Fort Wayne has become known as many new and exciting things over the last decade or so. Certainly its arts community is a thriving one, and the variety of restaurants and cuisines is remarkable for a city of this size. And let’s not forget Fort Wayne’s claim as one of the best minor league sports towns in the country, hosting three teams with recent championships, a baseball park noted as one of the finest around, and a supportive fan base that rivals cities significantly larger.

But before all of that, Fort Wayne was called the City of Churches, not just because of the devout religious people in the area but because many of the churches themselves are architectural wonders.

For those who would like a good excuse to visit some of Fort Wayne’s most beautiful houses of worship — regardless of the denomination — the fourth annual City of Churches Tour is just such an opportunity.

With many of the most beautiful places included, the tour is likely even more inspiring because it’s after dark, when churches feel especially moving, and during the holiday season when the visits will feel particularly meaningful. The list of churches included on the tour are Bethlehem Lutheran, Pilgrim Baptist, Zion Lutheran, St. Peter’s Catholic, Faith United Methodist, Fort Wayne Baptist, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran, Plymouth Congregational, First Presbyterian, Trinity English Lutheran, and Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

The tour takes place on Friday, December 6, from 6 until 10 p.m. With many other arts events and holiday celebrations that weekend, it provides a pleasant opportunity to tour as many of the churches as you can in the time available between and around other holiday happenings.

Party for INvisible Vets

There’s a lot of excitement brewing over New Year’s Eve, and it has a different feel than many of the more typical celebrations. Fever for a new Roaring Twenties is growing, and there are already a couple of great events that capture that spirit.

Invisible Vets is hosting an event and fundraiser called Roaring into the ’20s New Year’s Eve which puts the spotlight firmly on the flapper and dapper among us. With heavy hors d’oeurves, a cash bar, champagne toast at midnight and entertainment provided by Fort Wayne Funk Orchestra, the event, hosted at the Yolo Event Center on North Wells, also provides free admission to nearby Flashback Live where the party will continue well into New Year’s Day.

Tickets are $50-$80 and are available at eventbrite.com.

Three Rivers Music Theatre Event

Also that evening is a similar event hosted by the Three Rivers Music Theatre. Back to the Roaring ’20s is being called “a night of unspeakable fun” with vaudeville and burlesque performances adding to the celebratory atmosphere along with hors d’oeurves, cash bar, champagne toast, and ’20s costume contest. There will also be a prize filled Balloon Drop Pop to add to the festivities.

Attire from the ’20s is encouraged but not required to tap into a Gatsby-like world of fun, music, and dance as only a theater company can provide. Tickets are $50 per person or $75 per couple and are available at threeriversmusictheatre.com.