October 2025
All In Jest Trivia
Location
- Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts
- 540 S. Lake Street, Gary IN 46403
Category
$10 at the door. Cash Bar
Everyone’s favorite live multimedia Trivia Game Show continues in its 5th season!
Teams of up to six people will be tested in General Knowledge, Sports & Games, TV & Movies, Music, and two randomly selected Mystery Rounds. Whether you’re a Trivia rookie or a useless knowledge savant, it’s a fun experience for all. Come find out why All in Jest Trivia is “Unquestionably Better.” With Prizes for the winning team AND the host’s favorite answer of the night!
Live on Lake Street presents: Surge Quartet
Location
- Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts
- 540 S. Lake Street, Gary IN 46403
Category
Four extraordinary musicians from the international improvisation scene come together for the first time in a unique quartet: gabby fluke-mogul (violin), Fred Lonberg-Holm (cello & electronics), Keefe Jackson (saxophones & clarinets), and Chris Bré (saxophones & clarinets) create a sonic world filled with spontaneity, energy, and unexpected turns.
Each musician brings a distinctive voice to the ensemble: fluke-mogul is a master of expressive textures on the violin, moving seamlessly between raw intensity and delicate nuances. Lonberg-Holm fuses his cello with electronics, expanding the instrument’s possibilities into uncharted sonic territory. Jackson is known for his powerful tone and melodic finesse, while Bré explores the depths of saxophone and clarinet with an ever-surprising sense of space and dynamics.
Without predefined structures or compositions, the music unfolds in the moment, ranging from fragile, intricate passages to explosive, high-energy interactions. It is a dialogue of tension, spontaneity, and boundless creativity, drawing the audience into an immersive and unpredictable experience.
This tour is sponsored in part by Blue Stem Jazz.
Work in Progress Group
Location
- Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts
- 540 S. Lake Street, Gary IN 46403
Category
Join other practicing and aspiring visual artists for an informal peer-to-peer review
session to share artwork and ideas. This ongoing group has been meeting now for over a year, supporting and inspiring artists in their work. Contact Teresina at 2tpavel2@gmail.com , or 219-777-5162, for details. RSVP’s appreciated but not required.
FREE
September 2025
Intermediate Upholstery Workshop
Location
- Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts
- 540 S. Lake Street, Gary IN 46403
Category
Join us for a hands-on upholstery workshop designed to equip you with the skills, confidence, and creativity to breathe new life into your favorite chair. Participants will learn the fundamentals of stripping down, repairing, and reupholstering a small armchair, while also exploring design choices that reflect personal style. You don’t need any prior experience!
This is a bring-your-own-project workshop; each participant will need:
- A small armchair, an example of the ideal chair, is pictured.
- Your own fabric of choice (this is your personal chair, so you should have fabric that speaks to your personality.
- Your own cushion/foam if replacement is needed.
All other tools and supplies will be provided. Whether you’re refreshing a family heirloom or reinventing a thrifted find, you’ll leave with a beautifully transformed piece of functional art and a deeper appreciation for the craft of upholstery.
Please note that this workshop takes place over two days:
Saturday, September 27, 11 am – 2 pm
Sunday, September 28, 1 pm – 3 pm
Instructor Jamika Smith is the founder of Teena’s Legacy, a not-for-profit charitable organization whose mission is to create a safe space for young women and women in general to explore their authentic selves using upholstery as a conduit for self-reflection, self-expression, and economic transformation. She is also the CEO of Affirm My Design LLC, which provides a holistic approach to the upholstery and home décor industry. Not only does she assist in your upholstery needs, but she’s also able to use upholstery as a tool to help individuals recreate themselves anew.
All In Jest Trivia
Location
- Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts
- 540 S. Lake Street, Gary IN 46403
Category
$10 at the door. Cash Bar
Everyone’s favorite live multimedia Trivia Game Show is back for a 5th Season!
Teams of up to six people will be tested in General Knowledge, Sports & Games, TV & Movies, Music, and two randomly selected Mystery Rounds. Whether you’re a Trivia rookie or a useless knowledge savant, it’s a fun experience for all. Come find out why All in Jest Trivia is “Unquestionably Better.” With Prizes for the winning team AND the host’s favorite answer of the night!
