find tickets and more info right here.

Running Vines Winery is hosting a Disney-themed “Name That Tune!” night on January 29th, with special hosts Kyla and Kim from the Burns Harbor Park Foundation. A percentage of profits from this night will be donated to them directly, supporting their amazing community work. Find out more info right here.

Hard Rock Cafe will be hosting America Eats It’s Young, a tribute performance of the seminal funk album Mothership Connection, on January 31st. This is a free event that starts at 9pm, but it is 21+. Find out more info right here.

County Line Orchard will be hosting their annual Big Barn Beer Fest on January 31st, from 2-6pm. Over 40 different breweries will be in attendance and with unlimited samples, it’s sure to be a time to remember. All proceeds from the event will be going to support the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Northwest Indiana. Find more info right here.

Award-winning comedy legend Lewis Black will be taking the stage at Hard Rock Casino in Gary on January 31st. Show starts at 7pm. Find more info right here.

Love old arcade cabinets? Want to show off your gaming skills and compete for prizes? Haunted Hills Attractions in Merrillville will be hosting a Arcade High Score Tournament on January 31st. Compete for prizes and rack up points to get to the top of the leaderboard. $20 gets you entry. Find out more at the link right here.

The Porter County Master Gardeners Association will be hosting their 20th Annual Gardening Show at the Porter County Expo Center on January 31st. More than 100 exhibitor and vendor booths will be available, with children’s educational activities, presentations by local gardening speakers, workshops, and free seeds and bulbs from garden and commercial donors. To learn more, you can click here!

Kick off February with some local goods and handmade treats from the Miller Beach Winter Farmers Market. These markets run once a month, from 12 to 2pm at the Marshall J Gardner Center for the Arts. Find out more right here.

On select Sundays, including February 1st, the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster will be hosting a Sunday Brunch. Open to all, guests can partake in a two-meat carving station, signature entrees, complimentary beverage service, and a full breakfast menu. Prices vary between ages, info of which you learn more about here.

South Shore Roller Derby is looking for recruits! Swing by NEO New Vistas High School Sportsplex in Portage on February 3rd and 10th to find out what SSRD is all about. These are free informational nights, with an opportunity to watch a practice up close, ask league members about the culture of the sport, and find out how you can fit into the crew. Find out all the info right here.

Valparaiso University will be putting on a dance performance the whole weekend of February 6th. The dance ensemble takes the stage to put on a performance of Finding Free, directed by Salena Elish. Find tickets, more info, and everything else you need right here.

February 7th will see the classic John Mellencamp tribute band, Small Town, take the Memorial Opera House stage. All the favorite tracks, played with high-level musicianship and energy. Also, check out Ashlyn - a 14 year old NWI based rising country artist, who will be opening for Small Town. Find out more info right here.

Memorial Opera House in Valpo will be hosting Red Revolution: The Taylor Swift Experience for the second year in a row. This is the ultimate Swiftie celebration, with powerhouse vocalist Tiffany Lidster taking the stage to belt out all the Taylor favorites. High energy doesn’t even begin to describe what this night has in store, so click here to find out more.

Hobart Art Theater will be hosting a Chicagoland Stand Up Comedy Show on February 7th. Join them for a night of endless laughs with some of the hottest local comedians, hosted by comedian Susana Rodriguez and headlined by Nick Cobb. Find out more information about the night and the full lineup right here.

Multi-platinum recording artist Keith Sweat will be taking the Horseshoe Casino stage on February 7th. Who does it better than him? Nobody! Find out more right here.

On the weekend of February 7th, Journeyman Distillery will be hosting a Winter Artisan Market at their Valpo location. More than 130 talented makers and craftspeople will be selling their wares and presenting their art, with everything from jewelry to home decor to self-care items to food. Drinks and food will be available on-site from Journeyman as well. Find out more information right here.

Off-Square Brewing in Crown Point will be hosting a Galentine’s Day Brunch - DJ’d by DJ Nasty Boy Noel. Guests will be greeted with a welcome glass of champagne and rose, and that’s where the event only begins. A special menu and drink specials round out what is sure to be a great time! Find out more info right here.

NWI Comic-Con is February 7th! A full-day of family friendly, affordable geek culture and comic book fun is right around the corner and you won’t want to miss it! Visit the Lake County Fairgrounds to take part in vendor booths, VIP guests, Artist Alley, Cosplay Contests, and even more. Find out more info right here.