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Your national park adventure begins here!
Get in the know with our current programs and events listed below, which is updated about mid-month. You can also check out our yearly main events listed near the bottom of this page. All events are subject to change without notice.
Just looking for something else to do here at the park? Visit our Things To Do page to learn about many of our outdoor activities. Remember, safety is of upmost importance. Please take all necessary precautions when venturing outdoors. For more information, visit our Safety page.
National Park passes are required. For more information, visit our Fees and Passes page.
October 2026 Activities
Indiana Dunes National Park has an entrance fee of $25 per car for a 1–7-day pass. A $45 annual pass for the national park is also available. Please purchase passes or pay the entrance fee at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, Paul H. Douglas Center, West Beach Entrance Station or at Rec.gov. Veterans/Military/Gold Star Family, Access, and 4th Grade passes are available for free. For more information on national park passes visit the fees & passes page.
Fee Free Day:
Date: Tuesday, October 27, Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthday
Important Notices
- Programming subject to change or cancellation due to inclement weather or staffing levels.
Weekday Activity
Super Kids Scavenger Hunt
- Location: Paul H. Douglas Center
- Dates: Wednesdays through Sundays in October
- Time: 9:30 AM–3:30 PM
- Explore the Nature Play Zone, view dune-related artwork, and hike the Pollinator Trail as part of this activity.
Friday Activity
Music Heritage Series Concert
- Location: Indiana Dunes Visitor Center
- Date: Friday, October 16
- Time: 7:30–9:00 PM
- Enjoy an evening of folk music with The Save the Tunes Council, local musicians who keep traditional songs alive with classic instruments.
Saturday Activities
Chellberg Farm Open House
- Location: Chellberg Farm
- Dates: Every Saturday in October
- Time: 1:00–3:00 PM
- Stop by the historic Chellberg Farm to tour the farmhouse and visit the animals. Volunteers will be on site to share the area’s history.
Miller Woods Hike
- Location: Paul H. Douglas Center vestibule
- Dates: Every Saturday in October except October 24
- Time: 1:00–3:00 PM
- Meet at the Paul H. Douglas Center for a ranger-led hike through Miller Woods on the Paul H. Douglas Trail to the shore of Lake Michigan.
- The hike passes through a globally rare black oak savanna and around towering sand dunes and interdunal wetlands.
Fall Colors Hike
- Location: Chellberg Farm parking lot
- Dates: Saturday, October 24, and Saturday, October 31
- Time: 3:30–4:30 PM
- Meander through the historic landscape with a ranger to learn about the vibrant fall colors of the region’s hardwood forests.
Bailly Cemetery History Hike
- Location: Chellberg Farm parking lot
- Date: Saturday, October 31
- Time: 5:00–6:00 PM
- Join volunteers and staff for an evening hike through the grounds of Bailly Cemetery and learn about the cemetery’s history.
Bug Out in the Park!*
- Location: Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education
- Date: Saturday, October 31
- Time: 11:00 am–2:00 pm
- Creep, crawl, and scuttle over for a Halloween adventure at Indiana Dunes National Park! Join Field Museum entomologist Jim Louderman, also known as the “Insect Guy”, for a fascinating look at the world of insects. Bonus: Meet his new tarantulas up close!
Sundays
Critter Time Open House
- Location: Paul H. Douglas Center
- Schedule: Every Sunday
- Time: 1:30–2:00 PM
- Learn about the ambassador animals at the Douglas Center, including why they are special, what they eat, where they live, and how park staff cares for them.
Breakfast with the Birds
- Location: Paul H. Douglas Center
- Schedule: First Sunday of the month—October 4
- Time: 9:30–11:00 AM
- Join the Dunes-Calumet Audubon Society for a casual morning of learning about birds, their habits, and their habitats.
Chellberg Farm Open House*
- Location: Chellberg Farm
- Schedule: Every Saturday
- Time: 1:00–3:00 PM
- Stop by the historic Chellberg Farm to tour the farmhouse and visit the animals. Volunteers will be on-site to share the area’s history.
Bailly Homestead Furs to Farm Flashback*
- Location: Chellberg Farmhouse and Bailly Homestead
- Schedule: Every Sunday in October
- Time: 1:00–3:00 PM
- Take a self-guided hike through time and meet rangers and volunteers stationed at two of the park’s historic sites.
- At the Bailly Homestead, view the main house, chapel, and fur traders’ cabin while learning about the area’s early settlers. At the historic Chellberg Farm, tour the farmhouse and visit the animals.
- Rangers and volunteers will be available at each location to share the area’s history.
Education and Outreach
- Ranger-Guided Education and Outreach Programs
- Location: Paul H. Douglas Center
- Schedule: Dates and times vary by request in October, November, and December
- Schools and organizations can request a ranger-guided program in the park or ask a ranger to visit their location.
- Visit our Education Page for more information and instructions on requesting a program.
- Ranger-led programs are available only on Wednesday afternoons, Thursdays, and Fridays.
- For questions, call 219-395-1824. Scheduling cannot be completed by phone.
