Current Programs and Events

 

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.

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June, July, & August 2025 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 www.recreation.gov/sitepass/indu. Veterans/Military/Gold Star Family, Access, and 4^th Grade passes are available for free. For more information on national park passes visit the fees & passes page.

• Fee-free days: Juneteenth (June 19) and the Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act (August 4). Fee free days only apply to locations within Indiana Dunes National Park, NOT Indiana Dunes State Park.

Roving Beach Rangers traveling park-wide at all beach locations

Every Friday, Saturday & Sunday
June 15 - August 9
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Find rangers throughout National Park beach areas talking to visitors about being national park smart and water safety. Ask for a Junior Ranger activity sheet and earn a Junior Ranger sticker. Our beach rangers will help visitors have a more meaningful experience while promoting national park stewardship and safety.

Lake Michigan Boat Tour — Michigan City Millennium Plaza (near the yacht club)

Every Friday, Saturday & Sunday
June 20 – August 31
11:00 am - 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm–3:30 pm
Join a ranger for a guided 90-minute boat tour on Lake Michigan with Harbor Country Adventures. There is a fee and reservations are required. Go to harborcountryadventures.com for more information.

Weekdays

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Beginning Birding in Indiana Dunes — Carpool from the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center

Wednesday
June 18-August 27
8:00 am - 10:30 pm
Join an expert birder to find the birding hotspot of the week. Visitors will follow the ranger in their own vehicle to the location and learn about the birds of that specific environment. Don’t forget to bring your own binoculars.

Music Heritage Series Concert at Indiana Dunes Visitor Center

Friday, June 20, July 18 & August 15
7:30 pm–9:00 pm
Enjoy an evening of folk music with The Save the Tunes Council, local musicians keeping traditional songs alive with classic instruments. Experience the rich sounds of musical heritage!

West Beach Succession Trail Hike at West Beach Parking Lot

Every Friday
June 20 - August 8
5:00 pm–6:30 pm
Join a ranger for a hike on one of the parks most popular trails and learn about the exciting process that the dunes go through to grow their extraordinary forests. The trail goes up 270 stairs and from the top showcases a majestic view of the dunes and lake Michigan.

Saturdays

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1966 Hiking Challenge: Hike Every Trail in the Park — Meet at the Trailhead Parking Lot

Every Saturday through August 23
Starting at 8:00 am
Take the summer hiking challenge—19 trails, 66 miles, honoring the park’s founding year. A new trail is featured each week. Find trail details on our website or social media.

Chellberg Farm Open Houses & Feeding at the Farm* — Meet at Chellberg Farm

• Open House
  Every Saturday in June-August:
  1:00 pm–3:00 pm
• Feeding at the Farm
  Every Saturday in June-August
  4:00 pm-4:30 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. After the open house, feel free to help the volunteers feed the resident farm animals.

Rail Rangers South Shore Train Program On the South Shore Train

Saturday, June 7	8:30 am CT–11:38 am ET	Millennium Station to South Bend Station	Train # 503
July 19 & August 23	1:14 pm ET–2:27 pm CT	South Bend Station to Millennium Station	Train # 506

Join The Midwest Rail Rangers on the South Shore and learn about the sights outside the window. For more information visit railrangers.org. Train schedules may change, check mysouthshoreline.com for updates.

Stargazing at Kemil Beach Parking Lot

• Saturday, June 7 and July 5
  9:00 pm–11:00 pm
• Saturday, August 2
  8:30 pm–10:30 pm

Join Michiana Astronomical Society to enjoy our night sky from one of the darkest spots in the park. Telescopes will be provided for your viewing pleasure. For safety purposes and to ensure parking, please arrive early.

Art in the National Park at Paul H Douglas Center

Saturday, June 14 and August 9
1:00 pm–3:00 pm
Learn how to paint your own dunes-inspired painting with local artist from the Art Barn. Reservations are required at www.recreation.gov. There is a $25 fee for the program.

Midsummer Celebration* at Chellberg Farm

Saturday, June 21
1:00 pm–3:00 pm
Celebrate the longest day of the year and learn about the traditions of the Swedish immigrants at Chellberg Farm. Enjoy the music, dance and food associated with this special day.

