If you’re in Fort Wayne this weekend and feeling torn between paddling down the St. Marys River or stuffing your face with gouda-slathered noodles at Parkview Field — you’re not alone.
This Saturday, the city’s calendar is bursting at the seams with events that range from scavenger hunts on water to culinary chaos built entirely around pasta and cheese. And while clouds may hang over the festivities (literally), locals don’t seem too concerned. Fort Wayne is used to a little weather whiplash — and as one organizer put it, “Rain just means more reason to eat faster.”
A Decade of Pedals and Paddles
At precisely 10 a.m., the 10th annual 3Rivers Federal Credit Union: Pedal, Paddle, Play will kick off at Guildin Park. Organized in support of the Northeast Indiana Water Trails initiative, the event blends outdoor recreation, community engagement, and good old-fashioned scavenger hunting into one river-and-trail-based celebration.
Participants can choose between biking Fort Wayne’s scenic land trails or navigating the gentle bends of the St. Marys River — but not both. “We’re trying to prevent overly ambitious adventure fatigue,” joked one volunteer. “Pick a lane — bike or boat.”
For $30 solo or $55 per pair, entrants receive:
-
Entry into the scavenger hunt
-
Access to prize drawings
-
An event T-shirt
-
A commemorative 10th anniversary sticker
Kids under 15 ride free with an adult, making it a family-friendly way to spend the morning.
Fort Wayne Outfitters will offer on-site rentals, but many participants bring their own gear. “It’s more fun when you bring your own slightly rusty kayak,” said longtime attendee Robin H., laughing while strapping a canoe to her aging Subaru.
By noon, the action will drift — or pedal — to Promenade Park, where live music, environmental booths, and cold drinks will greet windblown guests. The Northeast Indiana Water Trails organization, the event’s beneficiary, uses funds raised to improve regional water access, safety, and trail development.
Wait, Is That the Smell of Cheese?
While the fitness crowd gets their bearings upstream, the cheeseheads are queuing downtown.
At 3 p.m., the gates open for the second annual Mac & Cheese Festival at Parkview Field, where more than a dozen vendors will attempt to outdo each other in a battle of molten dairy supremacy. Expect variations ranging from deep-fried mac balls to gourmet truffle-topped spirals that cost more than a decent lunch.
Last year’s runaway hit? The “Pulled Pork Gouda Bomb,” which festival organizers say caused an actual traffic jam at the entrance to the tent. Early buzz this year hints at a spicy ghost pepper mac from a local chef who “doesn’t believe in moderation.”
The festival runs until 8 p.m., and unlike Pedal, Paddle, Play, there’s no fitness requirement. Just an elastic waistband and a loose understanding of personal limits.
But What About the Weather?
With so many outdoor events on the docket, local meteorologist Caleb Saylor had his hands full.
“The weekend will feel very summery,” he said during his Friday evening First Alert segment, “but we are tracking potential storms that could roll in by late Saturday afternoon.”
The breakdown:
| Time | Forecast | Chance of Rain |
|---|---|---|
| Morning (8–11 a.m.) | Partly sunny, humid | 10% |
| Midday (12–2 p.m.) | Warm, increasing clouds | 20% |
| Late Afternoon (3–6 p.m.) | Scattered thunderstorms possible | 40% |
| Evening (6–9 p.m.) | Storm risk remains, muggy | 50% |
Organizers of both events are prepared. “We’ve got tents, we’ve got tarps, and we’ve got a ton of cheese,” said one Mac Fest staffer. “Rain or shine, that cheese is getting eaten.”
Not Just Events: Energy, Distractions, and Dino Auctions
If Fort Wayne’s packed weekend lineup feels like a much-needed release, it probably is. With recent power outages downtown and the searing national headlines of a $30.5 million dinosaur fossil sale — a juvenile Ceratosaurus, no less — some residents say they’re looking for anything to take their minds off the usual.
“I read about that skeleton selling for thirty million,” said Mark DeLaney, sipping a lemonade at Freimann Square. “Meanwhile, I’m here praying my AC kicks back on. At least I’ve got events like this to distract me.”
Star Sightings (Sort of)
Adding to the city’s accidental glamour, Fort Wayne became a brief talking point in entertainment circles this week after photos surfaced of Bengali actor-politician Dev vacationing in Scotland — just after wrapping a shoot in London for the sequel to the hit film Projapoti.
While he wasn’t spotted in Fort Wayne, the buzz from that production oddly overlapped with local excitement, according to a staffer at a downtown Indian café. “People have been asking if he’ll do a tour here,” they laughed. “We told them: ‘Wrong continent — right energy.’”
A City That’s Learning to Celebrate Itself
More than anything, this weekend’s lineup is a snapshot of Fort Wayne at its best: fun, odd, grounded, and increasingly proud of what it can offer.
There’s something refreshing about a city that doesn’t feel the need to pick between boats and cheese. In Fort Wayne, you can have both — and maybe a thunderstorm too.
