Attend a meeting of a major service organization in the area, Kiwanis, Rotary or Lions club-
They are a terrific asset to every community they are in!!

See the fireworks at Thomas Jefferson Middle School on the 4th of July

Attend the Independence Day Parade in Portage

Enjoy some fudge at the Chocolate Cafe

Go for a drive in the country side

Music in the Park at Woodland Park in Portage

See a play at one of the theaters that are part of the Northwest Indiana Excellence in Theatre Foundation or audition for a show

Cruise Night in Rensselaer
Nativity's Rummage Sale

Taste of Rensselaer
Fresh produce at Camacho's Tent on Calume
Northwest Indiana Meetup

Little Cousin Jasper Festival in Rensselaer

Challenger Learning Center of Northwest Indiana

Enjoy a picnic lunch with the family while watching an Iron Diamonds baseball game! All games are free!

Utilizing the National Lake Shore

Movies in the Park in Downtown Chesterton every Friday

Walk/Hike/Bike/Run at Coffee Creek

Spring Out to Sunset at Sunset Hill Farm County Park

Buy fudge and other good things at the Simply Amazing Market

Get some art supplies at Glenn L Firme & Associates on U.S. 12 and try your hand at art at the dunes

Visit The Artist's Den on Jefferson in Valpo

Learn to knit at Sheep's Clothing in Valpo

Take an art class at the Art Barn, or Chesterton Art Center

Take a cooking class at Regal Rabbit in Chesterton

Midwest Corvette and Chevy Show

Harley Cruise-In Nights at Harley Davidson of Valparaiso

Tri Kappa Taste of Valpo

Perch Fest in Portage

Lake County Fair

Festival of the Lakes

Northwest Indiana Earth Day at Sunset Hill Farm

Michigan City Boat Show
Try the 3 Dunes Challange at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Pumpkin Fest in Crown Point

Come out to Cedar Lake Summerfest for fun for all ages: live entertainment, fireworks, games, rides, food and more!

Get the famous fried perch at Teibel’s restaurant in Schererville.

Experience the Stations of the Cross on a moving and inspirational journey at The Shrine of Christ’s Passion in St. John.

Catch one of the amazing performances by Indiana Ballet Theatre.

Feel the music at a LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra concert.

Be inspired by visiting the South Shore Arts galleries throughout Northwest Indiana.

Go to a show at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond and stay to try your luck at the tables.

Enjoy a casino that has action, great dining and comfortable hotel accommodations with Majestic Star in Gary.

Celebrate National Park Week and Earth Day with the annual Green Gary event.

See some great local talent in the wide range of performances at Theatre at the Center in Munster.

Retreat, relax and renew at DunesWalk Inn at Furness Mansion in Chesterton.

Rock out to the bands in the Summer Concert Series at Wicker Memorial Park in Highland.

Take in a show at Towle Theater in Hammond.

Head to downtown Crown Point for the weekly Car Cruise.

Bring your family out to “Explore the South Shore” to discover all kinds of family fun there is along the South Shore.

Learn about the encampments of French Voyageurs, Native American and military units at Voyageur Rendezvous at Grand Kankakee Marsh County Park.

Enjoy artisan breads and sweets from the bread booth in downtown Lowell on Wednesdays in the summer.

Celebrate Crown Beer Fest at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point.

Paddle, bike or walk the Little Cal at the Little Cal Fest in May.

Join in on the Cobe Cup Car Cruise as it “re-races” the 1909 Cobe Cup Race from Crown Point to Lowell.

NWI Natural Family Living Expo at the Lake County Fairgrounds Industrial Building

Midwest Zest Fest in Highland

Healthy Mom and Baby Event

Browse the selection of tunes at Orbit Music in Mishawaka.

Order double crust pizza at Captain's Pizza in Edwardsburg.

Eat at Hilltop Restaurant in Lakeville.

Enjoy a year-round water park at Splash Universe in Shipshewana.

Relieve history at the Niles-Brandywine Civil War Re-enactment that takes place in the spring at Brandywine High School in Niles.

Shop for fresh produce and plants at Shelton's Farm Market in Niles.

View the world's largest collection of Hudson Cars at Hostetler's Hudson Auto Museum in Shipshewana.

Eat a Whoopie Pie at the Baker's Nook in Elkhart.

Show your Notre Dame pride at the Legends of Notre Dame.

Attend the Maple Syrup Festival in Wakarusa.

Watch locally made films at the River Bend Film Festival in South Bend.

See a show at the Morris Civic Auditorium in South Bend.

Walk through the galleries at the South Bend Museum of Art.

Browse Vinyl LP's, used books and movies, and vintage clothing at Rumor Has It in Niles.

Shop for discounts in your pajamas on the first Saturday of February Shipshewana Pajama Sale.

Annual Lake George Duck Race in downtown Hobart.

Mud Volley Ball Tournament held for charity by the Jaycees.