Volunteering—Drop In
Trash Trekkers
- Locations: Indiana Dunes Visitor Center and Paul H. Douglas Center
- Visitor Center schedule: Daily
- Visitor Center hours: 9:00 AM–3:30 PM
- Douglas Center schedule: Wednesday–Sunday
- Douglas Center hours: 9:00 AM–3:30 PM
- Join the drop-in litter cleanup. Check in at the Visitor Center for supplies, choose a beach or trail, and start collecting.
- Fill your bag to earn a free reusable water bottle. Place collected trash in on-site bins.
Porter Beach Restoration
- Location: Porter Beach parking lot
- Date: Saturday, October 3
- Time: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Work with staff and fellow volunteers to care for your national park.
- Equipment will be provided. Bring your energy and love for the outdoors.
- RSVP: 219-221-7098 or indu_volunteer@nps.gov
Drop-In Volunteering: Chellberg Farm Care
- Location: Chellberg Farm parking lot
- Schedule: Every third Saturday of the month—October 17
- Time: 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Work with a ranger and fellow volunteers to care for the park’s historic farm.
- Dress comfortably and be ready to roll up your sleeves. Work gloves and equipment will be provided.
Additional Notes
*These programs are sponsored by the Friends of Indiana Dunes.
More information at dunefriends.org.
November-December 2026 Activities
Indiana Dunes National Park has an entrance fee of $25 per car for a 1–7-day pass. A $45 annual pass for the national park is also available. Please purchase passes or pay the entrance fee at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, Paul H. Douglas Center, West Beach Entrance Station or at Rec.gov. Veterans/Military/Gold Star Family, Access, and 4th Grade passes are available for free. For more information on national park passes visit the fees & passes page.
Fee Free Day:
Date: U.S. Veterans Day (Nov 11)
Important Notices
- Programming subject to change or cancellation due to inclement weather or staffing levels.
Weekday Programs
Super Kids Scavenger Hunt
- Date: Wednesday through Sunday in November and December
- Time: 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- Location: Paul H. Douglas Center
- Description: Explore the Nature Play Zone, view dune-related artwork, and hike the Pollinator Trail.
Music Heritage Series Concert
- Dates: Friday, November 20 and Friday, December 18
- Time: 7:30–9:00 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Dunes Visitor Center
- Description: Enjoy folk music with the Save the Tunes Council and local musicians who keep traditional songs alive with classic instruments.
Indiana Dunes National Park Happy 60th Anniversary Film
- Date: Thursday, November 5
- Time: 2:00–3:00 p.m.
- Location: Paul H. Douglas Center
- Description: Celebrate the park’s 60th birthday with a showing of Shifting Sands: On the Path to Sustainability, a film about the Indiana Dunes landscape, industry, environmental battles, and the creation of America’s first urban national park. Celebratory cake will be served.
Veterans Day Film
- Date: Wednesday, November 11
- Time: 2:00–3:00 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Dunes Visitor Center
- Description: Watch Flying for Freedom: Untold Stories of the Tuskegee Airmen, a documentary about the pilots’ World War II service and their fight for justice at home.
Black Friday Opt-Outside Hike
- Date: Friday, November 27
- Time: 1:00–3:00 p.m.
- Location: West Beach Parking Lot
- Description: Join a ranger and regional experts for a post-Thanksgiving hike co-sponsored by Save the Dunes. The Succession Trail is closed for construction; all other trails will be open.
Saturday Programs
Chellberg Farm Open House
- Dates: Every Saturday in November and December
- Time: 1:00–3:00 p.m.
- Location: Chellberg Farm
- Description: Tour the historic farmhouse, visit the animals, and learn about the area’s history from volunteers.
Foliage to Frost Hiking Series
- Schedule:
- Saturday, November 7 at 8:00 a.m.—Paul H. Douglas Trail at Miller Woods, 3.5 miles. Meet at the trailhead parking lot.
- Saturday, November 14 at 8:00 a.m.—Kemil Beach Parking Lot, 3.8 miles.
- Saturday, November 21 at 8:00 a.m.—Glenwood Dunes Parking Lot, 7 miles.
- Description: Join park docents for seasonal hikes through oak savannas and along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The series runs from October through March.
Winter Maritime Wanderers
- Dates: Saturday, November 7 and Saturday, December 5
- Time: 8:30–10:30 a.m.
- Location: Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk Pavilion
- Description: Join Dunes-Calumet Audubon birders to identify waterbirds on and over Lake Michigan. Bring binoculars and chairs, and prepare for winter weather.
Miller Woods Hike
- Dates: Every Saturday in November and December, except December 5
- Time: 1:00–3:00 p.m.
- Location: Paul H. Douglas Center vestibule
- Description: Join a ranger-led hike on the Paul H. Douglas Trail to Lake Michigan through black oak savanna, sand dunes, and interdunal wetlands.
Fall Colors Hike
- Date: Saturday, November 7
- Time: 3:30–4:30 p.m.
- Location: Chellberg Farm Parking Lot
- Description: Walk with a ranger through the historic landscape and learn about the fall colors of the region’s hardwood forests.
Turkey Trot
- Date: Saturday, November 28
- Time: 1:00–3:00 p.m.
