Smart Living Fort Wayne- September 2025

Fall Dairy Festival

40+ Activities at Kuehnert’s 13th Annual Festival

Nomadic Excursions: The Way to Group Travel Food, Fun & Hospitality at The Das Dutchman

Bluebird Boutique Helps Women Find Their Style Paper Gourmet’s New Location in Auburn

Quality, Smart Products & Services for Your Home, Family, Health & Entertainment!

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes

Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden

Senior Editor Lindsey Lukas

Managing Editor Jim Taylor

Assistant Editor Steven Bonifazi

Graphics Director Samantha Behling

Graphic Designer Ashley Smith

Contributing Writers Janine Pumilia, Peggy Werner

General Sales Manager Brent Hughes

Sales Manager

Brad Hughes

Advertising Sales Representatives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones, Nita Lasky

Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes

Director of Corporate Happiness Hana Hughes

Distribution

Beauty & Despair

These days, I’m always a bit anxious that something crazy is about to happen in the world. Probably because it’s not unusual for horrific events to happen between the time I write this column and the time it actually publishes. I sign off, hit upload, and think “Please, no more shootings. Please, no more wildfires. Please, no more terrorist attacks.” And so on and so on.

At the risk of sounding tone deaf, I’d like to actually write a sweet, nostalgic column about fall. I’d like to just focus on how wonderful it is to visit the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory right now, or how exciting it is to take my kids to the Kuehnert Dairy Farm Fall Festival. The loveliness of fall is all around, and it’s all I want to talk about… but I also feel duty-bound to remind people that there’s still war happening in Ukraine and yeah, you should probably care about it because it’s a humanitarian crisis.

I want so badly to write drivel about pumpkins and “crunchy leaves underfoot,” but I’m wrestling with the bigger picture.

So, I’m going to try and hold space for all of it.

This is the reality of modern life — joy and horror coexist constantly. I’m sipping cider while reading news alerts. Is this what resilience looks like? Finding moments of beauty without ignoring the pain?

I find the best way for me to survive is to find morality in small things, very “a la Mother Teresa” (not that I could ever be a saint like her). I can do my best to be present in my community. I can go to the farm, support local families and teach my kids about nature. I can see this as a way of pushing back against the heaviness of the world. These small, good things can be a form of both hope and defiance. Maybe that’s the lesson of fall — everything changes, but beauty still shows up. The world feels heavy, but the leaves still turn. So, I’ll keep sipping cider, lighting candles and showing my kids the colors. It’s not denial. It’s defiance. I’m determined to see the good anyway. ❚

Lindsey Lukas Senior Editor

Bringing People Together Through Travel

By Peggy Werner

Asingle encounter with a grateful passenger changed the course of bus driver Bill Walls’ life. Now, he’s hoping to do the same for those who may have given up on traveling for one reason or another.

Walls is the founder of Nomadic Excursions with office manager and dispatcher Michelle Chapman. The pair worked together at another company before discovering a shared vision for branching out on their own.

“An elderly woman passenger came up to me with hugs and exuberance for what an amazing time she had on a trip,” Walls says. “At that moment, I realized I was not just doing a job, but impacting people’s lives. That’s when I decided to start my own company, always keeping that experience in mind.”

Since launching about a year ago in Fort Wayne, Nomadic Excursions has been busy creating memorable getaways ranging from one-day outings to multi-day adventures. Upcoming trips include a shopping spree at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills, Mich., and a three-day escape to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. The team also has its sights set on the Cincinnati River Boat Festival next fall and springtime excursions to Niagara Falls and Washington, D.C., just in time to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

Chapman says the long-term goal is to offer multiple day trips and one extended getaway each month. Future destinations may include Denver, Mackinac Island and a variety of attractions throughout Indiana’s 92 counties.

While Nomadic Excursions welcomes travelers of all ages, its primary audience is adults ages 55 and older, as many people in this demographic are retired and prefer the comfort and companionship of group travel.

