With 2023 coming to a close, there’s plenty to reflect on and celebrate in the Region! No matter where you are in Northwest Indiana, there’s a New Year’s Eve party just waiting for you to show your best dance moves. Even the little ones will get a chance to enjoy some early parties without having to ruin their sleep schedules.
Take a look at our list of 10 Fun Things To Do in Northwest Indiana and be sure to add some to your calendar!
Close out 2023 with Journeyman Distillery
With a successful launch this year, Journeyman Distillery is the place to be in Valparaiso, and that is definitely true this New Year’s Eve! Come out this Sunday for a dance party featuring live entertainment, drinks, party favors, and the chance to participate in a midnight toast. The party starts at 9 p.m. and doesn’t stop until the ball drops! Learn more here.
Ring in the new year with your little ones at Crown Point’s Kids New Year’s Eve Party
For the young among us, staying up until midnight can be difficult. The City of Crown Point doesn’t want the kids to feel left out this New Year’s Eve, which is why its afternoon Kids New Year’s Eve Party is inviting everyone for face painting, dancing, magic, and more beginning at noon on Sunday! Learn more here.
Watch the magic of Journey RECAPTURED at the Hobart Art Theater
RECAPTURED, a Journey tribute band that helps relive the lights, sounds, and feeling of a Journey concert, will be performing at the City of Hobart’s Art Theater this Friday! If you’re a fan of rock ballads, RECAPTURED will be right up your alley performing all of the biggest hits from Journey. Learn more here.
Relive Jean Shepherd’s holiday classic with “A Christmas Story” Comes Home
“A Christmas Story” Comes Home is partially an animatronic exhibition, partially a host of public events, and all holiday fun! The exhibit, based on Hammond native Jean Shepherd’s “A Christmas Story,” features animatronic displays of famous scenes from the movie as well as frequent activities for the public to enjoy. Learn more here.
Come help Reggy celebrate his birthday at the Mascot Hall of Fame
The City of Whiting's Mascot Hall of Fame is home to many colorful characters that children adore, so when Reggy announced his Birthday Bash for this Saturday at noon, everyone knew it had to be big! Come bust a move on the dance floor and enjoy a giant balloon drop as you celebrate the end of 2023 and Reggy’s birthday. Learn more here.
Hit the ice in Bulldog Park at open skate night
The City of Crown Point’s ice rink at Bulldog Park is open for the season, with open skate times this Friday through Sunday! Hit the ice Friday night with a friend, or start your mornings skating on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $5, and skate rentals are an additional $5. Learn more here.
Get creative on the ice at Deep River Waterpark’s Skate & Craft Club
Even the greatest need to take a break from ice skating, but that doesn’t mean the fun needs to stop. Deep River Waterpark is hosting its Skate & Craft Club this Saturday, and attendees will get the chance to skate as well as a craft bag to create when off the ice. The crafts rotate every week, so who knows what you’ll get this time? Learn more here.
Boogie down at Bellabrations
The Lake County Parks & Rec Department’s Bellaboo’s Play and Discovery Center is hosting its annual Bellabrations event, the center’s biggest event of the year! With plenty of glitter, dancing, and a giant balloon drop to help ring in the new year, it’s the place to be this Sunday afternoon. Come out for tons of fun and learning opportunities. Learn more here.
Check out the efforts of Paladin and Lubeznik’s Creative Communities program through the new year
Paladin, Inc. and Lubeznik Center for the Arts recognize the creative potential in everyone. They have collaborated to offer art programs for Paladin’s clients, and the fruits of these labors are on display now through January 26! The gallery highlights a variety of different techniques across media, making it one-of-a-kind in every regard. Learn more here.
Party into 2024 at the Porter County Expo Center
With 25 years of New Year’s celebrations under its belt, the Porter County Expo Center is in the running for the best Northwest Indiana celebration of the holiday! Beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, the New Year’s Eve Party will feature an open bar, live music, and a buffet-style dinner including dishes created on request. It’s sure to be an unforgettable experience to end 2023 on. Learn more here.