10 Fun Things To Do in Northern Indiana this weekend, September 4 – September 7

It’s Popcorn weekend in the Region! Valpo’s premier festival is taking over downtown with races, parades, performances, and more. If you’re not in the popping mood, however, there’s still plenty to get excited for: empanadas, artwork, golf, shopping. If you can enjoy it, you can do it this weekend in Northern Indiana!

Take a look at our list of 10 Fun Things To Do in Northern Indiana and be sure to add some to your calendar!

Pop into the 46th annual Popcorn Festival

Valparaiso Events’ Popcorn Festival is back for its 46th year, and there’s a whole lineup of family fun ready for you! The fun begins on Saturday with craft, food, and fine arts booths opening in Downtown Valpo at 8 a.m. Make sure to stay for the parade at 10 a.m. and catch the Flanagin Fairies! Live music begins at noon with the Lauren Dukes Band, and once the festival wraps up, head to the Memorial Opera House for a Post-Pop concert. Learn more here.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Whiting’s Empanada Fest

The City of Whiting’s Empanada Fest is returning for its fourth year, and you’re invited! Join the Whiting Hispanic Heritage Foundation this Saturday at Whiting Lakefront Park for an all-day celebration featuring music, fun activities, and plenty of authentic food vendors at this ever-growing festival. Learn more here.

Dine in at Don Quijote to support VNA Hospice NWI

Are you looking for a good meal and an even better cause? Stop in at Don Quijote Restaurante this Sunday at 3 p.m. for a gourmet meal in support of VNA Hospice NWI! All ticket sales go towards supporting VNA Hospice NWI’s necessary programs throughout the community, meaning you can eat good while doing good. Learn more here.

Shoot for par at the 2nd annual La Porte City Parks Foundation golf outing

After last year’s success, the La Porte City Parks Foundation is bringing back its golf outing for another fun day at Beechwood Golf Course this Friday! Every dollar from this event goes back into making sure your parks and services are kept in top shape. Spots are filling fast, so register soon for your chance to play. Learn more here. 

Party with Lake County Parks at Lemon Lake

This Friday, join the Lake County Parks Department at Lemon Lake in Crown Point for a party unlike any other! With sweet treats, fun activities, and family-friendly music, the Party in the Park is the perfect place to let the stress of a new school year disappear under the sun. Learn more here.

Shop ‘til you drop at the Portage Summer Market

This Friday, join the City of Portage in Founders Square Park for Market on the Square! Enjoy shopping for artisan crafts from local vendors while listening to live entertainment every Friday. This weekend, enjoy live entertainment from musician Steve Ball. Learn more here.

Rock out at the FREE Wolf Lake concert

Sinatra Forever, one of the premier Frank Sinatra tributes in the Region, is coming to Hammond’s Wolf Lake Pavilion for a FREE concert as part of the Pav Summer Concert Series. Come out this Saturday for a chance to hear some of Sinatra’s greatest hits performed with pitch-perfect sound and energy. Learn more here.

Light up Four Winds Field with the South Bend Cubs

This Friday, the skies above Four Winds Field will be alight with fantastic fireworks for the South Bend Cubs’ game against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers! Come out to the ballpark to watch this head-to-head matchup and enjoy the fireworks after. If you miss them on Friday, head out Sunday night for a chance to see them again! Learn more here.

Explore the Mishawaka Market and its 70+ vendors

The City of Mishawaka’s market is inviting you to the park this Sunday, and with over 70 vendors, you’ll be able to find anything you need! Whether you’re looking for early Christmas gifts, food from local vendors, or just a fun afternoon in the community, the Mishawaka Market is the place to be. Learn more here.

Chase down Lubeznik’s ‘Color in Transit’ roving art exhibit

This weekend, Lubeznik Center for the Arts’ roving art exhibit “Color in Transit” is making stops throughout the Region! The exhibit, hosted on a Penske moving truck, features works from a variety of local artists that emphasize the different applications of color in art and life. Come support this one-a-kind initiative and explore creativity in your community! Learn more here.