Junior Wildland Firefighter Programs at Various locations

• Saturday, June 28
  Dunewood Campground Amphitheater
  11:00 am-12:00 pm
• Saturday, July 19
  West Beach Contact Station
  11:00 am-12:00 pm
• Saturday, August 2
  Indiana Dunes Visitor Center
  11:00 am-12:00 pm

Meet the Wildland Firefighters that protect Indiana Dunes National Park and other special places around the Great Lakes. See the differences between Good Fire and Bad Fire, try out wildland firefighter gear, test your fitness and learn how to be part of our National Park Service Wildland Firefighting Team.

Mount Baldy Open House at Mount Baldy Parking Lot

Every Saturday
June 21 through August 9
4:00 pm–6:00 pm
Hike to the summit of Mount Baldy on a self-guided tour, with rangers and volunteers sharing insights along the way. Call 219-395-1882 or check social media for possible summer cancellations due to construction.

Chicago and South Shore Railroad Car Day in East Troy, WI

Saturday, July 12
All Day
Travel to East Troy, Wisconsin to take a ride on a historic South Shore Railroad car and learn about the history of this railroad and how it helped save the dunes. There is a fee for this program. To learn more, go to www.easttroyrr.org or call 262-642-3263.

Sundays

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Hiking With Dad at Chellberg Farm Parking Lot

Sunday, June 15
8:00 am–10:00 am
Celebrate Father’s Day on a fun, family-friendly hike led by two energetic dad-daughter docent teams. Meander through a beech maple forest, a lively prairie and along the little Calumet River.

Pinhook Bog Open House at Pinhook Bog Parking Lot

Every Sunday
June 15 - August 3
9:00 am–10:00 am and 10:00 am–11:00 am
Take a self-guided hike into Indiana’s only quaking bog. Rangers and volunteers stationed along the trail will help you understand this unique place filled with carnivorous plants and orchids.

Migration Birding Walk at Paul H. Douglas Center

Sunday, June 1 and August 3
9:30 am–11:00 am
Join a birding expert from the Dunes-Calumet Audubon Society for birding at one of the park's hotspots. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather.

Chellberg Farm Open House* and Music on the Porch at Chellberg Farmhouse

• Open House
  Every Sunday
  June- August
  1:00 pm–3:00 pm
• Music on the Porch
  Sunday, June 8 & 22, July 6 & 20,
  August 3, 17 & 31
  5:00 pm–6:00 pm

Tour the farmhouse, meet the animals, and enjoy an evening of folk music with The Save the Tunes Council, local musicians dedicated to preserving traditional songs and instruments.

Volunteering - Drop In

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Trash Trekkers at Indiana Dunes Visitor Center and Douglas Center

Visitor Center and Douglas Center
Daily
9:00 am–4:00 pm
Join our drop-in litter cleanup! Check in at the Visitor Center for supplies, pick a beach or trail, and start collecting. Fill your bag to earn a free reusable water bottle. Please leave collected trash in on-site bins.

Drop-in Volunteering Porter Beach Restoration at Porter Beach Parking Lot

Saturday, June 7
9:00 am–12:00 pm
Team up with staff and fellow volunteers to help care for your national park! Equipment will be provided —just bring your energy and love for the great outdoors. RSVP at [phone] or e-mail us.

National Trails Day — Parkwide

Saturday, June 7
All Day
Celebrate National Trails Day by challenging yourself to hike as many trails as you can or volunteer by picking up litter. Sign up at the Visitor Center or Douglas Center to volunteer. After your hike, post your mileage or a photo of the trash you collected on our National Trails Day Facebook post—the top volunteers win a prize!

Drop-in Volunteering Chellberg Farm Care — Chellberg Parking Lot

Saturday,
June 21, July 19, and August 16
9:00 am–12:00 pm
Work with a ranger and fellow volunteers to help care for the park’s historic farm. Dress comfortably and get ready to roll up your sleeves—work gloves and equipment will be provided.

