Italy’s finest music marks the launch of the 2025-26 Northwest Indiana Symphony season with “La Dolce Sinfonia” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at Living Hope Church, 9000 Taft St. in Merrillville. Listen to classics curated by Maestro Kirk Muspratt that include “Cavalleria Rusticana,” “Pines of Rome,” Mendelssohn’s “Italian Symphony” and even crooner hits from Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Tenor Jesse Donner is the headlining vocalist lending his pipes to crowd delights such as “Nessun dorma,” “O sole Mio” and “Funiculi, Funicula.” The concert marks the first in this season’s series of performances saluting Muspratt’s 25 years as music director of the Northwest Indiana Symphony, now in its 84th Season. Tickets range from $49 to $89, with student pricing at $10. For more information, call the box office at 219-836-0525 or visit https://nisorchestra.org/
Charity haunting hijinks
Making a bone-chilling return to the MAAC Foundation First Responder Training Campus landscape in Valparaiso is the MAAC Foundation’s annual MAACabre Haunted Attraction open at 6:30 p.m. nightly Oct. 17, 18, 24 and 25 at 6:30 PM and 1 p.m. Oct. 19 at 4203 Montdale Park Drive in Valparaiso. Hosted with 38 fright-inducing scare rooms spanning throughout the expansive first responder training facility, proceeds of the event go toward first responder training at the MAAC Foundation to prepare firefighters, EMS, police and K9 units throughout Northwest Indiana for emergencies. Other top attractions at the event include the First Responder Appreciation Day and a Demonstration Day Raffle with prizes including sporting event tickets, vacation rentals and more, along with food trucks and scary surprises for all ages. A special, sensory-friendly kids show on Oct. 19 welcomes young ones and families to experience a more mild than wild variation of the spooky surroundings. Tickets are $25 online and $30 at the door. For more information, visit www.maacfoundation.
Scaring is caring
“Sometimes Scaring is Caring” is a new event at Club Ki-Yowga, 5220 Indianapolis Boulevard in East Chicago 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, a longtime social center established in 1933 and said to be haunted. The charity festival includes three live paranormal podcasts including “Ghostly Podcast” and “Channeling Chavez,” and the headlining feature show podcast of “Bob After Dark,” now in its seventh year airing on WJOB 1230 AM hosted by Whiting native and supernatural enthusiast Bob Anderson and produced with co-hosting duties by “Count” Tony Panek. Spooky craft vendors, appearances and photo ops with the Peoria Ghostbusters with their Ecto-1 vehicle are among the highlight frights as well as a cash bar with spooky themed drinks. Admission is $5 with proceeds benefiting Extra Life Chicago Guild, a charity organization for Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. For more information, visit the Bob After Dark Facebook page or call Club Ki-Yowga at 219-398-1108.
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Dunes spooky stories
A night of fright awaits all ages in this open-air outdoor concert arena at the Nature Center’s Fire Ring for the 36th Annual NWI Storytelling Festival and Ghost Stories at Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center, 1600 N. 25 E. in Chesterton. Bring a blanket, lawn chair and family and friends of all ages to enjoy a collection of spooky tales. There are two special story sessions planned with children ages 7 and younger are encouraged to listen to the 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. tales, while the 7-8 p.m. session showcases stories ideal for ages 8 and older. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to the Wilson Shelter or Nature Center. The event is part of the interpretive programs series, designed to entertain and enrich folks of all ages. Children under age 12 must have an adult with them at programs. Registration is not required for this program. The event is free and open to the public after paying the park entrance fee, which is $7 for cars in-state and $12 for cars out-of-state. For more details, call 219-926-1390 or visit https://on.in.gov/indianadunessp.
VU Theatre applause
The Valparaiso University Theatre Department opens the fall season with “Pantomime” written by Derek Wolcott and directed by George Potter with performances 8 p.m. Oct. 16 and 17, and 2 p.m. Oct. 18 and 19, in the Center for the Arts Studio “Black Box” Theater. A fast-paced comedy set in Tobago, the play is an audience favorite. In the hope of entertaining future guests, an English hotel owner proposes that he and his handyman work up a satire on the Robinson Crusoe story. Billed as a “metatheatrical two-hander tale,” it dissects the effects of colonialism, examining the way that British imperial policies create fateful cultural links that exist forever. Both joy and dark humor abound as audiences join the journey with the hotel owner and handyman as they explore who is allowed to use language and in what way. Tickets are $20 by calling 219-464-5445 or visiting www.valpo.edu/about/center-for-the-arts/.
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and radio show host on WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at [email protected].