Pinhook Bog at the National Lakeshore.

Fly or watch remote control airplanes in Wheeler.

Take a tour at Fair Oaks Farms.

Attend a concert by the NWI Symphony Orchestra.

Star gaze at the Lowell observatory field or attend a meeting of the Calumet Astronomical Society.

Come hear a concert of Valparaiso's own South Shore Orchestra.

Watch the Rocky Horror Picture Show every Saturday at midnightat the Art Theater in downtown Hobart.

Dine al fresco at Lucrezia in Chesterton under the tallest Japanese Maple Tree in Porter County.

2015 NWI Comic-Con in Schereville at the Halls of Saint George.

Take the whole family to Family Day at the Douglas Center.

Take the kids to the National Lakeshore Visitor's Center for a Sunday full of fun.

Spend a Saturday enjoying the Indoor Market at Good to Go by Lucrezia.

Enjoy dinner at Jalapenos and then a night of music and dancing at Woodhollow After Dark.

Have a night of laughs at Wisecrackers Comedy Club.

Have a fun day full of waterslides and swimming pools at Seven Peaks Water Park.

Have a picnic, learn to windsurf and have the kids splash around at Wolf Lake Aquatic Center.

Bring the kids for some indoor fun at Bellaboo's Play and Discovery Center.

Go where the buffalo roam at Broken Wagon Bison.

Go on an outer space adventure at the Challenger Learning Center.

Enjoy a Hoosier wine experience at Carpenter Creek Cellars.

Ditch the boring butter flavor and try something new at Chicagoland Popcorn.

Spend a warm summer camping with friends and family at Caboose Lake Campground.

Learn to sail at the Hammond Marina.

Take a tour at the world famous Hoosier Bat Company (appointment only).

Tour the JT Shrimp Company and see where all that tasty shrimp comes from.

Spend some time bowling at Olympia Lanes.

Northwest Indiana at the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education.

See where the famous Dr. Scholl started his business at Lake of the Red Cedars Museum.

Take an old fashioned train ride at Griffith Park Train Rides.

Learn about all those who have served our country at The Community Veterans Memorial.

Enjoy some authentic Dutch cooking at the Touch of Dutch Fest.

Go bird watching at one of many locations throughout Northwest Indiana.

Take a walk along the Rotblatt-Amrany Trail.

Play your favorite sport, no matter what the weather is at The Courts of Northwest Indiana.

Have a Mardi gras party for the whole family at the Crown Point Family Fun Center.

Engage in some paint based combat at Blast Camp Paintball.

Unwind and relax at The Great Escape Spa & Art Shop.

Take a look at some amazing modern art at Blink Contemporary Gallery.

Buy furniture, vinyl or even candy at Captain Ed's Furniture Showroom.

Visit the genealogy department of the Valparaiso Public Library.

Take the kids to open gym at Horizon Gymnastic and Cheer Academy (HGCA) Valparaiso.

Roller Skating at Ben Franklin Middle School (courtesy of the Valparaiso YMCA).

Frozen Yogurt at YoAmazing Frozen Yogurt Shoppe.

Take a cake decorating class or painting class at Michael's in Valparaiso.

Enjoy some delicious, homemade food at Fiddlehead Restaurant.

Go ice skating in the winter at Valpo's William E. Urschel Pavilion.

Go apple picking at Garwood Orchard.

Take a brew tour with the South Shore Brewery App.

Hike the Calumet Dunes Trail.

Hike Cowles Bog Trail.

Have dinner at Sage Restaurant.

Get something sweet to eat at Butterfingers in Highland.
Pikk's burger along with a side of Pikk's fries
Attend an Indiana Ghost Trackers Meeting

There's fun for all ages at JAK's Warehouse in Schererville.

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Eat Up Wine Down 1st Thursday
then stay at Songbird Prairie
Book now your whirlpool/fireplace suite

March 2, 2017 Times: 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM Organization: Valparaiso Events

Location: Central Park Plaza, Valparaiso, IN 46383

Contact Phone: 219-464-8332 Contact Email: Click to Email

Description: Don't miss a great opportunity to visit one or several of Downtown Valparaiso's favorite restaurants. The Valpo Downtown Dining Group tempts your palate with $6 food and drink specials on the 1st Thursday of every month.

Event URL: http://valparaisoevents.com/eat-wine/

Friday, February 24, 2017

INDIANA DUNES BIRDING FESTIVAL

Songbird Prairie Inn and Spa has whirlpool/fireplace suites and woodlands for birding Book now songbirdprairie.com

Dates: May 04 - May 07, 2017 Time: 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (CT)

Venue: Indiana Dunes National and State Parks Phone: 219-395-1882

Address: 1600 N. 25 East, Chesterton, Indiana 46304

Admission: There is a fee to enter the Indiana Dunes State Park

ABOUT

Join in these four days of fantastic birding at Indiana's number one birding attraction. Celebrate the amazing spring migration on Lake Michigan's southern shore with field trips, presentations, live bird programs, young birder activities, and more.