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*These programs are sponsored by the Friends of Indiana Dunes, a non-profit group that is dedicated to enhancing and foster understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the Indiana Dunes through the sponsorship of special educational programs and events throughout the park. For more information on how to get become a member, visit dunefriends.org

 

September - November 2025 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 www.recreation.gov/sitepass/indu. Veterans/Military/Gold Star Family, Access, and 4^th Grade passes are available for free. For more information on national park passes visit the fees & passes page.

• Fee-free days: National Public Lands Day (September 27) and Veterans Day (November 11).
  Fee free days only apply to locations within Indiana Dunes National Park, NOT Indiana Dunes State Park.

Outdoor Adventure Festival happeing Region-wide

Friday, September 5 thru Sunday, September 14
All Day
Celebrate the outdoors at the Outdoor Adventure Festival. The festival has over 50 events taking place at different parks and preserves throughout Northwest Indiana. There are events for visitors of all ages and activity levels, including hiking, biking, photography, forest bathing, yoga, geocaching, earth-caching, birding, and more. Please visit DunesOutdoorFestival.com for the schedule of events, locations, dates, times and descriptions of events.

Weekdays

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Music Heritage Series Concert at Bailly Contact Station – Chellberg Farm Parking Lot

Friday, September 19, October 17, & November 14
7:30 pm–9:00 pm
Enjoy an evening of folk music with The Save the Tunes Council, local musicians keeping traditional songs alive with classic instruments. Location has changed due to construction at the Visitor Center.

Veterans Day Film at Paul H. Douglas Center

Tuesday, November 11
2:00 pm–3:00 pm
Join us for Flying for Freedom: Untold Stories of the Tuskegee Airmen, a powerful documentary honoring the African-American pilots who broke barriers and served heroically in World War II. Experience their courage in combat and their fight for justice at home in this unforgettable tribute to our nation’s heroes.

Black Friday Opt-Outside Hike at West Beach Parking Lot

Friday, November 28
1:00 pm–4:00 pm
Join a ranger for a post-Thanksgiving hike instead of shopping on black Friday. This event is co-sponsored by Save the Dunes, the interactive hike will be led by regional experts in fields such as birding, botany, insects, geology, and ecology.

Saturdays

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Chellberg Farm Open House & Feeding at the Farm* at Chellberg Farm

Every Saturday September-November - Open House
1:00 pm–3:00 pm
Every Saturday in September & October - Feeding at the Farm
Starting at 4:00 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. After the open house, feel free to help the volunteers feed the resident farm animals.

Rail Rangers South Shore Train Program On the South Shore Train

Saturday, Oct. 25 & Nov. 15	8:30 am CT–11:38 am ET	Millennium Station to South Bend Station	Train # 503
	1:14 pm ET–2:27 pm CT	South Bend Station to Millennium Station	Train # 506

Join The Midwest Rail Rangers on the South Shore and learn about the sights outside the window. For more information visit railrangers.org. Train schedules may change, check mysouthshoreline.com for updates.

Stargazing at Kemil Beach Parking Lot

Saturday, September 6
- 8:30 pm–10:30 pm
Saturday, October 4
- 7:30 pm–9:30 pm
Saturday, November 1
- 6:30 pm–8:30 pm
Join the Michiana Astronomical Society to enjoy our night sky from one of the darkest spots in the park. Telescopes will be provided for your viewing pleasure. For safety purposes and to ensure parking, please arrive early.

Art in the National Park at Paul H. Douglas Center

Saturday, September 13, October 11, & November 8
1:00 pm–3:00 pm
Learn how to paint your own dunes-inspired painting with local artist from the Art Barn. Reservations are required at www.recreation.gov. Program fee is $25 to pay for art supplies and participants can take their art home.

End of Summer Open House* at Chellberg Farm Parking Lot

Saturday, September 20
12:00 pm–4:00 pm
Wrap up the summer with our amazing park Volunteers at Chellberg Farm! Step inside the historic house, craft your very own clove apple, and try your hand at games and pastimes that kept folks entertained back in the 1800s.

Fall Colors Hike at Chellberg Farm Parking Lot

Saturday, October 25 and November 1 & 8
3:30 pm–5:30 pm
Meander through a color swept forest with a ranger. Admire the vibrant fall colors of the maple and oak trees of the region.

