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The latest news & upcoming events in Fort Wayne Indiana

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Good morning, Fort Wayne! Here is today’s update.

Today’s Weather

Friday, October 31
Hi – 55° Low – 38° | 🌤 Partly Cloudy → 🌙 Mostly Clear
A mix of sun and clouds for Halloween day with a cool breeze from the northwest keeping temps in the mid-50s. Evening skies stay partly cloudy and crisp perfect for trick-or-treating with lows dropping to the upper 30s.

In today’s edition:

🌪️ Jamaicans In Fort Wayne React To Hurricane Melissa

🧗 Climb For A Cause At Summit City Climbing Co.

🎤 Heather Headley Returns Home For Holiday Show

🚴 Covington Road Trail Completed

🌊 Fort Wayne City Reacts To Riverfront Phase III Cuts

🐾 Fort Wayne 5K To Honor Veterans, Support Service Dogs

🚧 Allen County Considers Hillegas Road Widening Study

🌉 $692K Consulting Deal For Two Truss Bridge Projects

Sports

🏒 Groll’s Goals Lead Komets Over Heartlanders

Events and Live Music Schedule

📰News

🌪️ As Hurricane Melissa swept across Jamaica, Fort Wayne’s Jamaican community has been checking on loved ones back home amid severe wind damage, flooding, and power outages. Residents Emeilo Thompson and Donovan Coley said their families are safe but noted widespread devastation in the hardest-hit southern and western parishes. Both praised Jamaica’s resilience and hope to support relief efforts through local donations. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🧗Summit City Climbing Co. is hosting Climb for a Cause, a canned food drive where participants can climb for free by bringing a canned food donation. All collected items will benefit Community Harvest Food Bank. The event runs Thursday, October 30, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Summit City Climbing Co. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🎤 The Clyde Theatre is celebrating the holidays with its Sounds of the Season Concert Series and a partnership with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. The lineup features Kenny G (Dec. 5), Heather Headley (Dec. 7), Jane Lynch (Dec. 10), and Chris Isaak (Dec. 18). From Nov. 1–Dec. 1, guests can drop off new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots at the Clyde and nearby spots to receive vouchers for a Dec. 26 performance. Tickets are available at clydetheatre.com and the box office. Read more from WFFT here.

🚴 The Covington Road Trail is now fully open, connecting neighborhoods, schools, and businesses across southwest Fort Wayne. The 4.7-mile trail, part of the Aboite Trails Network, took shape through eight construction phases since 2009. It features four pedestrian bridges and a trailhead with parking at 7014 Covington Road, with a rest area still in progress. The nearly $8 million project was funded by federal, city, and donor contributions. Read more from WANE 15 here.

🌊 Fort Wayne’s Riverfront Phase III faces uncertainty after City Council voted 5–3 to pause $51 million in funding for the project, which includes a proposed park next to the upcoming Treeline District development. Councilmembers Michelle Chambers, Geoff Paddock, and Rohli Booker opposed the cuts, citing risks to the city’s downtown momentum. City officials say plans will still move forward, exploring grants and alternative funding options. Phase II construction remains fully funded and is expected to finish next summer. Residents are encouraged to “be vocal” in support of the project.
Read more from WANE 15 here.

🐾 The Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN) will host its first “Salute to Service” 5K and Family Walk on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, at Kreager Park in Fort Wayne. The event honors veterans and raises funds to provide service dogs at no cost. ICAN’s service dog in training Henry, named after former Mayor Tom Henry, will serve as Grand Marshal, joined by Bob, another service dog in training sponsored by Stoops for Troops. Registration starts at noon, and the race begins at 2 p.m., featuring family activities and games. Read more from WFFT here.

🚧 Allen County commissioners will review an agreement with Butler, Fairman & Seufert, Inc. to conduct a Hillegas Road corridor study from Illinois Road to State Boulevard. The project will explore future federally funded improvements, including roadway, drainage, intersections, pedestrian facilities, and lighting. The $82,500 study will begin in October 2025, with a conceptual design due within 150 days and a right-of-way assessment 30 days later. Plans include widening Illinois to Bass Road to four lanes and upgrading Bass Road to State Boulevard to match the city’s existing section with trails and lighting. Read more from WFFT here.

🌉 Allen County commissioners will review a $692,000 consulting contract with Butler, Fairman & Seufert, Inc. on October 31 to oversee inspection and administration for two historic bridge rehabilitations. The projects include the Hamilton Road Bridge #242 over the Rebecca Knight Drain and the Van Zile Road Bridge #32 over the St. Joseph River, both set for construction between 2027 and 2028 and completion by December 2028. The agreement covers materials testing, utility inspection, and a full-time resident project representative, with all deliverables owned by the county. Commissioners are expected to vote on issuing a notice to proceed following approval. Read more from WFFT here.