“When traveling in a group, everything is taken care of,” Chapman says. “All you have to do is get on the bus and enjoy what you see and the people you meet. As long as people have interests, want to discover new places, meet new people, and continue learning, they will always feel young at heart.”

Every Nomadic Excursions tour includes a local historian

sharing interesting facts and stories about the destination. Also, passengers submit their favorite photos of each trip to share with others online. Breaks occur every couple of hours when traveling, and the driver always calls ahead to make sure a venue is ready for a busload of people.

Walls and Chapman agree that for those who haven’t tried it, group travel can be a truly life-changing experience. In many cases, travelers form life-long bonds and have stimulating conversations about the places they’ve been and the people they’ve met.

“I’ve seen people on trips come across distant relatives, school friends and other people they know but haven’t seen for a long, long time,” Walls says. “There is a sense of camaraderie among the travelers and a lot of friendships develop, especially on the longer trips.”

For example, Walls knows of a group of travelers from Muncie, Ind., who have grown close enough to consider each other family. They not only take trips together, but also get together weekly for social events and make other plans together on a regular basis.

“We not only bring experiences to people, but they learn about each other and how to enjoy life in a way they might not be able to do by themselves,” Walls says. ❚

For more information and to make trip suggestions, contact Walls or Chapman at the office, 5651 Coventry Lane, Ste. 267, call (260) 573-0201, email bill4bustravel@gmail.com, or visit the Facebook page or website at nomadicbustrips.com.

Love Never Fails

Especially in rancorous times like these, we need to remind ourselves that Jesus Christ set love as our top priority – love of God and love for each other (Matthew 22). What does love look like? Responding to bitter conflict among believers in Corinth, in about 55 A.D., Paul spells out the answer (I Corinthians 13:1-13). More than just pretty words at weddings, these concepts should guide us daily:

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. ❚

– Janine Pumilia

Helping Women Express Their Unique Style

By Peggy Werner

People communicate a lot about their personality, beliefs and feelings through what they wear.

Helping people express themselves and find the right look is a passion of Kimberly Gangstad, owner of Bluebird Boutique at 26 W. Market St., Wabash, Ind., which specializes in upscale and unique women’s clothing, jewelry and gifts.

“At Bluebird, we pay great attention to detail, prioritize customer service, have unique clothing, and offer a place where people can socialize and have fun shopping,” Kimberly says.

There’s an art to dressing for each season. This fall, minimalizing has gone by the wayside and layering helps women adjust for the varying temperatures of the season. Purple is the main color this year and animal prints are back in fashion, especially zebra. Short trench coats, smaller crossbody purses, natural fibers, leather, the “western look” and the “collegiate look” have also made a comeback, Kimberly adds.

ers. She buys American-made when possible and features brands such as Liverpool, Fifteen Twenty, Brighton, Emily Kai, Hyde and Alchemy and more.

“It’s a great time for people to pull some of those items they haven’t worn in years out of their closets,” she says.

When it comes to being fashionable, there are no right answers, she explains.

“Current trends are not always the best choice for everyone. It’s all about what you like to wear and what makes you feel comfortable and flatters your figure.”

Kimberly shops many apparel shows several times a year to find fashions that spark the interest of new and current custom-

“It’s all about meeting women where they are at,” she says. Everyone has a personal style they like and feel comfortable in, but that can change when dressing for various occasions, she says. Basic styles that determine a look can vary from dressy, casual, artistic, classic, romantic, sporty or a more natural look that includes neutral colors and natural fibers.

“A lot of time people come in thinking they know what they want but often end up needing help and suggestions. We give personalized service and never pressure anyone to buy anything,” Kimberly says. “We show what we have and how it can be worn and open peoples’ minds to the possibilities to help them achieve the look they want.”

Kimberly bought Bash Boutique and renamed it to Bluebird Boutique in January 2019. She was a frequent shopper and worked there part-time before eventually buying the business from her friend and co-worker Amber Noone, who owns three other Bash Boutiques in Indiana.

During the pandemic, Kimberly worked on establishing the business and giving people an outlet to shop and connect. It wasn’t difficult for her because she loves to create, give personalized service and give back to her community.

