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Severe weather threat for all of us in NWI today! Be safe out there, everyone, and have ways to get up-to-date weather alerts. Damaging winds, possible hail and severe thunderstorms are on the menu today.

📆The Lowdown📆

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

  • Four homes in the Midtown neighborhood of Gary were engulfed in fire on Sunday morning. Crews were dispatched to get the spreading fire under control, near the intersection of 26th Avenue and Jefferson Street. Luckily, no injuries were reported and the Gary Fire Department were able to get things under control.

  • Frank J. Mrvan, U.S. Representative D-Highland, took a tour this past week of a new American Water Training Facility that is under construction currently in Gary. The facility will service NWI communities by training new operators, improve workforce readiness and lay the groundwork for the future of utility workers. Indiana American plans a fall opening for the facility.

  • Hobart’s “Clean Team” is planning a Lake and River Cleanup initiative to take place this upcoming September and they need volunteers! Community members are requested to work in teams to remove litter and debris from Lake George and nearby shorelines, storm drains and offshoots. The project will take place on September 19th at Jerry Pavese Park, running from 11 am to 3pm. Volunteers are encouraged to review the cleanup map before showing up.

  • Cedar Lake town officials are seeking public opinion this week at open houses that are part of a community planning initiative. The Town of Cedar Lake is developing a Cedar Lake Vision 2040 Comprehensive Plan - a town planning guide for envisioning growth and development for Cedar Lake - and they want to hear from locals! Two open houses will be held this Tuesday, July 28th, at Cedar Lake Municipal Complex: one, from 11am to 1pm, and the other, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. There is no formal presentation from the town: just an open forum for residents to share their opinions on where they hope to see the town develop and grow in the future.

  • 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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🎟️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! (above) August/September Promos for Railcats (below)

Valpo Downtown Summer Concert Series Schedule!

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

Rounding out July (And Saying “HELLO!” to August)

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.

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.

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.

The Grand Opening of Lowell’s Newest Park - Completely FREE TO ATTEND

Griffith’s Symphony in the Park will be taking place in Central Park on August 1st, featuring music from the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra.

Symphony in the Park | Town of Griffith Indiana

www.griffith.in.gov/specialevents/page/symphony-park#

Tipsy Rodeo - The Ultimate Indoor Country Fest hosted by Avenue 912. A high-energy all-American party

The Inaugural South Shore Open will be held along the banks of Lake Michigan on August 1st-4th. Opening Night will be held at Horseshoe Casino on August 1st, with participants having 2 days to bring in their best 5 fish limit each day - in hopes of winning the largest payout in southern Lake Michigan history! Learn more here!

The 32nd Annual Leprechaun Hunt returns to Sharing Meadows! This all-ages festival will have you and your crew hunting for leprechauns in the woods, all for a good cause. Food and beverage, as well as supplementary entertainment, are included in ticket costs. Find all information right here.

The premier regional MMA Event of the summer, Punch-A-Palooza comes to Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana on August 7th.

Fun for the whole family on August 8th with the DeMotte Chamber of Commerce’s Touch of Dutch Festival. Parade, car show, free live music, craft vendors, food trucks and vendors, fireworks, giveaways - and that’s not all! Free admission and free shuttle services make this a great option for people looking for a cheap/free weekend event! Mark your calendars for August 8th!

August 8th will mark the return of the WHAM! Midnight Bike Ride - a 30-mile ride through Hammond, Whiting, Highland and Munster complete with pre-ride entertainment and treats. A completely unique weekend excursion that is completely free to take part in!

Lakefront Park in Whiting will be filled with music on the evening of August 8th, as the Whiting Park Festival Orchestra will be performing to continue their “Summer with the Symphony” concert series! August 8th will be “River Rhapsodies”, featuring music celebrating the world’s most famous and resplendent waterways.

Enjoy a laid-back afternoon in the garden, complete with curated wines and sultry live jazz at Friendship Botanic Gardens’ Wine and Jazz Fest! Local food trucks will be attending as well, so make this a night to remember. Tickets are available at the link right here.

NWI Fun Ball will be played at Oil City Stadium, Whiting on August 13th. Come out and support our own homegrown fun ball team!

Downtown Valpo will be alive with the vibes of yesteryear as Central Park Plaza is taken over by Brewskifest! Pay tribute to retro beers, vibes, and music on August 15th - complete with food trucks and a retro 70s car show. Whether you remember the 70s or wish you were born then, this is your chance to take a trip down memory lane!

August 15th will be the Inaugural Mississippi Street Blues Festival, brought to you by the Brown Family Ranch. Hosted by Dr. J, the Prime Minister of Blues and Marvin Lyles, this festival will have scores of performances by blues maestros, food, other entertainment and all the reflective bluesy-ness you can muster.

Take part in a 44 year-old tradition and visit the Lubeznik Arts Festival, taking place August 15th &16th (with free admission on the 16th!). Over 80 artists, food and drink vendors, exhibitions, family entertainment and live demonstrations: what more could you want!

The Great Kankakee Jamboree - Stoney Run County Park, Hebron on August 21 & 22nd

Kielbasa Fest, August 22nd in Kosciusko Park (East Chicago)

Pints in the Park - August 22nd, Wicker Park (Highland)

Rockopelli Music Festival 2026 will be taking place in Bulldog Park, Crown Point, on August 22nd!

Celebrate the end of the summer with the 6th Annual Vino al Fresco! Taking place in Thomas Centennial Park in Chesterton, the festival will take you on a journey through the world of wine, along with live music, unlimited tastings and a commemorative glass!

Gary Air Show Weekend will be taking over the shores of Lake Michigan the weekend of August 21st through the 23rd. Completely free to attend! Learn more right here!

An ever-evolving slate of events will be added throughout the month!

🎶🎶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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