In partnership with
In this Highland Local Scoop Issue…
Wednesday, Sept. 30: Mostly cloudy with occasional showers - High 72° / Low 59°.
Thursday, Oct. 1: Periods of rain - High 71° / Low 55°.
Friday, Oct. 2: Morning rain tapering off, then clouds giving way to some sun - High 66° / Low 49°.
Saturday, Oct. 3: Clouds and sun - High 66° / Low 49°
Sunday, Oct. 4: Mostly sunny - High 67° / Low 48°
Highland Local Events for…
Wednesday, September 30
4:00 PM - HHS Tennis (Boys V) - Sectional Semifinal - at Highland High School
5:00 PM - HHS Soccer (Boys JV) vs Hobart HS - at 2211 E 10th St, Hobart
5:00 PM - HMS Cross Country vs Lowell Middle School - at Highland Middle School
5:15 PM - HMS Volleyball vs Clark Middle School - at 8915 W 93rd Ave St John
5:30 PM (Line up at 5:00 PM) Highland High School’s Homecoming Parade- Traveling through downtown Highland to Main Square Park.
6:00 PM - HMS Football vs Hanover Central Jr-Sr High School - at Highland Middle School
6:00 - 9:00 PM Miller’s Pain & Palette Paint Party - at The Green Witch Cafe 2845 Highway Ave., Highland
7:00 PM - HHS Soccer (Boys V) vs Hobart HS - at 2211 E 10th St, Hobart
Thursday, October 1
9 AM - 6 PM - Women's Guild Fabulous Fall Rummage & Bake Sale - St. James Church 9640 Kennedy Ave,, Highland
10:30 AM - Storytime: Ages 4-6 - at Highland Branch Library
3:00 PM - Book Discussion: Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman - at Highland Branch Library
4:00 PM - HHS Tennis (Boys V) - Sectional Championship (if Highland advances) - at Highland High School
5:00 PM - HHS Soccer (Girls JV) vs Valparaiso HS - at Valparaiso HS, Valparaiso
5:15 PM - HMS Volleyball vs Whiting Middle School - Highland Middle School
5:30 PM - HHS Volleyball (Girls JV) vs Hobart - at Highland High School
6:00 PM - Yoga for the Body, Mind, and Soul - Trinity Healing Center, 3145 45th St Suite A, Highland
6:00 PM - HHS Football (Boys Fr) vs Munster HS - at Munster HS, Munster
6:30 PM - HHS Volleyball (Girls V) vs Hobart - at Highland High School
7:30 PM - HHS Soccer (Girls V) vs Valparaiso HS - at Valparaiso HS, Valparaiso
Friday, October 2
7:00 PM (Check-in 5:30-6:45 PM) - 4th Annual Fright Ride - Starts and Ends at Main Square Park, Highland
7:00 PM - HHS Homecoming Football (Boys V) vs Munster - at Highland High School
Saturday, October 3
7:30 AM Mid- America Pop Warner Princess Gala 2026 Cheer & Dance Showcase Featuring Highland Pop Warner Cheerleaders - at the LaPorte Civic Auditorium, 1001 Ridge St
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Highland Fire Department Open House & Car Show, Highway Ave is closed
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Handmade Highland and Farmer’s Market- at 10202 Kennedy Ave
Races begin 9:30 AM - HMS Cross Country - Indiana Middle School Championships - at LaVern Gibson Championship Course, Terre Haute
10:00 AM - HHS Football (Boys JV) vs Munster HS - at Munster HS, Munster
10:00 AM - HHS Cross Country (Boys V) - NCC Conference Meet - at Lowell Senior High School
10:00 AM - HHS Cross Country (Girls V) - NCC Conference Meet - at Lowell Senior High School
11:00 AM - 2026 Northwest Indiana Out of the Darkness Walk - Wicker Memorial Park, Highland
11:00 AM - Reading to the Dogs - at Highland Branch Library
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Gong Bath - Trinity Healing Center, 3145 W 45th St Ste A Highland
Sunday, October 4
7:00 AM - 11:00 AM - Blue Top Monthly Swap Meet - Highland (8801 Indianapolis Blvd)
2-4 pm - 4th Annual “Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun” Jubilee - at 8201 Kennedy Avenue, Suite B, Highland
4:00 PM - Blue Top Live Music - 8801 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland
.
