Happy Tuesday, Fort Wayne. In today’s edition: Christmas on the farm, a winter porch pot workshop, a new soccer stadium with year-round events, and more.

Let’s get to it — Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Micromobility at a crossroads: Fort Wayne ended its Veo scooter and e-bike program in 2023 amid safety and behavior concerns despite high usage, and advocates say goals, enforcement, and infrastructure could revive shared micromobility — see what advocates propose.

Request draws fresh scrutiny: Fort Wayne’s council president has sought a forum from Google, a request drawing attention after the Nov. 29 report. What the forum entails and how Google will respond remain unclear — read the full story.

Youth academy and community vision: Construction is advancing on Fort Wayne FC’s 8,400-seat stadium, touted as Indiana’s largest soccer-specific venue, and the project remains on schedule for March 2026 with year-round events planned beyond soccer — get all the details.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Scams are rampant: My step-dad recently got a call from someone pretending to be his grandson, all beat up and asking for bail money. They knew his grandson’s name, how old he is, and what city he lives in. How? Data brokers. They sell your info to anyone willing to pay for it (yup… anyone). Incogni removes your info from all of those sites so scammers can’t use it against you. Cyber Monday discounts are available all week — check ’em out here.

Highlights this week

• Donate for free popcorn and membership
• Meet Santa amid dazzling zoo lights
• Experience wartime Christmas at Old Fort
• Experience gravity-defying holiday cirque magic
• Celebrate Pride at a festive Yule party
• Need new windows? Check out RBA’s latest deals

🫶 We got your back

New lights meet tradition: Fort Wayne Zoo and Blue Jacket have launched Fort Wayne Light Fest, pairing the classic drive-through Fantasy of Lights with the brand-new Wild Lights walk-through at the zoo. It runs on select dates now through Jan. 4, 2026, with nearly a million lights, visits with Santa, and more. Get details, dates, and tickets.

Cold weather support expands: Fort Wayne nonprofits and the city launched their winter emergency shelter plan (Dec. 1–March 31). For the first time, The Salvation Army’s shelter for single women and families is 24/7, with Blue Jacket staffing and Rescue Mission support. Single men can use the Rescue Mission. Daytime warming centers are open, backed by a $20,000 city grant. See locations and hours.

Burrito fix, sorted: Craving something big and actually tasty? Pikoso Burrito Co. rolls hefty burritos inside Electric Works, with Asada, Al Pastor, and a pork belly option, plus bowls if you’re keeping it light. Local, fast, and reliably satisfying when dinner needs zero overthinking.

An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.

Wellness on easy mode: Most probiotics don’t work because they dissolve too early. Seed’s double capsule design means all the right stuff gets delivered to all the right places… at the right time. After decades of gut issues, it’s one of the few things that’s actually helped. Their Daily Essentials Duo covers nutrient gaps and supports everyday health + it’s 40% off right now so it’s a great time to give it a try.

📆 Around town this week

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

This week

🧦 DIY Holiday Stockings @ Eckhart Public Library | Tuesday (12/2) at 4:30pm – Teens, this is your chance to upgrade from sad, floppy stockings to something totally you. Head to The Teen Library to deck out your own holiday stocking—glitter, flair, and all the festive chaos encouraged. Take it home to hang with pride, or leave it at the library to be mysteriously filled with treats all December long.

🍷 ONEHOPE Wine & Icing for Isaac Cheesecake Tasting @ Icing For Izaac | Thursday (12/4) at 6:00pm – Whether you speak fluent tannins or just show up for cheesecake, this pairing night hits the sweet spot. ONEHOPE Wine meets Icing for Isaac’s signature cheesecake flight for creamy bites, easy sips, and conversation you will not have to shout over. Dessert for dinner, proudly.

🎸 Goldstock 2025 @ Clyde Theatre | Thursday (12/4) at 7 pm – Fort Wayne’s music scene takes over two stages for one massive night of hometown sound, from intimate singer-songwriter sets to full-on band blowouts. Expect local favorites, new discoveries, and the kind of crowd energy you only get when it’s all homegrown talent.

🪴 Winter Porch Pot Workshop @ Arbor Farms Nursery | Friday (12/5) at 2:00pm – Nothing beats getting your hands dirty in a warm greenhouse while you craft a winter porch pot that makes the neighbors suspiciously friendly. Evergreens, berries, and a little holiday smugness, all included. Your stoop gets festive, you get bragging rights, no glitter required.

🎨 Paint Along with Sarah – Acrylic on Canvas (Snowy Advent Path) @ New Haven Community Center | Friday (12/5) at 6:00pm – If your fridge door is full but your walls are bare, come paint a snowy Advent path with Sarah Meyer, acrylic on canvas, step by step. She guides, you add flair, and yes, wine counts as a brush. Grab friends for a New Haven-approved outing.

This weekend

🎄 Christmas on the Farm 2025 @ Salomon Farm Park | Saturday (12/6) at 1:00pm – Pile the family in the car and head to the farm for an afternoon of pure Christmas coziness—Santa visits, hands-on kids’ crafts, and live holiday tunes included. Take a spin on a horse-drawn wagon, say hi to the barnyard crew, and knock out some Christmas shopping while you’re at it.

🍃 Nature Ornament Decoration @ Metea County Park | Saturday (12/6) at 1:00pm – Feeling crafty, not kitschy? Paint a wooden ornament with the park folks, learn simple ways to give back to the woods this season, and head home with something charming, handmade, and pine scented. Register ahead, because Fort Wayne loves a wholesome project.

🧙‍♀️ Wicked: For Good @ Cinema Center | Saturday (12/6) at 4:15pm – Follow Elphaba and Glinda from college frenemies to full-on legend status in this big-screen tale of how Oz got its “wicked” reputation. Bring the tissues, the nostalgia, and your sense of justice. Donate cozy comfort items for kids to YWCA or make a monetary gift to Amani, and you’ll snag free popcorn plus a free month of Cinema Center membership.

🔨 Cadets in Cadence Auction 2025 @ Concordia Lutheran High School | Saturday (12/6) at 5:00pm – An elegant evening under the stars, beside the waves, and still in town, raising funds for Concordia Lutheran High School. Open bar, dinner, silent and live auctions, and dressy cocktail vibes with a nod to beach and night sky, so leave the flip-flops at home.

🥞 The Brunch Scene @ Country Heritage Winery | Sunday (12/7) at 11:00am – Sunday at Country Heritage means one thing: actual made-to-order brunch, not a sneeze-guard buffet. Think skillets, waffles, breakfast pizza, tacos, and biscuits and gravy, then wash it down with something they actually make well. Come hungry, bring friends, reclaim your weekend.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/3 Musical Mornings – Lakeside Wind Quintet @ Crescendo Coffee – 10 am
• 12/3 Trans-Siberian Orchestra – The Ghosts of Christmas Eve @ Allen County War Memorial Coliseum – 7 pm
• 12/4 Goldstock 2025 @ Clyde Theatre – 7 pm
• 12/6 Coronation @ PSM Empowered – 7 pm
• 12/7 Ernie Haase and Signature Sound @ Saint Joseph United Methodist Church – 6 pm
• 12/9 Make the Yuletide Gay @ Plymouth Congregational Church – 7 pm
• 12/10 Jane Lynch’s A Swingin’ Little Christmas @ Clyde Theatre – 7:30 pm
• 12/11 Shake Em’ On Down Tour @ Clyde Theatre – 8 pm
• 12/12 Straight No Chaser: Holiday Road Tour @ Embassy Theatre – 8 pm