- Location: Calumet Dunes Parking Lot
- Description: Explore the Marquette Greenway Trail with a ranger while looking for wild turkeys and other native wildlife.
Flintknapping Demonstration and Archeology Junior Ranger
- Date: Saturday, November 21
- Time: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Location: Paul H. Douglas Center
- Description: In honor of Native American Heritage Month, watch a flintknapping demonstration and learn how stone tools are shaped. Children may complete the Archeology Junior Ranger program and earn a badge.
Holiday Traditions Celebration at Indiana Dunes National Park
- Date: Saturday, December 5
- Time: 1:00–3:00 p.m.
- Location: Meet at Chellberg Farm Parking Lot; activities are at Chellberg Farm, Bailly Homestead, and Goodfellow Lodge.
- Description: Celebrate with Swedish and French-Canadian holiday songs, camp sing-alongs, farmhouse decorations, and crafts. This program is sponsored by the Friends of Indiana Dunes.
Sunday Programs
Critter Time Open House
- Date: Every Sunday
- Time: 1:30–2:00 p.m.
- Location: Paul H. Douglas Center
- Description: Learn about the center’s ambassador animals, including what they eat, where they live, and how park staff care for them.
Breakfast with the Birds
- Dates: First Sunday of the month; November 1 and December 6
- Time: 9:30–11:00 a.m.
- Location: Paul H. Douglas Center
- Description: Join the Dunes-Calumet Audubon Society for a casual morning of learning about birds, their behavior, and their habitats.
Chellberg Farm Open House
- Dates: Every Sunday in November and December
- Time: 1:00–3:00 p.m.
- Location: Chellberg Farm
- Description: Tour the historic farmhouse, visit the animals, and learn about the area’s history from volunteers.
Fall Colors Hike
- Dates: Sunday, November 1 and Sunday, November 8
- Time: 3:30–4:30 p.m.
- Location: Chellberg Farm Parking Lot
- Description: Walk with a ranger through the historic landscape and learn about the fall colors of the region’s hardwood forests.
Gales of November Shipwreck Program
- Date: Sunday, November 22
- Time: 1:00–2:00 p.m.
- Location: Indiana Dunes Visitor Center
- Description: Learn about Great Lakes storms and historic shipwrecks.
Education and Outreach
- Ranger-Guided Education and Outreach Programs
- Dates and times: Vary by request in November and December. Ranger-led programs are available Wednesday afternoons, Thursdays, and Fridays.
- Location: Programs may be held in the park or at a requesting school or organization.
- How to request: Visit the Education page for information and instructions. Call 219-395-1824 with questions. Programs cannot be scheduled by phone.
Volunteer Opportunities
Trash Trekkers
- Indiana Dunes Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- Paul H. Douglas Center: Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- Description: Check in for supplies, choose a beach or trail, and collect litter. Fill a bag to earn a reusable water bottle. Leave collected trash in on-site bins.
Porter Beach Restoration
- Dates: Saturday, November 7 and Saturday, December 5
- Time: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Location: Porter Beach Parking Lot
- Description: Work with staff and volunteers to care for the park. Equipment is provided.
- RSVP: Call 219-221-7098 or email indu_volunteer@nps.gov.
Drop-In Volunteering: Chellberg Farm Care
- Dates: Third Saturday of the month; November 21 and December 19
- Time: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Location: Chellberg Farm Parking Lot
- Description: Work with a ranger and other volunteers to care for the historic farm. Dress comfortably. Work gloves and equipment are provided.
Additional Notes
*These programs are sponsored by the Friends of Indiana Dunes.
More information at dunefriends.org.
Yearly Main Events
These are our largest park events that encompass multiple ranger-led interpretive activities and presentations, which draw thousands of visitors each year.
Maple Sugar Time Festival: First weekend in March
Enjoy a sweet taste of spring during the annual Maple Sugar Time festival. Take a self-guided tour of the sugaring operation at historic Chellberg Farm which will be bustling with maple sugaring activities.
Logs to Lustrons Tour: First Saturday in May
From rustic landmarks to Mid-Century Modern, experience a century of architecture at Indiana Dunes National Park (IDNP) on our Logs to Lustrons tour, including log structures of early settlement days, frame homes from the Victorian period, and mid-century homes of glass, stucco, and metal.
Indiana Dunes Birding Festival: Third weekend in May
Hosted by Indiana Audubon, the national park plays an important role in this the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival. This incredible four-day event showcases dozens of birding spots around the region with expert led outings.
Indiana Dunes Outdoor Adventure Festival: Early September
The OAF showcases the region’s natural and cultural significance through activities such as hiking, paddling, biking, photography, birding, and others.
Century of Progress Homes Tour: Last weekend in September
Join national park rangers for a two-hour tour of five historic homes from the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. Advance reservation only. There is a fee. Visit IndianaLandmarks.org or call (317) 822-7923. Tickets go on sale early in August and usually sell out within one hour.
For more information on events and other programs at Indiana Dunes National Park, contact us or call (219) 395-1882.
For a different view of upcoming park events, visit our Calendar page.
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