Fest in the First
Category
Come out for this beloved neighborhood festival now in its 22nd year! This year’s Fest features arts and artisan vendors, nonprofits, food trucks, and delicious treats from Lake Street businesses. All this and more accompany a full schedule of activities for all ages -including live music and lots of kids’ activities. Admission to the Fest and parking is free!!
Kids Activity Zone
3pm – 7pm
Moonwalk
Spin Art
Foam Party!
Horse Rides
Fire Department Training House and Fire Truck
Nelson Algren 616 Stage
3:45pm – 4:15pm
Kid’s Dance Party
4:30pm – 5:30pm
Miller Community Theatre Sings!
6pm – 8pm
The Nick Danger Band
Lake Street Stage
3:30pm
BeachFront Dance School
4pm
West Side Theatre Guild Repertoire Dance Company
6pm
Salsa in the Street
10th Annual MBACD Golf Outing
Location
- Inssbrook Country Club
- 8701 Taft St., Merrillville, IN 46410
Category
Enjoy a Day of Championship Golf at the beautiful Innsbrook Country Club!
Our annual fundraiser, now in its 10th year, offers our friends a grand day out on the links. This year’s event takes place on Monday, September 15, 2025, and is an equally enjoyable way to support the Miller Beach Arts & Creative District.
The annual golf outing is our biggest fundraiser of the year, ensuring that the MBACD will be financially equipped to bring arts and public programming to our community. Your participation will make a significant difference, and we couldn’t be more proud of our community’s support.
Learn more about the event, ticketing, and sponsorship opportunities
Work in Progress Group
Location
- Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts
- 540 S. Lake Street, Gary IN 46403
Category
Join other practicing and aspiring visual artists for an informal peer-to-peer review
session to share artwork and ideas. This ongoing group has been meeting now for over a year, supporting and inspiring artists in their work. Contact Teresina at 2tpavel2@gmail.com , or 219-777-5162, for details. RSVP’s appreciated but not required.
FREE
DANCE ON! Lake Street – Salsa!
Location
- Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts
- 540 S. Lake Street, Gary IN 46403
Category
Don’t miss the last evening of DANCE ON! Lake Street for the season! Dancers and newbies alike are welcome at this fun and relaxed dance lesson. The music is hot and the dancing is fun! Carlos Martínez leads our last session of Salsa!
Admission: $5 at the door.
Opening Reception – Out of Trend
Location
- Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts
- 540 S. Lake Street, Gary IN 46403
Category
The MBACD is proud to present a captivating new exhibition entitled ‘Out of Trend,”
featuring two recent series by Irena Siwek, each offering a deeply personal exploration of identity, culture, and the
human experience beyond the boundaries of contemporary trends.
Join us for the opening reception with a cash bar and light refreshments.
August 2025
DANCE ON! Lake Street – It’s 80s Night with DJ Quinn
Location
- Tiny's Coffee Bar
- 555. S. Lake Street, Gary IN 46403
-
Website
https://www.tinyscoffeebar.com/
Category
Enjoy an evening of 80s Dance music with DJ Quinn spinning on Tiny’s patio! NO lesson tonight, just you boogie-ing down on the dance floor!
Enjoy a cocktail or meal and dance the summer night away! All are welcome.
Admission: $5 at the door.
Dance ON! Lake Street sessions will continue into September.
X the x — Embroidery Beyond Cross Stitch!
Location
- Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts
- 540 S. Lake Street, Gary IN 46403
Category
From the gold-ornamented vestments of Renaissance churches, to the stylized flowers of ethnic embroideries, to the funky rainbow flash of Hippie costuming, embroidery is one of the most accessible ways to create design. Learn the fundamental stitches that will enable you to produce lines, solid shapes, patterns, and even textures on cloth.
We will supply basic materials: cloth, floss and yarn, needles and hoops, but you are also invited to bring your own fabric and elements to personalize your work.






