Thursday, November 13th, 2025
Good morning, Fort Wayne. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 13th of November.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Today, the Fort Wayne TinCaps will start the Parkview Holiday Lights event at the ballpark with 1.5 million lights running for 44 nights until January 3—new displays, music, train rides, and a visit from Johnny Claus add to the festive atmosphere while ticket prices stay the same. US 93.3
- ➤ Starting Monday, November 17, The Salvation Army of Allen County is expanding its food pantry hours for the holiday season and will serve families every Monday and Tuesday at 12 p.m.—service is on a first-come, first-served basis, except on December 15, 16, and 22, and will continue until year-end. 21Alive
- ➤ Sam Hayward, a World War II veteran, celebrated his 100th birthday on Veterans Day at his Fort Wayne retirement home—Bethlehem Woods—where fellow veterans were also honored. His grandson Garry Edwards said the celebration recognized a lifetime of overcoming hardships from joining the Navy at 17 to facing discrimination during wartime. WOWO
- ➤ Visit Fort Wayne is hosting a Holiday Lights Challenge through December 31 — community members can check in at 19 holiday light displays with a free digital pass to earn points for exclusive prizes. 21Alive
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Fort Wayne’s Komets General Manager David Franke carries on his family tradition by supporting the longstanding Christmas on Broadway event—he follows in the footsteps of his brothers Richard and Michael and recalls cherished holiday memories from his youth. He said the celebration honors loved ones while keeping local traditions alive. 21Alive
- ➤ The History Center’s 40th Annual Festival of Gingerbread will begin November 28 and run through December 21—celebrating its Ruby Anniversary with themed décor and gingerbread creations. It will feature special events such as Lighting Night on November 26 and Food Drive Admission Night on December 2—offering varied admission prices and extended hours. Around Fort Wayne
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Eco Fest will host a sustainable gift wrapping workshop on December 11 from 6:00—7:00 p.m. at the Mezzanine at Electric Works. Attendees should bring a fabric square and may donate $5 for practice supplies—registration is encouraged but not required. Around Fort Wayne
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ City Utilities closed Spring Street between Wells and Short starting Wednesday due to a broken pipe that damaged the road — crews are restoring the street and drivers must use a detour via Wells, Sherman Boulevard, and West State Boulevard until it reopens. US 93.3
- ➤ The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration announced a plan to reform Medicaid-funded ABA therapy for children with autism to keep quality high and costs in check after steep spending rises since 2017. The plan—developed by a working group with public input—will be put into action as FSSA works with families, providers, and insurers to ensure a smooth transition. WOWO
- ➤ Leaders including U.S. Senator Jim Banks and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth met in Fort Wayne for the two-day Northeast Indiana Defense Summit — a forum to discuss national security and the role of our region in defense. The event connected defense experts and local business leaders to explore future opportunities that could enhance our area's contributions to national safety. WOWO
- ➤ Fire officials warned that as colder weather sets in, residents may use space heaters and stoves in dangerous ways—risks that can prove deadly—and urged calling 311 for safe heating practices. The safety advice aims to prevent winter fire hazards as temperatures drop further. WFFT-TV
- ➤ The Indiana Department of Homeland Security reminds Hoosiers about a safe room rebate program offered through FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant Program (helping protect homes from tornado winds) that is open for applications through Nov 30. The program will randomly select 33 homeowners and reimburse 75 percent of installation costs up to $5,000 (covering both new constructions and room conversions) to help increase home safety. 21Alive
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Today, Purdue Fort Wayne Women's Basketball secured its first win against Purdue in front of Mastodon and Boilermaker fans. The landmark game (a historic first for the program) boosts team confidence for the season ahead. WFFT-TV
- ➤ Fort Wayne native 15-year-old Cami Wood won a gold medal with Team USA sitting volleyball at the 2025 Youth Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile from Oct. 31 to Nov. 9 and earned MVP and Best Attacker honors as her team beat Brazil 2-1 (20–25, 25–23, 26–24); she also plays high school volleyball, club volleyball and adaptive sitting volleyball locally. 21Alive
-
Boney James Live
7-9:30 p.m. — Clyde Theatre — Tickets starting at $39.50 — Experience the smooth sounds of saxophonist Boney James in an intimate live performance.
-
Zakk Wylde Live
6:00–8:30 p.m. — Clyde Theatre — Starting at $35 — Experience Zakk Wylde's electrifying tribute to Black Sabbath with classic rock anthems and powerful performances.
-
Youth Orchestras Fall Concert
4-6 p.m. — PFW Music Center — Ticket purchase required — Enjoy the impressive talents of young musicians in a professional orchestra setting.
-
RHCSA Exam Prep Training
Nov 17-21 — Enspire Training — $2250 — Fast-paced Linux system administration course aimed at RHCSA certification preparation.
-
A Motown Christmas
7-8:30 p.m. — Embassy Theatre — Cost not listed — Experience a festive show blending Motown classics with holiday favorites in a spectacular evening for the whole family.
-
Gabriel Iglesias Live Performance
8:00-9:30 p.m. — Allen County War Memorial Coliseum — Ticket prices vary — Experience the laughter of one of the highest grossing comedians in the world.
-
Bishop Hezekiah Walker at S.O.U.L. Fest 2025
8-9:30 p.m. — Clyde Theatre — Starting at $27 — Experience a soul-stirring celebration of faith, music, and community with renowned gospel artist Hezekiah Walker.
-
Northrop Holiday Craft Bazaar
9 a.m. — Northrop High School — Free entry — Explore local crafts and enjoy delicious concessions at this festive bazaar.
-
Father-Son Golf Tournament
12-6 p.m. — Urban Golf — Registration required — Bring your swing and your son for a day of friendly competition and bonding on the greens.
-
emPower Breakfast Networking Event
6:40-8:40 a.m. — Fort Wayne Country Club — Networking opportunity — Connect with local entrepreneurs at this inspiring monthly breakfast gathering.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout Fort Wayne Today
Welcome to the Fort Wayne Today, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Fort Wayne, Indiana community. If you like the Fort Wayne Today, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Fort Wayne.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Fort Wayne and across Indiana. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Fort Wayne Today
A free Fort Wayne community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://fortwaynetoday.com/sitemap