Porter County week ahead: two high school stage shows, a Chesterton plan hearing and a sculpture call

PORTER COUNTY, Ind. Two high school stage productions run Nov. 19 to 22 in Valparaiso and Portage, and the public gets its say on a new Chesterton town plan Thursday, Nov. 19, in a week of public events across Porter County, according to the schools, towns and agencies hosting them.

How we chose: we read the event pages of Porter County's cities, towns, schools, parks departments and library on Thursday morning and list public events with a posted date, time and place, leaving out regular board meetings and routine library storytimes and clubs. No one paid to be included, and we list prices only where the organizer posted one.

On stage

Valparaiso High School's Drama Club presents the fall musical "Wonderland" in the VHS Auditorium at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, Valparaiso Community Schools said. Tickets are sold online, and remaining tickets are $10 at the door, the district said.

Portage High School's Theatre Department stages "Game of Tiaras," a fairy-tale production, in the East Auditorium at Portage High School at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, and Saturday, Nov. 21, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, Portage Township Schools said. Everyone enters through Door A, and tickets are at portageperformingarts.ludus.com, the district said.

Around the county

• Monday, Nov. 16, 4 to 6 p.m.: Hilltop Mission Kitchen, 608 Union St., Valparaiso, serves free hot meals every Monday night, one meal per person, and diners must be present, according to the city of Valparaiso's community calendar.
• Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1 to 2:30 p.m.: A free Tech Tuesday class for people 50 and older meets in the Porter County Administration Center conference room, 155 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso, according to the county calendar, which lists Purdue Extension's page and 219-465-3555 for details.
• Tuesday, Nov. 17, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.: The Kouts Branch of the Porter County Public Library System hosts the Kouts Elementary School Art Show, open to all ages, the library's event list shows.
• Thursday, Nov. 19, 6:30 p.m.: The Chesterton Advisory Plan Commission holds a public hearing at Town Hall, 726 Broadway, on a new Comprehensive Plan that would replace the one adopted Dec. 6, 2010. The draft is online at chestertonin.org and on file at the Westchester Public Library's Thomas Branch and the Clerk-Treasurer's office, 1490 Broadway. Written objections filed with the commission secretary before the hearing will be considered, and questions go to planning@chestertonin.org or 219-926-1641, the town said.
• Saturday, Nov. 21, 4:30 to 11 p.m.: VFW Post 7760 holds its Night With the Vets, with dinner, raffles, a silent auction and live music, at the American Legion Post 260 Hall, 5675 Mulberry Ave., Portage, according to the city of Portage's calendar.

For artists

The Valparaiso Art Advisory Committee is taking sculpture entries for the 2027-2028 Valpo Art Walk at Cumberland Crossing through Friday, Dec. 11, the city said. Artists may submit up to four outdoor works with no entry fee, each selected piece earns a $1,500 honorarium, and the sculptures will be on display from June 2027 through May 2028, with applications taken at 2026callforentry-valpoartwalk.artcall.org.

Looking ahead

Valpo Parks' free Winter Fest and Tree Lighting is 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at Central Park Plaza, with musical performances and free photos with Santa, the parks department said. The Memorial Opera House in Valparaiso opens "The Secret Garden" on Friday, Nov. 27, with evening tickets listed at $30 for adults, $27 for seniors, students and military, and $60 for loge seats, according to its calendar.