The latest news & upcoming events in Fort Wayne Indiana
- Jenny Sumangid, Jordan Bechtel
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Good morning, Fort Wayne! Here is today’s update.
Today’s Weather
Wednesday, October 15
Hi – 65° Low – 46° | 🌥️ Mostly Cloudy → 🌙 Partly Cloudy
Mild and comfortable with a high near 65°F and light ENE breeze. Clouds linger through the day before clearing tonight with a low around 46°F a calm, crisp evening.
In today’s edition:
🍔 This Is How You Sonic! Auburn Location Announces Opening Date
🗳️ Election Board Dusts Off Voting Machines for NACS Referendum Election
🦦 Otter Training at Fort Wayne Zoo
🛫 Indiana Airports Decide on Kristi Noem Video Amid Shutdown Impact
🚧 Fort Wayne Council to Discuss $9.1M Illinois Road Rebuild Plan
🚨Trump’s Border Czar Visits Indiana, Backs Stymied Immigration Bill
Sports
🏀 Boiler Up! Purdue Tops Preseason AP Top 25 for First Time
Events and Live Music Schedule
📰News
🍔 This Is How You Sonic! Auburn Location Announces Opening Date. Sonic is returning to Auburn after 15 years, opening November 5 on Shook Drive near I-69. The restaurant will host pre-opening events for teachers, first responders, and military members from October 15–17. Read more from WANE 15 here.
🗳️ Election Board Dusts Off Voting Machines for NACS Referendum Election. The Allen County Election Board tested voting machines Tuesday at the Rousseau Centre ahead of the Nov. 4 special election for Northwest Allen County Schools. Residents will vote on a proposed operating referendum. Read more from WANE 15 here.
🦦 Otter Training at Fort Wayne Zoo. Three North American river otters at Fort Wayne Zoo Kramer, Mikko, and Benji participate in positive-reinforcement training to assist with medical care and enrichment. Trainers use whistles, rewards, and target exercises to encourage natural behaviors. Read more from WANE 15 here.
🛫 Indiana Airports Decide on Kristi Noem Video Amid Shutdown Impact. Indiana airports are responding differently to a video of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the federal shutdown. Indianapolis declined to play it, South Bend said it’s unaffected, and Fort Wayne hasn’t commented. Read more from WFFT here.
🚧 Fort Wayne Council to Discuss $9.1M Illinois Road Rebuild Plan. Fort Wayne City Council will review a $9.1 million plan to rebuild Illinois Road between Getz Road and Avenue of Autos. The project widens lanes, adds trails, and upgrades intersections, alongside other city tech and infrastructure projects. Read more from WFFT here.
🚨Trump’s Border Czar Visits Indiana, Backs Stymied Immigration Bill. White House Border Czar Tom Homan visited Indiana to promote the FAIRNESS Act, urging lawmakers to revive the immigration bill. He cited reduced border crossings, increased deportations, and efforts to locate missing migrant children. Read more from Indiana Capital Chronicle here.
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✨ Two Amazing Local Nonprofit Events You Won’t Want to Miss! ✨
Events
🎨 Art
Annual High School Juried Art Exhibition — PFW Visual Arts Gallery, Fort Wayne
Regional high school student art exhibit encouraging and challenging young artists. (Free admission)Steven Garst: Making Space — Clark Gallery at Honeywell Center, Wabash
Firewood imagery explores human impact on the land. (Free admission)Eat Well, Play Well — Science Central, Fort Wayne
Interactive exhibit on healthy food choices and fun ways to stay active. ($10–$12)Pumpkin Path Display — Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, Fort Wayne
Seasonal display with fall foliage and natural décor. ($5–$7)…Something Blue — Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, Fort Wayne
Romantic autumn exhibit with blue-themed artwork and plantings. ($5–$7)Figure Now — USF Rolland Art Center, Fort Wayne
Contemporary works exploring the human figure from abstraction to realism. (Free admission)Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of WWII — Fort Wayne Museum of Art
WWII exhibit showcasing deception tactics using inflatable tanks and fake signals. ($8–$10)Día de los Muertos — Fort Wayne Museum of Art
Celebration featuring community-built memorial altars honoring loved ones. ($8–$10)Animals in Art — Fort Wayne Museum of Art
Works featuring animals as friends, symbols, and muses. ($8–$10)From Antiquity to the Inevitable — Fort Wayne Museum of Art
International glass installations by Baldwin and Guggisberg. ($8–$10)The Illusion of Permanence: The Art of Su A Chae & Kay Gregg — First Presbyterian Gallery, Fort Wayne
Explores the meaning of physical art in a digital age. (Free admission)Chase & Audrey Peterson: Down the Rabbit Hole — Ruth Koomler Art Gallery, Fort Wayne
Vibrant, playful abstracts and thoughtful creations by a husband-wife duo. (Free admission)
🎶 Music
Joe Justice — Downtown Garrett
Live variety performance at the Garrett Farmers Market. (Free)Q & The Cold Fusion — The Club Room at The Clyde, Fort Wayne
Jazz performance—no cover required. (Free)Fort Wayne Philharmonic: Rolla & Schubert (Freimann Series) — The History Center, Fort Wayne
Classical concert featuring Rolla and Schubert. ($28)Westward Bound: A Big Band Journey — PFW Auer Performance Hall, Fort Wayne
Big band concert presented by PFW School of Music. ($5–$8)
🎭 Comedy
Jesse Peyton’s Couples Therapy — Summit City Comedy Club, Fort Wayne
National comedy show about relationships. ($32)
🎨🍷 Classes
Halloween Paint & Sip — The Arie Event Studio, Fort Wayne
Painting, charcuterie, and drinks for adults 18+ (21+ to sip). ($30)
🧩 Karaoke & Trivia
Hellcat Trivia — Chapman’s Brewing at Electric Works, Fort Wayne (Free)
Eric Knee Team Trivia — Dicky’s Wild Hare, Fort Wayne (Free)
Deer Park Karaoke — Deer Park Irish Pub, Fort Wayne (Free)
🎡 Festivals
Singles & Friends Night: Axe Throwing + Duckpin Bowling — The Fairfield, Fort Wayne
Social night with games and networking. ($30)Wheel of Fortune Live — Embassy Theatre, Fort Wayne
Touring game show with real prizes and audience participation. ($42.05–$105)The Haunted Jail — The Haunted Jail, Columbia City
Haunted attraction in a historic 1875 jail. ($25–$40)
🏀🏈Sports🏒⚾
🏀 Boiler Up! Purdue Tops Preseason AP Top 25 for First Time Purdue claimed the No. 1 spot in the preseason AP Top 25 for the first time, earning 35 of 61 first-place votes. Coach Matt Painter’s Boilermakers lead runner-up Houston and reigning champ Florida entering the 2025–26 season. Read more from WANE 15 here.
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