50th Anniversary Celebration: September 27-28, 2025
Northside Neighborhood is rolling out the welcome mat to celebrate 50 years of history, community, and connection. The celebration offers Fort Wayne fans a weekend full of fun, music, and hometown pride, and all are welcome to share in the fun! Join the party September 27–28 at Lakeside Park and throughout the neighborhood.
Order of Events
Saturday, Sept. 27
- Coed volleyball tournament at Lakeside Park: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m Lakeside Park near pavilion #2 Hosted by Grass & Grit Sports Register by texting 618-421-5455 $90/team Venmo @LizzieLiz8
- Historic Home and Garden Tour Seven States area of the Northside Neighborhood 1-5 PM Tour 11 homes, gardens and even a business in the Seven States area of the Northside Neighborhood—California, Alabama and Florida Avenues. Come be inspired by the stories of these beautiful spaces and their people— historic and modern, original and renovated!
- Tickets on Eventbrite — $10 (Tickets purchased online can be picked up at Lakeside Park pavilion #2) Tickets “at the door” at Lakeside Park Pavilion #2 — $15
- Stories of the Northside Lakeside Park pavilion #1 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Stop in to experience the stories of the Northside Neighborhood in photos, writings, and memorabilia. Record your own memories for posterity with WBOI.
- A Pictorial History of the Northside Neighborhood 1 p.m and 3 p.m. Lakeside Park Pavilion #1 A presentation by local historian Randy Harter, a Fort Wayne historian, the author of three books on its history, and has written dozens of articles and research papers about the city’s wondrous past.A longtime collector of vintage Fort Wayne images, he is a frequent speaker to area groups and is the founder of the Fort Wayne History Roundtable.
Sunday, Sept. 28
- Walk the Past of Forest Park Blvd and Driving Park 11:00 a.m Meet at the corner of Forest Park Blvd and Vermont Ave in Lakeside Park
A free, two-hour walking history tour of Forest Park Blvd and Driving Park by local historian Mark Meyer. (This is not a home tour.)
- Lakeside Fall Concert Lakeside Park Sunken Garden 2:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Bring your chairs, blankets, and friends to enjoy the grand finale for our 50th Anniversary Weekend! Headlined by the Northside Neighborhood’s own, Addison Agen, and featuring the Sweetwater All-Stars and Los Electro!
Food trucks—The Creperie, WTFish, Chance Jr, and Whip & Chill
Local Artists—artisan soaps, painters, jewelry, photography and more
Free balloon art and face-painting for kids