Whether you’ve lived in Fort Wayne for 60 years, or 6 months, chances are there is something new to take in. Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometown might be your chance to discover (or rediscover) Fort Wayne attractions.

And on Sunday, September 9th, from 12 noon – 5 pm, you can visit 12 of Fort Wayne’s museums and attractions for free!

Here’s how the program works:

1. Pick up a passport at any Fort Wayne Scott’s, Kroger, or Tower Bank location. Or download a one-page passport online.

2. On Sunday, September 9th, you will be able to visit 12 of Fort Wayne’s participating attractions and museums – FOR FREE! Just use your passport to gain free admission to all attractions listed within – one passport good for entire party.

So what can you expect? Participating attractions include African/African-American History Museum, Allen County Courthouse, Artlink, Embassy Theatre, Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, History Center, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Parkview Field, Science Central, The Lincoln Tower, Historic Fort Wayne and Visit Fort Wayne Visitors Center.

Insider’s Note: Don’t forget your camera. There will be plenty of photo opps!

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Waynedale Bakery has breakfast covered, and some board games to top it off.

Grandparents, if you’re looking for fun things to do for the day with your elementary-aged grandchildren, look no further than locations on Fort Wayne’s south side and downtown area.

8-9 am: Waynedale Bakery (2610 Lower Huntington Road, www.waynedalebakery.com) not only sells donuts, but has tables and board games available for people to use while munching.

9-10 am: Visit Allen County Public Library’s children’s section (900 Library Plaza; http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/). Each child could pick a favorite title and Grandma could look for one of her own to read to them (maybe a chapter from Nancy Drew?). The places to sit in this area are comfortable for all ages for a personal story time. Dunkin Donuts at the other end of the main hall offers children’s books for sale at 25 cents. Bargain! Another bargain is free street parking on weekends.

The Firefighter’s Museum is a great place to bring kids close to the world of firefighting.

10-11 am:  Visit the Firefighter’s Museum (226 W Washington Blvd) next door to the library. Kids can get up close and personal with fire trucks on first floor and learn fire prevention tips on the second floor. The iron lung may intrigue older kids to learn more about polio and how firefighters helped polio patients from the past.

11-12 noon: Within a few blocks of the downtown area is a plethora of fast food restaurants. Lincoln Tower Soda Fountain (116 E Berry St) with ice cream treats are sure to delight kiddies. They serve delicious sandwiches. Afterward, step into the Lincoln Tower bank to gaze at the art deco adorning its walls. Gorgeous!

12 noon-1pm: During the week, the Allen County courthouse is open for visitors to stroll through. Remember to leave your cell phone in the car as they are not allowed in the courthouse.

1-2 pm: A quick nap might be in order for kiddies with a blanket on the grass at Freimann Square (200 East Main Street) while Grandma reads a book on a bench.

2-3 pm: Fort Wayne Youtheatre at Arts United Center (303 E Main Street) has afternoon performances beginning in October. The first show of the season is ‘Adventures of Huck Finn’. Sure to be a crowd-pleaser! Ticket office: 260.422.6900 or www.fortwayneyoutheatre.org.

Note: If you need a downtown map, the Visitor Center is open on Saturdays from 9am-4pm through September.

You’re probably all exhausted, but it’s been a fun, memorable day. Be sure to photograph your multi-generational day together and plan for the next one starting now!

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Mark your calendar now. One of Fort Wayne’s must-attend events is just around the corner. The annual Taste of the Arts — a community-wide fundraising project to benefit artist-in-residence programs at local schools — takes place on Saturday, August 25 in downtown Fort Wayne.

This free event is family-friendly and features samplings of food from more than 30 area restaurants. In addition, there is an art show and sale, hands-on activities for children and live performances and music. The only cost — food and beverage tickets are $1 each. Depending on the item, multiple tickets may be needed for a purchase.

