Hey all, Mr. Pierogi here. I don’t know all about you, but I had a fantastic summer! Living in Da Region is a beautiful thing with all its great events and festivals. I don’t think you can go a weekend here and not have something going on. It’s one of the things that makes living around here so wonderful. As it goes, though, summer always seems to come and then melt away like a 500-pound stick of butter.
Seems like just yesterday we were preparing for Pierogi Fest® in Whiting and in an instant, it’s over! And what a great Pierogi Fest® it was. For me, the biggest joy is being out there on 119th Street and meeting you all. The high fives, selfies, and hearing all your fest stories. For some it was your first time attending, and for others, you have been attending for 31 years. That’s impressive! True Pierogi Fest fanatics. Festnatics, if that’s a word!
It truly is one of the most unique, wackiest fests in the Midwest. You all come from near and far and ate your way down 119th Street until you couldn’t have eaten any more. As sad as it is when it’s over, we can always take solace that next year is already on the horizon.
Aside from Pierogi Fest®, I enjoyed going to other events this summer, in disguise of course. I visited my Latin cousin at Empanada Fest, met up with my old friend Hank the Blueberry at Plymouth’s Blueberry Festival, celebrated my pal Rusty the RailCat’s birthday at the US Steel Yard, and rocked out with John Fogerty at Festival of the Lakes.
Oh, and I flew up with the US Army Golden Knights parachute team in the Gary Air Show! I made well certain all my dough was strapped in safely for the ride, but talk about exhilarating.
For some, summer ending really bums people out, but look at it this way. We live in an area that has tons of fall fests and events throughout the whole year. Carry those summer memories in your heart so if you get a funk about our Midwest weather, you can always look back and smile.
I can’t wait to see you all at the next Pierogi Fest® (it’s always the last full weekend in July), and maybe I’ll see you at one of these other events in Whiting: Haunted Hayrides (Sept. 26-27, 2025), Wickedly Whiting (Oct. 3-4, 2025), Halloween Parade (Oct. 25, 2025) and the Pierogi Drop (Dec. 31, 2025).
Click HERE for a list of all upcoming events in northwest Indiana.