Winter Maritime Wanderers at Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk Pavilion

Saturday, November 1
8:30 am–10:30 am
Join Dunes-Calumet Audubon expert birders to look for and identify water birds visiting Lake Michigan. Bring your binoculars and chairs to view numerous bird species in the water or over the lake. Be prepared for a variety of winter weather.

Gales of November Shipwreck Program at Paul H. Douglas Center

Sunday, November 22
1:00 pm–2:00 pm
Learn about the treacherous side of the Great Lakes in this fascinating program about the storms and shipwrecks of the past.

Turkey Trot at Calumet Dunes Parking Lot

Saturday, November 29
1:00 pm–3:00 pm
Join a ranger in search of wild turkey and other wildlife as you work off Thanksgiving dinner. Hike along the ancient Calumet shoreline of Lake Michigan through forested dunes and small blowouts.

Sundays

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Migration Birding Walk at Paul H. Douglas Center

Sunday, September 7 & October 5
9:30 am–11:00 am
Join a birding expert from the Dunes-Calumet Audubon Society for birding at one of the park's hotspots. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather.

Chellberg Farm Open House and Music on the Porch* at Chellberg Farmhouse

Every Sunday September- November - Open House
1:00 pm–3:00 pm
Sunday, September 14 & 28- Music on the Porch
5:00 pm–6:00 pm
Tour the farmhouse, meet the animals, and enjoy an evening of folk music with The Save the Tunes Council, local musicians dedicated to preserving traditional songs and instruments.

Critter Time Open House at Paul H. Douglas Center

Every Sunday starting October 5 thru November 30
1:30 pm–2:30 pm
Come learn about the ambassador animals at the Douglas Center! Find out why they're special, what they eat, where they live, and how park staff cares for them. Visit and find answers to these questions and more!

Volunteering - Drop In

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Trash Trekkers at Indiana Dunes Visitor Center and Douglas Center

Visitor Center and Douglas Center- Daily
9:00 am–4:00 pm
Join our drop-in litter cleanup! Check in at the Visitor Center for supplies, pick a beach or trail, and start collecting. Fill your bag to earn a free reusable water bottle. Please leave collected trash in on-site bins.

Porter Beach Restoration at Porter Beach Parking Lot

Saturday, September 13, October 4, and November 8
9:00 am–12:00 pm
Team up with staff and fellow volunteers to help care for your national park! Equipment will be provided —just bring your energy and love for the great outdoors. RSVP at [phone] or e-mail us.

National Public Lands Day Clean-Up at West Beach Parking Lot

Saturday, September 27
9:00 am-12:00 pm
National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance America’s public lands. Join staff and fellow volunteers to help improve one of our many native habitats. Wear comfortable clothes; work gloves and equipment will be provided.

Drop-in Volunteering Chellberg Farm Care at Chellberg Farm Parking Lot

Saturday, September 20, October 18, & November 15
9:00 am–12:00 pm
Work with a ranger and fellow volunteers to help care for the park’s historic farm. Dress comfortably and get ready to roll up your sleeves—work gloves and equipment will be provided.

*These programs are sponsored by the Friends of Indiana Dunes, a non-profit group that is dedicated to enhancing and foster understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the Indiana Dunes through the sponsorship of special educational programs and events throughout the park. For more information on how to get become a member, visit 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: Second week in September

The OAF showcases the region’s natural and cultural significance through activities such as hiking, paddling, biking, photography, birding, and others.

Duneland Fall Festival: Second weekend in September

Celebrate autumn with a festival at historic Chellberg Farm. Fun is the weekend theme interweaved with the celebration of the fall harvest. Learn about sustainable practices that you can do at home. Enjoy lots of seasonal activities such as tractor-pulled wagon rides, a Kid's Corner with games and crafts, and even apple pressing.

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 [phone]. Tickets go on sale early in August and usually sell out within one hour.

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For more information on events and other programs at Indiana Dunes National Park, contact us or call [phone].

 

Park Calendar

For a different view of upcoming park events, visit our Calendar page.

 

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Donate to the Indiana Dunes National Park. Donations will be used to fund maintenance projects and enhance activities at the park.