“I just love helping people,” she says. ❚ For more information, call (260) 2741300 or visit the storefront in Wabash.

Kuehnert Dairy’s Fall Festival Has Farm Fun

By Lindsey Lukas, senior editor

Justoutside the Fort Wayne city limits, Kuehnert Dairy Farm at 6532 W. Cook Road has transformed into a hub of laughter, learning and family fun with its Kuehnert Dairy Fall Festival. Now in its 13th season, the 7-weekend event is more than just a fall celebration. It’s a heartfelt invitation from one of northeast Indiana’s oldest farm families to experience life on a working dairy farm.

“We’ve been milking cows here since 1897,” says Sarah Kuehnert, who co-owns the farm with her husband Nathan, his brother Andrew, and Andrew’s wife Brittany, the fifth generation of the Kuehnert family to care for this land. “Our family has been at this for 128 years, and today, we have the fourth, fifth and sixth generations working together on the farm every day.”

That deep sense of legacy is what inspired the younger generation to launch the festival in the first place. When Sarah and her husband graduated from college, agritourism, or the idea of inviting the public to visit farms for education and recreation, was beginning to take hold across the country. For the Kuehnerts, it was a perfect way to both preserve their heritage and look toward the future.

“We’re landlocked, so expanding the production side of the

farm isn’t possible,” Sarah explains. “The Fall Festival was our way to diversify and to keep the farm sustainable for future generations, and to share our story with the community.”

Set in the middle of their 1,100-acre dairy farm, the festival literally immerses visitors in farm life, since cows surround the festival grounds on all sides. Guests can tour the freestyle barn, peek into a robotic milking viewing room to watch cows being milked automatically, and even cuddle baby calves.

For those who want to see the whole operation, the 25-minute hayride farm tour offers an up-close look at the Kuehnerts’ modern dairy facilities and fields. It’s a working farm experience, but with the joyful buzz of a festival.

This year, the farm offers nearly 40 activities, blending hands-on agriculture education with good old-fashioned fun. Kids can climb a straw mountain, race through Ninja Warrior courses, zoom down slides, dig into a corn pit filled with shell corn, or drive pint-sized tractors. There’s a “moo-go-round,” pedal car track, jump pad, rock walls and even wagon basketball.

“We really try to add something new every year,” Sarah says. “My kids were 3 and 5 when we started. They’re now 16 and 18, so we’ve grown the festival right alongside them. We

want families to keep coming back, no matter how old their kids get.”

One of the festival’s signature features is the six-acre corn maze, which changes themes annually. This year, the Kuehnerts are bringing a creative twist to a pop culture favorite.

“With the new ‘Minecraft’ movie coming out, we decided to make our maze theme ‘Milkcraft,’” Sarah laughs. “We always try to tie our theme back to who we are as a dairy farm.”

Pumpkin lovers won’t be disappointed either. The farm offers pumpkins for sale, grown by a family friend, along with a pumpkin-painting station.

As both a farmer and a registered dietitian, Sarah weaves nutrition and physical activity into the festival’s design.

“I want visitors, especially kids, to feel confident about the food they eat,” she says. “We focus on connecting production agriculture with nutrition. Strong bones need dairy, but they also need physical activity. So, we build that message right into our activities.”

Throughout the festival grounds, educational signage and hands-on learning stations help kids connect the dots between the food they enjoy and the farms that produce it.

Of course, no festival is complete without food, and Kuehnert Dairy has made that part of its identity, too. The farm is famous for its Mousetrap Grilled Cheese Sandwich, available only during the 7-week festival season.

“People flock here just for that sandwich,” Sarah says. Visitors can also enjoy soft-serve ice cream, homemade lemonade shake-ups, nachos and other fair favorites.

The biggest addition in recent years is the Kuehnert Milk House, the farm’s new on-site processing facility and retail store. Opened just 18 months ago, the Milk House produces the farm’s own bottled milk (in multiple flavors), butter, cheese curds and hard-dipped ice cream.

