The Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County will host its 16th annual Earth Day celebration from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at the Porter County Expo Center. The event is free to the public and will feature an array of vendors, wildlife shows, a magician performance, interactive children's games, guest speakers, birdhouse building, live music, food, giveaways and an estimated 2,000 attendees.

Join us at Indie Indie Bang Bang for a FREE event to celebrate the release of Taylor Swift's new album "The Tortured Poets Department!"

Join Valpo Parks downtown for the chance to safely view the 2024 Solar Eclipse!  Watch day turn to night as Valparaiso experiences about 95% coverage of the sun during this exciting natural phenomenon.  Purchase lunch from one of the food trucks, learn about the Eclipse, and then see if for yourself!

The exhibition is free to attend and will be on display from November 29, 2023, through March 5, 2024. The public is invited to an opening reception on Thursday, January 11 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm with light bites and refreshments.

Help us spread some holiday cheer! Join Valpo Parks and the Dunes Leathernecks Marine Corp League for their largest fundraiser of the year, the Toys for Tots toy drive. 

Families can drive through the gleaming stationary display of emergency vehicles, with Big Santa greeting you as you enter Foundation Meadows Park. Kids of all ages can experience the joy of giving while enjoying seeing Santa, lights, treats and more!

Want to learn how to create your own charcuterie board? Join us at Sunset Hill Farm on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at 6PM, and we will teach you how!

Valparaiso Baptist Church will host their 3rd Annual Community-Wide Fall Festival at Sunset Hill Farm on October 8th from 1:30-5:30 PM. This free event is open to the public and will include family-friendly fun, food, and special entertainment.  

Suites, the Das’ Gallery boasts an ideal space for promoting student artwork. Currently, the gallery is displaying pieces created by five Valparaiso University undergraduates. Ashley Vernon, senior Art major and curator of the exhibit, sought to create an experience exploring the theme Be for Real: An Exploration of Reality. Together with the artists, she crafted an exhibit examining the realities of life, death, and nature. The public is welcome to visit the gallery August 21st through Thanksgiving Day. An official reception celebrating the artists and their work will be held at the Das’ Gallery, Thursday, September 28th, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm.

First Responder & K9 demonstrations, Touch-A-Truck, Activities, Music, Food Vendors, and more!

Shakespeare in the Park will be presented by Chicago Street Theatre. This year, the play will be Julius Caesar. It will be at Valparaiso Central Park Plaza in downtown Valparaiso. Shows will be Friday, July 7, and Saturday, July 8, beginning at dusk (approximately 8:30 pm). It will be a free event for the public. No tickets are required and is open seating. The public is encouraged to arrive early to check out food trucks and other vendors at the park which will be set up by 6:00 pm.

Shakespeare in the Park will be presented by Chicago Street Theatre. This year, the play will be Julius Caesar. It will be at Valparaiso Central Park Plaza in downtown Valparaiso. Shows will be Friday, July 7, and Saturday, July 8, beginning at dusk (approximately 8:30 pm). It will be a free event for the public. No tickets are required and is open seating. The public is encouraged to arrive early to check out food trucks and other vendors at the park which will be set up by 6:00 pm.

Join the Valparaiso community for one of the best entertainment and fireworks shows in the area! Event kicks off at 6:30pm with live music, food trucks, and patriotic events leading up to the show.

We would like to invite those affected by Autism or developmental disabilities (young adults & older) to join is for an enjoyable time on Tuesday evenings in June. Our intention is to foster a sense of community and fun-filled experiences.

The Friends of Fishing Club and Valpo Parks once again team up to host the 12th annual Take-A-Kid Fishing derby. This event is completely free for the entire family. This is an Indiana DNR free fishing day so adults may fish without a license.  Only kids (16 and under) can compete in the derby for prizes. Prizes and trophies will be awarded 1st through 10th place for panfish and biggest walleye, bass, and catfish. This is a great opportunity to introduce kids to the wonderful sport of fishing. Loaner rods will be available at first come, first serve basis. Our gracious local bait shops will have donated bait available, if needed.

This FREE interactive vendor fair encourages kids to 'get involved and be active.' Local businesses and organizations will showcase the amazing opportunities they have available for kids of all ages. See demonstrations of kid-centric activities and even register on-site for youth sports, lessons, camps, clinics and more.  

Group bike ride for all ages! Join other community bike enthusiasts on these FREE rides for all ages! Each ride will start at the listed Valpo park and travel the paved pathways around town.

Join us for the 2023 Annual Porter County Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the M.O.M.S. Club of Valparaiso. This wonderful, community egg hunt, will feature prizes, entertainment, treats, and even a visit from the Easter Bunny himself!

This event is free and open to children age 0-12. Tickets are not required. No pets.

VALPARAISO, IN (October 28, 2022) - Documentary Teacher of Patience is having its local premiere at filmmaker Carmen Vincent’s alma mater, Valparaiso University, on November 16th at 7:00 pm. Teacher of Patience follows a Northwest Indiana family’s efforts to raise disability awareness among first responders and the general public, teaching others how to interact with individuals with Down Syndrome and other disabilities through a presentation called The Emily Talk.