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Events

🎨 Art

  • Annual High School Juried Art Exhibition
    8:00 am – 9:00 pm @ PFW Visual Arts Gallery
    Free

  • Steven Garst: Making Space
    9:00 am – 5:00 pm @ Clark Gallery at Honeywell Center
    Free

  • Eat Well, Play Well
    10:00 am – 5:00 pm @ Science Central
    $10 – $12

  • …Something Blue
    10:00 am – 5:00 pm @ Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory
    $5 – $7

  • Figure Now
    10:00 am – 5:00 pm @ USF Rolland Art Center
    Free

  • The Orchard Gallery of Fine Art
    10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ The Orchard Gallery of Fine Art
    Free

  • Dia de los Muertos
    10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art
    $8 – $10

  • Animals in Art
    10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art
    $8 – $10

  • From Antiquity to the Inevitable
    10:00 am – 6:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Museum of Art
    $8 – $10

  • Chase & Audrey Peterson: Down the Rabbit Hole
    12:00 pm – 5:00 pm @ Ruth Koomler Art Gallery
    Free

  • Women Take the Walls
    5:00 pm – 8:00 pm @ Garrett Museum of Art
    Free

🎶 Music

  • BigMeow
    6:00 pm @ E Brewing Company
    Free

  • Carly Ingalls (Spooky Jazz)
    6:30 pm @ Club Soda
    Free

  • James Baker Trio (Jazz)
    6:30 pm – 9:30 pm @ Ruth’s Chris Steak House
    Free

  • Chris Worth
    7:00 pm @ Barrel & Blaze
    Free

  • Crushing Daffodils
    7:00 pm @ Sylvan Cellars
    Free

  • Sahara w/Mauve, Autem, Quid Pro Quo (Alternative)
    7:00 pm @ Hideout 125
    $10

  • Haunting Harmonies Orchestra Concert (Halloween)
    7:30 pm @ PFW Auer Performance Hall
    $5 – $8

  • The Wingmen (Classic Rock)
    8:00 pm @ American Legion Post 499
    Free

  • Todd Harrold Band (Jazz)
    8:00 pm @ Birdie’s Rooftop Bar
    Free

  • The Sweetwater All Stars (Friday Night Vibes, R&B/Soul/Funk)
    8:00 pm @ The Club Room at The Clyde
    Free

  • Ethan Williams Bowers (Americana)
    8:30 pm @ Deer Park Irish Pub
    Free

  • Shock Roxy (Rock)
    9:00 pm @ Mitchell’s
    $5

  • LiveWire (Rock)
    9:00 pm @ Latch String Bar & Grill
    $5

🎭 Theater

  • The Mouse Trap
    6:45 pm @ Arena Dinner Theatre
    $50

  • Blithe Spirit
    7:00 pm @ Kendallville Community Learning Center
    $17 – $20

  • Twilight in Concert
    7:30 pm @ Embassy Theatre
    $38 – $85

  • Tales in the Dark
    7:30 pm @ Canterbury Fine Arts Center
    $30

  • Fright on 4th: A Fright Night Cabaret
    10:00 pm @ Three Rivers Music Theatre
    $15 – $20

🎡 Festivals & Gatherings

  • Old Fort Cluster Dog Show
    8:00 am – 4:00 pm @ Memorial Coliseum
    Free

  • Lightfest!
    5:00 pm – 8:00 pm @ Heartland Church
    Free

  • Glenbrook Square Malloween
    6:00 pm – 8:00 pm @ Glenbrook Square
    Free

  • Fort Wayne Haunted House & Black Forest
    7:00 pm – 11:00 pm @ Fort Wayne Haunted Castle & Black Forest
    $15 – $45

  • The Haunted Jail
    7:00 pm – 9:00 pm @ The Haunted Jail
    $25 – $40

  • Hysterium Haunted House
    7:00 pm – 10:00 pm @ Hysterium
    $25 – $45

🧩 Karaoke & Trivia

  • Mad Anthony Karaoke
    9:00 pm @ Dicky’s Wild Hare
    Free

  • Portside Pizza Karaoke
    9:00 pm @ Portside Pizza
    Free

😂 Comedy

  •  Gabriel Rutledge
    7:00 pm @ Summit City Comedy Club
    $25 – $32

🏀🏈Sports🏒

🏒 Josh Groll scored his first two goals of the season as the Fort Wayne Komets defeated the Iowa Heartlanders 4-0 in the first of three games in four nights. Groll also assisted on James Stefan’s empty-net goal in the third period, while Matt Murphy added another empty-netter to seal the win. Goalie Samuel Jonsson recorded his first shutout with 29 saves. The teams face off again Friday and Saturday in Iowa. Read more from WANE 15 here.

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