Inside, guests can also visit The Udder Upp Café, where the Kuehnerts serve farm-fresh pizzas topped with their own cheese curds, plus ice cream, milkshakes and more.

“It’s been a dream to offer a true farm-to-table experience,”

Sarah says. “We’re making our products right here on the farm and selling directly to the consumer. That’s the future for us.”

Over the years, the Kuehnert Dairy Fall Festival has become a beloved local tradition. For many families, it marks the official start of autumn.

“To see these little kids’ smiles and hear their laughter all across the farm — it’s absolutely priceless,” Sarah says. “Many families come back year after year. They’ve made it part of their family tradition, and that means everything to us.

‘Some days, I just stand back and look at all these people having fun together,” she continues. “No one’s looking at a screen or checking their phones. They’re just enjoying being together. It’s rewarding beyond words to know we’ve created that space for them.”

The Kuehnert Dairy Fall Festival runs through Sunday, Oct. 26, open Fridays from 6–9 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m.–9 p.m. and Sundays from noon–5 p.m. General admission is $15 per person, with children 2 and under free. Admission includes access to all festival activities. Food, drinks, pumpkins and souvenirs are available for purchase on-site.

Sarah recommends guests check the weather and wear comfortable, outdoor-friendly shoes as the festival takes place on real farm terrain. Parking is available on-site.

“The festival is a place where families can reconnect with each other, with agriculture and with where their food comes from,” Sarah says. “It’s real. It’s joyful. It’s a tradition that brings people together every fall.” ❚

Food, Fun & Hospitality at Essenhaus

By Peggy Werner

The Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury is more than a restaurant – it’s a “pleasant surprise in the country,” says Joel Miller, campus manager.

“When people arrive here, they see a park, lots of flowers, beautiful landscaping, a courtyard, playground, four gift shops, a bakery, a covered bridge, an Inn with a pool, two ponds and a walking path that connects to other paths covering 20 miles – all on 35 acres of land,” he says. “It’s a place where you can spend a whole day, not just have a meal.”

The newest addition to the property – a fully renovated building –opened this month and now features six indoor, air-conditioned pickleball courts.

The restaurant seats up to 1,000 people and serves Amishstyle food, many of the same recipes used when it opened in 1971.

Everything is homemade.

Mashed potatoes are made with real potatoes, milk and butter. All the breads and pie crusts are homemade from scratch. The Amish noodles are made right on the property and are available to purchase on site and in grocery stores around the country.

People dining at the restaurant have multiple options, including ordering from the menu, serving themselves from the buffet Monday through Saturday, or enjoying family-style dining from 3-8 p.m. Friday and noon-8 p.m. Saturday. A banquet room accommodates 15-220 people.

In the traditional Amish style, the restaurant believes in taking care of its employees and customers. They want everyone

who comes to the restaurant to experience the time-honored tradition of sharing a meal with friends and loved ones.

“We are a hospitality company and we are all about getting people connected,” Miller says. “We want people who come here to feel at home and share all we have to offer with loved ones and friends.”

Whatever option customers choose, they get to enjoy the Amish time-tested recipes. The most popular dishes include anything made with a pot roast-style beef and chicken that is marinated and deep fried.

“It’s hard to beat,” Miller says.

Amish foods are homemade with items from the garden with real, quality ingredients like whole milk, heavy cream and lots of real butter, Miller adds.

Breakfast menu items include eggs, pancakes, oatmeal, yogurt with fruit, choices of meat, biscuits and gravy and more. A couple signature dishes include stuffed French toast topped with fruit, and the Middlebury Breakfast made with two biscuits and home fries covered in sausage gravy. The Breakfast Scramble is made with scrambled eggs, home fries, sausage gravy, cheese, green pepper, spinach, mushrooms and choice of bacon, sausage or ham – all served in a warm tortilla.