MAPLE SUGAR TIME

SWEET TREAT AND STAY IN ONE OF OUR WHIRLPOOL/FIREPLACE SUITES! Songbirdprairie.com Book now

DETAILS

Dates: March 04 - March 05, 2017 Time: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (CT)

Venue: Chellberg Farm Address: 618 N. Mineral Springs Rd., Porter, IN 46304

Phone: 219-395-1882 Admission: Free admission

ABOUT

Warm up with an early taste of spring at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore's annual Maple Sugar Time. The historic Chellberg Farm will be bustling with the activities of maple sugaring on the weekends of March 4 & 5 and March 11th & 12th.

BETRAYAL

AFTER THE SHOW STAY IN ONE OF OUR WHIRLPOOL/FIREPLACE SUITES BOOK NOW FOR SONGBIRD PRAIRIE INN AND SPA

DETAILS

Dates: February 24 - February 26, 2017 Time: Times vary by date (CT)

Venue: Chicago Street Theatre Address: 154 W. Chicago St., Valparaiso, IN 46383

Phone: 219-464-1636

ABOUT

Harold Pinter's contemporary masterpiece about three individuals and the affair that shattered them all. Ingeniously told in reverse time, Betrayal was a critical and popular success on both sides of the Atlantic - winner in New York of the Drama Critics Circle Award as best foreign play and in London of the West End Award as best play of the season.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

2-22-17

The Killdeer have returned to Songbird Prairie!

Book Now Whirlpool/Fireplace suites

It’s a sure sign of spring now that the killdeer have returned. They are a large, double-banded plover that screams its name across farm fields and other grass and dirt covered habitats. If you see an orange-tailed, stripe-winged bird calling kill-deee, kill-deee, you can be assured that it’s this plover. Many killdeer were shot during the late 1800’s, along with a wide range of other shorebirds. These species are now protected from harm by federal and state laws. On its white breast, two black bands stand out. Killdeer are wet-sand brown above and clear white below, with white around the front of the face and eye. A farmer’s friend, the killdeer spends its foraging time searching for beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars and other insects. Crayfish centipedes, spiders and other invertebrates are also eaten as well as some seeds. There will be more on the killdeer, since they are so interesting Efrain and Barbara Rivera, your hosts at Songbird Prairie, want to keep you informed of the beauty of nature here at the Prairie in Valparaiso, Indiana. We have blogged this near the Dunes National Lakeshore. Come and leave your footprints in the sand.

Unlike most other plovers, killdeer often forage or nest far from water. You may find them at ball fields, airport runways, pastures, farm fields as well as on mudflats. They are found through North America, but northern birds head south for the winter. During the summer, you will find them at the Dunes National Lakeshore and Songbird Prairie, our Valparaiso Inn and Spa near Valparaiso University. A simple scrape in the dirt or gravel will do for a killdeer pair, although they sometimes add embellishments, such as a lining of pebbles, grass or other small materials. Females lay three to five blotched eggs, which both parents incubate for just less than a month. Nesting in exposed habitats, killdeer rely on camouflage and deception to keep their eggs and chicks safe. If an intruder approaches the nest, an adult killdeer may feign injury, dragging a wing as if it is broken and exposing it’s bright tail; then lure the person or predator away from the nest. Adults watch over their hatchlings, little puffballs that can run and find food by themselves shortly after hatching. They fly before they reach 1 month. Come to Songbird Prairie B&B for a Chicago romantic getaway, just 45 minutes away. Hear the cry of the Killdeer, come away for that Romantic Getaway.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

BATTLES OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR - CHICKAMAUGA/CHATTANOOGA

Date: Wednesday, February 22

Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. (CT)

Venue: Westchester Public Library

Address: 200 W. Indiana Ave., Chesterton, IN 46304

Phone: 219-926-7696

Admission: Free admission

ABOUT

In September 1863 the Union army of the Cumberland was routed at the Battle of Chickamauga and retreated into Chattanooga. Over the next two months Confederate forces besieged the trapped Union army. Finally, in late November 1863 the Union army won a series of battles around Chattanooga and drove the Confederates south into Georgia. Then stay at one of Midwest Living’s 30 Favorite B&Bs songbirdprairie.com

DUNES DINNER CLUB - A THOUGHT PROVOKING DINING EXPERIENCE

Date: Tuesday, February 21

Time: 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. (CT)

Venue: Dunes Learning Center

Address: 700 Howe Rd., Chesterton, IN 46304

Phone: 219-395-9555

Admission: $60 per person, or two for $100

ABOUT

Annual Pop-up Dinner offers food for thought with a short but provocative documentary film plus a four-course dinner. Space is limited. Reserve online before February 19th. Then stay at Songbird Prairie songbirdprairie.com