Do you own a business that serves Highland residents?
Part of building this newsletter in public means being honest about how it makes money, and sponsorships are one of the ways it does. Sponsors pay to put their offer in front of you, and every time you read or click one, it helps fund the work we do to get this free newsletter in your inbox daily.
Here's our promise: I'll only ever run a sponsor I genuinely believe is relevant and helpful to you. If it can't earn its place, it doesn't go in. With that said, here's today's sponsor.
Replace 16 supplements in one daily drink.
David Beckham. Giannis Antetokounmpo. Aryna Sabalenka. Inter Miami CF. The world's best choose IM8 because performance starts with what you do every day.
Daily Ultimate Essentials and Longevity deliver a complete, clinically formulated system for energy, digestion, sleep, focus and healthy aging. In a 12-week randomized controlled trial, 95% felt a boost in daily energy, 85% felt less bloated with better digestion, 80% reported better sleep and 75% reported sharper focus and mental clarity.
IM8 is NSF Certified for Sport, tested against 280+ banned substances and recommended by 300+ clinicians. With 50 million servings sold across 46 countries, discover the IM8 routine trusted at the highest levels of sport—and built for everyday life. See the clinical results.
Arrenello’s Pizza has built a loyal following around its signature sweet pizza sauce, a recipe that dates back to founder Rich Matokar’s original 1972 gamble. Illustration created for Highland Local Scoop’s Wednesday Rewind.
The Great Pizza Sauce Gamble That Paid Off
Local Legend
Is it true there is a local pizzeria that deliberately uses sweet sauce instead of savory? It is completely true, and locals are fiercely loyal to it!
Arrenello's Pizza, which operates a beloved location right here in Highland, has been famous for its highly unusual sweet pizza sauce since founder Rich Matokar first opened the business in 1972.
Matokar admitted it was a huge culinary risk to put sweet sauce on a pizza, but the unexpected tang was a massive hit that built a regional pizza empire.
Location is in Highland in Brumm’s Plaza at 2556 45th St.
Wicker Memorial Park officially reopened September 28 after extensive cleanup from the August 11 derecho, though the golf course remains closed until further notice. Image courtesy of the North Township Trustee..
Wicker Memorial Park Reopens After Derecho Cleanup
Wicker Memorial Park officially reopened Monday, September 28, after weeks of cleanup and repairs following the August 11 derecho. The storm caused widespread damage throughout the park and golf course, leading to an extended closure while crews worked to make the grounds safe again.
North Township officials credited park staff, the Town of Munster, and the Little Calumet River Basin Commission for helping with the recovery effort. While the park is once again open to visitors, the golf course remains closed until further notice.
The reopening comes just in time for several fall events, including the Out of the Darkness Walk on October 3, the Salzeider Family Charity Oktoberfest on October 10, and Pints in the Park on October 17. After a long recovery, Wicker Memorial Park is once again ready to welcome the community back.
Lucy's Barbecue is preparing to open in Highland at 2904 W. 45th St., bringing pitmaster Nick Kleutsch's barbecue back to Northwest Indiana. Illustration created for Highland Local Scoop..
Lucy's Barbecue Is Coming to Highland
Barbecue lovers, get ready! Pitmaster Nick Kleutsch is bringing Lucy's Barbecue back, this time to Highland.
His original Lucy's in Lowell, named after his rescue dog, closed in 2024, and Kleutsch has spent the time since as chef at Chicago's Sanders BBQ, a James Beard Award finalist that made the New York Times' list of the top 50 restaurants in the country.
Now he's aiming for a mid-October opening at 2904 W. 45th St., the longtime home of the Town Club.
Kleutsch has had a few years to rethink the concept and says the new Lucy's will be designed as an easygoing small town restuarant everything from weeknight dinners to casual drinks with friends. The Highland location is targeting a mid-October opening, and we'll share the official date as soon as it's announced.
Sources: NWI Times and WTTW's fall restaurant roundup
Talk soon,
Shannah Holt
Founder & Publisher, Highland Local Scoop