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. June 2026 ActivitiesIndiana 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:Sunday, June 14, Flag Day/President Trump's birthday. Fee free days only apply to locations within Indiana Dunes National Park, NOT Indiana Dunes State Park.Programs for Kids and their FamiliesJunior Ranger Book (Daily)Hey Kids! Pick up your Junior Ranger booklet to earn your Junior Ranger badge or get a sticker by completing the activity sheet on the last page of the Singing Sands newspaper. Junior Ranger Book (Wednesday-Sunday)Hey Kids! Pick up your Junior Ranger booklet to earn your Junior Ranger badge or get a sticker by completing the activity sheet on the last page of the Singing Sands newspaper. Super Kids! & Douglas Center Scavenger Hunt (Wednesday-Sunday)Play in the Nature Play Zone, marvel over 20 pieces of art created in the dunes, make a craft in the craft room, take a hike on the interactive Pollinator Trail, check out the frog find scavenger hunt, borrow a Naturalist Backpack, and/or earn your Junior Ranger badge or sticker by completing the book or the activity sheet on the last page of the Singing Sands newspaper. Family Junior Ranger Hour (Thursday)Join rangers to learn about the Junior Ranger Program and earn a badge when you complete the booklet. Family Junior Ranger Hour (Friday & Sunday)Location: West Beach Family Junior Ranger Hour (Saturday)Join rangers to learn about the Junior Ranger Program and earn a badge when you complete the booklet. Critter Feeding Time (Saturday)Come learn about our ambassador animals and help feed them at the Douglas Center. Walks and TalksIndigenous Cultural Trail (Thursday-Sunday)Explore with rangers to learn about the Miami and Pottawatomie Native Americans in our area. From Glaciers to Grassroots (Thursday)Join a ranger to learn how Indiana Dunes became a National Park. Henry's Hike (Friday & Saturday)Join a ranger to learn about the father of ecology while exploring the Succession Trail. Henry's Hike (Friday & Saturday Sunday)Join a ranger to learn about the father of ecology while exploring the Succession Trial. Henry's Hike (Sunday)Time: 4:00-5:00 pm Into the Bog (Sunday)Join a ranger at Pinhook Bog to learn about one of Indiana's last true quaking bogs. Parking is limited. Be prepared for muddy and wet conditions along the trail. Open House ProgramsBailly Behind the Scenes (Thursday & Saturday)Visit the Bailly Homestead, where the cabins will be open for viewing, and learn about the area’s early settlers. The main house will be closed due to ongoing restoration efforts. Bailly Behind the Scenes (Sunday)Time: 2:00-4:00 pm Music on the Porch (June 7 & June 21)Enjoy music played by the Save the Tunes Council, a group of local musicians devoted to preserving and passing on folk songs. Evening ProgramsFireside Chats (Thursday)Join a ranger to learn about the park and watch the sunset next to a campfire. Dunes After Dark (Friday)Join us for our Ranger Choice Night Hikes, where you can explore the beauty of the park after hours and learn fascinating facts about local wildlife and habitats. Music Heritage Series (June 19)Immerse yourself in an unforgettable evening of music and melody with Save the Tunes. Feeding the Chickens (Saturday)Help feed the chickens at the farm. Secrets of Kemil (Sunday)Explore the area around Kemil Beach and watch the sunset. Saturday Night programs – MonthlyStargazing (June 6)Join Michiana Astronomical Society to learn about stars in our park. Please arrive early. Limited parking. Campground Program (June 13)Join Rangers for a chat at the campground. No public parking, program available only to campers. Beachcomber 101 (June 20)Join a ranger to drift and discover while strolling along the beach around sunset and after. Colors of Mishigami (June 27)Join a sunset hike at Kemil Beach with a park ranger. Guest Programs – Monthly1966 Hikes (Saturday)Hike all 19 trail systems in the park for 66 miles. Collect your pamphlet at the Visitor or Douglas Center. Art in the Park (June 13)Learn how to paint your own dunes-inspired painting. Please go to www.recreation.gov to register. Breakfast with the Birders (June 14)Enjoy a morning learning about birds, their habits, and habitats. Art Show at Chesterton Art Center – Site/Sight (June 4-August 1)Site/Sight highlights over 25 years of Artist in Residence works at Indiana Dunes National Park, including new pieces from 2023–2025. Experience the park’s landscape through diverse artistic perspectives. Midsummer Celebration (June 20)Join rangers and volunteers to learn about the summer solstice and Swedish traditions surrounding the Maypole. Put on your dancing shoes to celebrate the arrival of summer. Volunteering at Indiana Dunes National ParkTrash Trekkers & Drop-in Volunteering (Daily)Sign up at the Visitor Center to pick up litter around the park and earn a free water bottle. Trash bags are provided. Porter Beach Restoration (June 6)Team up with staff and volunteers to help YOUR National Park by restoring Porter Beach. Chellberg Farm Care (June 20)Work with a ranger and fellow volunteers to help care for the park’s historic farm. Yearly Main EventsThese 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 MarchEnjoy 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 MayFrom 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 MayHosted 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 SeptemberThe 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 SeptemberJoin 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.Park CalendarFor a different view of upcoming park events, visit our Calendar page.❤ Support your park.Donate to the Indiana Dunes National Park. Donations will be used to fund maintenance projects and enhance activities at the park. |
Last updated: June 3, 2026