What’s Happening in the Parks
The week ahead
Fort Wayne, Ind. – The following events and programs are happening the week ahead:
Reminder:
Community Extravaganza
Saturday, May 17, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
McMillen Park Center, 3901 Abbott Street
Free games, fun, prizes and food will be offered for families at the annual Community Extravaganza. This event will also include commercial vendors and community resource booths such as a pop-up job fair where those age 16 and above can apply for a job with Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation. Parents can also register children (ages 5-18) for the free summer youth program. For more information, visit fortwayneparks.org or call McMillen Park Community Center at 260-427-2420.
Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony
Saturday, May 17, 7:30 p.m., gates open at 6:30 p.m.
Foellinger Theatre, 3411 Sherman Blvd.
Dolly Parton brings her music to orchestras worldwide! "Threads: My Songs in Symphony", with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic is an unforgettable multimedia experience featuring Dolly on screen, leading audiences in a visual and musical journey of her songs, her life and her stories. Accompanied by guest vocalists and musicians, audiences will hear new and innovative orchestrations of her hit songs, including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “I Will Always Love You.” In addition to her personal favorites, hear an as-yet unreleased selection from her upcoming Broadway musical. Ticketing: www.foellingertheatre.org.
Spring Bonsai Show
Saturday, May 17, public hours
Embrace peace and harmony while immersed in a bonsai display presented by the Fort Wayne Bonsai Club. Members are present and pleased to discuss this art form while answering any questions you may have. For those who would like to cultivate tranquility at home, a selection of beginning bonsai specimen and pots are available for cash-only purchase. Show entry is included with general admission.
INPS Native Plant Swap
Saturday, May 17, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Lindenwood Nature Preserve, 600 Lindenwood Avenue
Join the Indiana Native Plant Society in supporting local biodiversity! Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this is a great opportunity to exchange native plants and seeds with fellow enthusiasts. Bring your extras and take home something new for your garden. Nothing to share? INPS will have free plants and seeds to get you started. Walk to the campfire circle and look for the picnic tables. No pre-registration is required. Carpooling is recommended.
Summit City Alumni Games
Saturday, May 17, 12:00 – 6:00 p.m..
McMillen Park Community Center Gym, 3901 Abbott Street
The third annual Summit City Alumni Games return to McMillen Park Community Center. Alumni teams from South Side, North Side, Elmhurst, Bishop Luers, Snider, Harding, Bishop Dwenger, New Haven and more will compete for fame reputation. All are welcome to cheer on their favorite team. Park and enter at the back door behind the Community Center. Admission is $6 per person.
Featuring:
Dragon Boat 101
Wednesday, May 21, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Park Foundation Pavilion, Promenade Park, 202 West Superior Street
Interested in taking part in this year’s Fort Wayne Dragon Boat Races but not sure where to start? Attend this informational session where we will be covering all things Dragon Boats–what it is, how to create a team, event schedule and more!
Sweet Breeze Tours begin
Saturday, May 24, 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. (90-minute), 5:45 – 6:30 p.m. (45-minute)
Sunday, May 25, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. (90-minute), 3:45 – 4:30 p.m. (45-minute)
South Dock, Promenade Park, 202 West Superior Street.
Travel Fort Wayne’s rivers on Sweet Breeze, an authentic 1840 canal boat replica. This fully accessible tour provides an opportunity to learn something new about Fort Wayne through its riverfront. Choose 90 or 45-minute cruise options. Tickets are $30 per person for a 90-minute cruise and $20 per person for 45-minute cruise. Reservations can be made online (until midnight on day prior to tour) at www.RideSweetBreeze.org or via the Fort Wayne Parks App; in person at the Parks and Recreation Offices (705 East State Blvd.) or by phone 260-427-6000 during normal business hours. Walk-ups are welcome at the dock as space is available by cash or credit card. Specialty tours are scheduled throughout the season. Visit the website or app to see all the options.
Iris Flower Show
Sunday, May 25, 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 South Calhoun Street
Revel in the beauty of showy spring blooms. Members of the Northeast Indiana Iris Society display a sublime array of prized blooms in various varieties. Be sure to vote for your favorite! Members are also happy to offer helpful growing advice. Show entry is included with general admission.
Wild Walkers
Friday, May 23, 8:45 – 10:30 a.m.
Lloyd Bender Memorial Woods, 1891 N. River Road W., Albion, IN
This adult hiking group meets the second and fourth Fridays of each month for a walk on the wild side. Each hike features a different natural area in the region (parks, wetlands, nature preserve, etc.) and carpooling is available when necessary. Find the full 2025 schedule at this link https://www.fortwayneparks.org/images/PDF/Salomon/2025_Wild_Walkers_Schedule.pdf
Also Happening:
Color in Motion: Live Butterfly Exhibit!
Until June 22, public hours
Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 South Calhoun Street
Live butterflies have landed at the Botanical Conservatory bringing with them an array of natural beauty and wonder. Watch in awe, their wings in flight, as they flash with color pigments and refracted light. Observe exotic butterflies emerging from their chrysalides right before your eyes! An epic display of multicolored flowers and foliage elevates this annual spring exhibit. Sponsored by: the English Bonter Mitchell Foundation, Fort Wayne Park Foundation, “In memory of Jo Ann and William Wyatt,” 21Alive and 97.3 WMEE.
Registration continues for Farmin’ Fun Day Camp & PODS
Set a course for exploration about plants, animals and life on the farm at the hands-on Farmin’ Fun Day Camp at Salomon Farm. Select weeks are available for ages 4-5 and 6-11.
PODS, or Positive Days of Summer offer half-day options for kids ages 5-13 at the Community Center and feature numerous themes.
Download the brochure for more details. Registration may be made online at FortWayneParks.org, in-person, by mail or drop box at 705 East State Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46805. Sessions for Franke Park Day Camp and ACTIVenture are filled.
Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department offers program scholarships for qualified children as funds are available. Scholarship policy details are listed here.
Grace Yencer: Gentle Turning
Until June 22
Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 South Calhoun Street
Grace Yencer has been creating art for as long as she can remember, inspired by a childhood dream of becoming an artist or art teacher. Yencer’s love for snail mail sparked an early career in greeting cards, but she soon shifted focus to art as self-expression. With roots in the Midwest, her style reflects both a sense of nostalgia and a playful exploration of the world around her, making her pieces as heartfelt as they are visually engaging. Her work invites you to pause, look closer and maybe catch a hint of sorrow in the details. “To create one’s world takes courage,” Georgia O’Keeffe.
