What’s Happening in the Parks-Week of January 20, 2020

January 17, 2020

Fort Wayne, Ind. – The following events and programs are happening the week of January 20.

Winterval

Saturday, January 25, starting at 9 a.m.

Various Downtown Locations

Celebrate winter with a visit to downtown Fort Wayne! The 8th Annual Winterval promises a full day of indoor and outdoor winter fun for all ages. Watch ice carvers create wonders from a solid block of ice, catch a rugby game, check out model cars, and enjoy special events at the Botanical Conservatory, the Allen County Public Library, the Old Fort or Science Central. Go for a carriage ride at the Community Center or ice skating at Headwaters Park. New this year is the Winter Farm Hand Competition at Hop River Brewing Company, sponsored by Salomon Farm Park. A full schedule of events is at WintervalFW.com.

Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Sending Needs Assessment Survey to Citizens

January 17, 2020

Fort Wayne, Ind. – The Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department is conducting a Community Needs Assessment Survey to gather crucial feedback about parks, facilities and programs offered to Fort Wayne citizens. A randomly selected group of citizens will receive or have already received a questionnaire in the mail, which can be completed and mailed back in an included postage-paid envelope, or can be completed online following included instructions. To ensure a comprehensive result, those who received Needs Assessment questionnaires are encouraged to complete the survey, even if they do not use most or any Parks and Recreation services.

Winterval 2020 Features New Farm Competition Event

January 16, 2020

Saturday, January 25

Fort Wayne, Ind. – Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation will host Winterval 2020 on Saturday, January 25, in downtown Fort Wayne. This year, a new event joins the full day of activities as Salomon Farm Park presents a Farm Hand Competition at Hop River Brewing Company, 1515 N Harrison St, just north of Promenade Park. Participants can try their hand at the lasso, tractor tire flips, tossing straw bales, and other feats of strength and skill, with prizes awarded to the top finalists. This event will also be a fundraiser for Salomon Farm Park, as Hop River will be donating a portion of beverage sales to the park. Registration begins at 4 p.m. and the entry fee for competitors is $15. Competitions will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the event is free for spectators.

What’s Happening in the Parks

Fort Wayne, Ind. – The following events and programs are happening the week of January 13.

Dog Days of Winter Garden Exhibit

Opens January 11 through April 12

Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St.

The “dog days of summer” means hot, humid, outdoor weather, but our fanciful opposite – the Dog Days of Winter – provides a fun time to visit indoors, in spite of the weather. This garden of make-believe invites young visitors to imagine what it would be like to own a dog – or be one! A variety of topiary breeds occupy the garden beds, but the Dog Park Agility Course is a playground for doggie-wannabes.

Choose a favorite breed at the Dog Show, try on different sizes of Dog Housing to see which fits best, and practice howling at the moon. Visitors can also learn a bit about pet care at the Doggie Doctor and take a simple quiz to find out which breeds they resemble. Featuring lush tropicals, winter-bloomers, and later in the season, early spring-flowering bulbs, the Dog Days of Winter will bring welcome relief from the chill of the season. Sponsored by the Magee-O’Connor Foundation, the Howard P. Arnold Foundation and Majic 95.1.