Lunch favorites include Chicken Pot Pie with homemade crust, homemade egg noodles and beef over mashed potatoes, creamed chicken and biscuits and more. Dinner features broasted chicken, smoked roast pork, cod, salmon, baked steak, homemade meatloaf with a signature sauce and more. All salads come with a homemade dressing, three soups are offered daily, and a variety of sandwiches and desserts complete the menu. ❚

For more information, visit essenhaus.com.

Paper Gourmet’s New Location in Auburn

By Peggy Werner

Debra Klink, owner of Paper Gourmet in Auburn, loves communicating and connecting with people so much that she opened a business to help others do the same.

“My store is filled with unusual things I love and what I hope other people will love,” she says. “I always try to find unique and different items that you can’t find in other places.”

In business for about 20 years, she just moved into a new location at 308 S. Main St., Auburn. It’s her seventh move, giving her more space in a historic downtown that is as unique as the products she carries.

Klink hosted an open house Oct. 10 and 11 at the new location and offered specials, extended hours and giveaways with “lots of door prizes.” She’s pleased with the new location because it’s “roomier and more aesthetically pleasing with an original brick wall, tin ceiling and crown molding, track lighting and large windows,” she says.

When first in business, Klink started selling only beautiful and personalized stationery and a wide array of greeting cards. Today, in addition to cards and stationery, she has a wide selection of home decor, unique kitchen items, gifts, paper napkins, children’s books, journals, devotionals, Jellycat plush toys, candles, vases, hand creams and lotions, and collectibles such as Nora Fleming bowls and platters, Emily Lex paper goods and gifts, jams and jellies by

Stonewall Kitchens, Lori Mitchell figurines, “Happy Everything” dishwear, and quilling greeting cards that double as art that can be framed.

She shops in Las Vegas once a year and buys through sales reps to find just the right items to stock on her shelves. When possible, she will buy things made locally and in the USA.

The majority of Klink’s customers frequent the store, while others are visiting nearby points of interest or are on their way to or from nearby lakes.

The customers, both loyal and new, are the reason why Klink continues to work.

“I love the people,” she says. “I call them my Paper Gourmet treasures. I learn about my regular customers and shop with them in mind because I know what they like, and we have become wonderful friends.”

Klink opened her first store after raising four children and co-owning a concrete business with her husband of more than 50 years, Mike, with one reason in mind.

“I just love paper products,” she says.

Her store is open from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday. ❚

For more information, call (260) 927-2222.

Dignity & Safety for All at Adams Health

By Lindsey Lukas, senior editor

AtAdams Woodcrest, supporting individuals living with memory loss means creating a home where residents feel safe, respected and engaged. The continuing care retirement community at 1300 Mercer Ave., Decatur, has a dedicated Memory Care Household so that residents can receive the care and compassion they deserve.

“Our Memory Care Household provides specialized support for individuals living with memory loss, Alzheimer’s, and dementia,” says Susan Sefton, director of community outreach. “What makes us unique is our person-centered approach. Residents are cared for with dignity and compassion in a safe, homelike environment.”

That focus on dignity is woven throughout every aspect of the program. With 24-hour nursing staff, specialized dementia training and tailored activities, Adams Health ensures that residents not only receive proper medical support but also find meaning in daily life.

“From cozy household spaces to personalized therapies and daily support, we help residents feel valued, secure and connected,” Sefton says, adding that the decision to establish a dedicated household came in response to the growing needs of families in the community.

“Families often face difficult challenges when a loved one’s safety, independence or daily life is impacted by memory changes,” she says. “By creating a household-style environment with trained staff and tailored programs, Adams Health sought to provide not only skilled care but also dignity, purpose and peace of mind for both residents and their families.”

Unlike traditional nursing homes, the household model provides a more intimate, familiar atmosphere. Residents live in a smaller, household-style setting that encourages connection and familiarity while still receiving round-the-clock care and support.

The physical environment is key to that balance of safety and comfort.

“The environment is designed with both safety and familiarity in mind,” Sefton explains. “Features like secure entrances, resident alarm systems and easy-to-navigate spaces provide peace of mind, while cozy living areas, a family room with a fireplace, and special reminders from their era help residents feel at home.”