A full list of participating restaurants will become available in the coming weeks. Participants at the 2011 event included local favorites such as:

•    Acme
•    B. Antonio’s Pizza
•    Carlos O’Kelly’s Mexican Café
•    Club Soda
•    Cracker Jack Catering
– Chef Mike Bentz
•    Dawson’s Dogs
•    Friendly Fox
•    Friends Greek Restaurants
•    Hall’s Gas House and Hall’s Takes the Cake
•    JK O’Donnell’s
•    Madeleine’s Bakehouse
•    Stellhorn Subway
•    The Venice Restaurant
•    Vince’s
•    Waiter on the Way
•    Yum Mee’s Bakery

Taste of the Arts is from noon to 7 p.m. at the Arts United Center at 303 E. Main St. The “party after the taste” goes until 10 p.m. and includes performances by local bands, dance troupes, choirs, string quartets and more! There will also be more food and beverages available for purchase. In addition, number of local non-profit and arts-related groups will have displays throughout the event.

For locals, there is still time to get involved with this year’s event: sign up to be a participating restaurant, sign up to volunteer, sign up for the art marketplace — and more! Additional details are available online. Don’t forget to follow Taste of the Arts on Facebook too! Taste of the Arts is presented by Arts United and a number of local sponsors.

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Parkview Field is one of my favorite places to be on a warm summer evening. The view, the community camaraderie, and of course, TinCaps baseball, make for an unmatched family-friendly experience in downtown Fort Wayne.

But perhaps the best part of the experience is the food. Though it’s probably not the first thing people think about when heading out for a night at the baseball diamond, the food selection at Parkview Field is extensive and mouth-watering. Forget the peanuts and crackerjacks, though those are available, here are some of my favorite menu items.

Made-to-order burritos, J. Chapman’s salad, hummus and veggies, Philly cheese steak, BBQ brisket sandwich, and Italian Sausage with pepper and onions top the list. If you are a dessert lover, you have to try the apple dumplings, the apple crisp ala mode, or the hand-dipped ice cream. Kids can find something on the menu too from hot dogs and cotton candy to Dippin’ Dots and elephant ears.

Not interested in dinner? Try the fresh squeezed lemonade, a variety of frozen drinks or a Starbucks mocha latte. For the over 21 crowd, Parkview Field offers a large selection of domestic beers, including selections from Mad Anthony Brewing Company. Not a beer fan? Enjoy wine from Satek Winery, a variety of mixed and frozen cocktails, or Mike’s hard lemonade.

Whatever your tastes buds crave, you can probably find it on the menu at one of the many concession stands at Parkview Field. There are still a few weeks left to enjoy baseball downtown. Check out the full schedule online and make plans to take the family before the seasons change.

And, check out Connor’s take on the food offerings below, in one of our Tour Fort Wayne videos.

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I consider myself the ultimate food enthusiast. That’s why Taste of the Arts is one of my favorite Fort Wayne events. It brings art, entertainment and food to downtown Fort Wayne for one jam-packed day.

On Saturday, August 25, the Arts United Center and Main street come alive with music, street performers, theater, dance, art, and over 30 local restaurant vendors.

Taste of the Arts will feature “Busker Square”  with street performers showing their talents all day.

Now in its 4th year, Taste of the Arts will feature more indoor stages than in the past and a stage dedicated to electronic music in the Fort Wayne Museum of Art sculpture garden. This year also marks the first year that Fort Wayne’s award-winning Voices of Unity choir will provide entertainment to attendees. There are also a handful of new restaurants participating this year, including Downtown Deli, Honey on the Table, and Higher Grounds STAR. Mad Anthony Brewing Company, JK O’Donnell’s, and Baker Street will be on hand serving beer and wine. For a full list of vendors, check out the vendor list.

Taste of the Arts will also feature “Busker Square,” sponsored by the Downtown Improvement District. Did you miss BuskerFest earlier this year? Here’s your chance to see what you missed. Acts will run throughout the day. And here’s where the art comes in: the Art Marketplace will feature a wide range of paintings, photos, pottery, jewelry and more, all from local and regional artists.

The best part? Taste of the Arts is a fundraiser. So while you are enjoying yourself, you are doing so for a good cause: Arts United, which provides essential services and financial support to the regional arts community by raising over a million dollars each year and granting it back to the community.

Over 30 local restaurant vendors provide the taste element, giving a wide range of options to all attendees.

Wait, this is the best part: Admission is FREE! Tickets are available for food and beverages for $1 each. Most items range from 1-4 tickets. For more information, visit the Ticket page.

No, wait, this is the best part: Dessert! The party after the Taste will feature a great line up of bands, along with more food and beverages!

For a full schedule, visit Taste of the Arts’ website.

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