A person-centered care philosophy recognizes that every resident has a unique history, personality and set of needs. Therefore, every care plan at Adams Woodcrest’s Memory Care Household is tailored to the individual.

“Individualized care plans consider medical needs, personal routines, hobbies and life history,” Sefton says. “This allows us to tailor activities, therapies and daily support to each person’s abilities and preferences.”

Staff training reinforces this approach.

“Our team undergoes specialized dementia training to recognize and manage the unique challenges of memory loss, including communication strategies, safety awareness and compassionate care techniques,” Sefton adds.

Programming also ensures that residents stay active and engaged. Dementia-specific activities and enrichment programs include cognitive exercises, music, wellness and exercise classes, creative arts and social gathering.

“These are designed to support mental stimulation, physical health and a sense of belonging,” Sefton says.

Family involvement is equally essential.

“Families are essential partners in care,” Sefton explains. “We encourage their involvement in planning, visits and activities, ensuring that their loved one’s life story and preferences remain central to our approach.”

Ultimately, Adams Health’s goal is to give residents not just care, but quality of life.

“Through safety, specialized care and purposeful engagement, we help residents maintain dignity, feel connected and experience a greater sense of meaning in daily life,” Sefton says. “Families can feel peace of mind knowing their loved one is safe, cared for and valued.” ❚

I Love Saturdays at Club Room at The Clyde Enjoy the best in pop, soul, R&B and funk every Saturday from 8-11 p.m. at the Club Room at the Clyde, 1806 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne. Visit clydeclubroom.com/live to see the complete lineup of performers.

Día de los Muertos 2025

Thru Nov. 16, recurring daily except Mondays. This exhibition features ofrendas - places to leave offerings so the souls of the departed might find their way home and be nourished upon their arrival. Fort Wayne Museum of Art, 311 E. Main St., Fort Wayne, fwmoa.org.

Eat Well, Play Well Exhibit

Thru Jan. 4, recurring daily. This interactive exhibit allows visitors to see what appropriate serving sizes look like, experience what it takes to burn off calories, review the latest clinical research and more. Science Central, 1950 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne, sciencecentral.org.

‘Tales in the Dark’

Oct. 25, 30, 31 & Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m. A shroud of secrecy and a sinister bent of mind: these are what pervade the stage in Fort Wayne Ballet’s “Tales in the Dark.” Canterbury Fine Arts Building, 3210 Smith Road, Fort Wayne, fortwayneballet.org.

Disney’s ‘Frozen’

Nov. 8-23, recurring Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Full of magic, humor and a stunning musical score, “Frozen” is a powerful tale of sisterhood, acceptance and finding the real meaning of love. Presented by Fort Wayne Civic Theatre, 303 E. Main St., Fort Wayne, fwcivic.org.

Joe Bonamassa

Nov. 8, 8 p.m. Hailed internationally as one of the greatest guitar players of his generation, Bonamassa has almost single-handedly redefined the blues-rock genre. Embassy Theatre, 125 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne, fwembassytheatre.org.

Veteran’s Day Parade & Ceremony

Nov. 8, 11 a.m. The annual Veterans Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. and travels north on Parnell Avenue to the Memorial Coliseum for placement of wreaths, playing of taps and remembering fallen brothers- and sisters-in-arms. Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave., Fort Wayne.

Gabriel Iglesias: The 1976 Tour

Nov. 20, 8 p.m. Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias is one of the world’s most successful stand-up comedians and one of the highest grossing touring co -

Entertainment & Events

medians of all time. Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave., Fort Wayne, fluffyguy.com.

‘A Celtic Christmas’

Nov. 22, 8 p.m. Prepare to be enchanted with some of the world’s fi nest Irish dancers and musicians bringing the spirit of Christmas to life. Embassy Theatre, 125 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne, fwembassytheatre.org.

HolidayFest Featuring the Night of Lights Nov. 26, 5:45-8 p.m. Kick off the holiday season with the lighting of Santa and his reindeer and more. Downtown Fort Wayne, downtownfortwayne.com. ❚