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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July 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 4^th Grade passes are available for free. For more information on national park passes visit the fees & passes page.

Fee Free Day:

July 3–5: Independence Day weekend

Fee free days only apply to locations within Indiana Dunes National Park, NOT Indiana Dunes State Park.

Important Notices

• No official beach programming on July 3, 4, & 5. Rangers will be roving throughout the park. Please say hello!
• Programming subject to change or cancellation due to inclement weather or staffing levels.

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Thursday

• Rangers are at Chellberg Farm/Bailly Homestead, and Portage Lakefront with programs throughout the day. Drop by to chat about and get help with the Junior Ranger Program as you work to complete the booklet.

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Programs

Super Kids Scavenger Hunt

• Thursdays
• Time: 9:30 am–3:30 pm
• Location: Douglas Center
• Explore the Nature Play Zone, view dune-related artwork, and hike the Pollinator Trail as part of this activity.

From Glaciers to Grassroots

• Thursdays
• Time: 10:00–11:30 am
• Location: Portage Lakefront Pavilion
• Learn how Indiana Dunes became a National Park

Crossroads in the Wilderness: A Homestead Walkthrough*

• Thursdays
• Time: 1:00–3:00 pm
• Location: Bailly Homestead
• View historic cabins and learn about early settlers (Bailly house closed for restoration)

Chellberg Farm Open House*

• Thursdays
• Time: 1:00–3:00 pm
• Location: Chellberg Farmhouse
• Tour the farmhouse and grounds, learn about local history

Fireside Chats

• Thursdays
• Time: 7:00–9:00 pm
• Location: Portage Lakefront Pavilion
• Learn about the park and watch the sunset by a campfire

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Friday

• Rangers are at West Beach and Mt. Baldy with programs throughout the day. Drop by to chat about and get help with the Junior Ranger Program as you work to complete the booklet.

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Programs

Super Kids Scavenger Hunt

• Fridays
• Time: 9:30 am–3:30 pm
• Location: Douglas Center
• Explore the Nature Play Zone, view dune-related artwork, and hike the Pollinator Trail as part of this activity.

Henry's Hike

• Dates: July 10, 17, 24 & 31
• Time: 9:00–10:00 am
• Location: West Beach Bathhouse
• Learn about Henry Chandler Cowles and the Succession Trail

Beachcomber 101

• Dates: July 10, 17, 24 & 31
• Time: 4:00–5:00 pm
• Location: Central Parking Lot
• Join a Ranger to discover beach secrets while strolling along the water’s edge.

Mt. Baldy Sunset Open House

• Dates: July 10, 17 & 31
• Time: 7:00–9:00 pm
• Location: Mt. Baldy Parking Lot
• Take part in a guided hike with a Ranger to reach the stunning, restricted summit of Mt. Baldy.

Music Heritage Series

• Date: July 17
• Time: 7:30–9:00 pm
• Location: Visitor Center
• Experience an exceptional night filled with music and harmonies with local musicians, Save the Tunes.

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Saturday

• Rangers are at Chellberg Farm/Bailly Homestead, West Beach, and Portage Lakefront with programs throughout the day.Drop by to chat about and get help with the Junior Ranger Program as you work to complete the booklet.

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Programs

Super Kids Scavenger Hunt

• Saturdays
• Time: 9:30 am–3:30 pm
• Location: Douglas Center
• Explore the Nature Play Zone, view dune-related artwork, and hike the Pollinator Trail as part of this activity.

Henry's Hike

• Dates: July 11, 18 & 25
• Time: 9:00–10:00 am
• Location: West Beach Bathhouse
• Learn about Henry Chandler Cowles and the Succession Trail

From Glaciers to Grassroots

• Dates: July 11, 18 & 25
• Time: 10:00–11:30 am
• Location: Portage Lakefront Pavilion
• Join a Ranger to learn how Indiana Dunes became a National Park.

Critter Feeding Time

• Saturdays
• Time: 1:00–1:30 pm
• Location: Douglas Center
• Come learn about the Douglas Center’s ambassador animals, see how they are cared for, and help feed them.

Crossroads in the Wilderness: A Homestead Walkthrough*

• Saturdays
• Time: 1:00–3:00 pm
• Location: Bailly Homestead
• View historic cabins and learn about the area’s early settlers. The Bailly house is closed due to ongoing restoration.

Chellberg Farm Open House*

• Saturdays
• Time: 1:00–3:00 pm
• Location: Chellberg Farmhouse
• Stop by historic Chellberg Farm to tour the farmhouse, grounds, and learn about the area’s rich history.

Indigenous Cultural Trail

• Dates: July 11, 18 & 25
• Time: 3:00–4:00 pm
• Location: Visitor Center
• Explore with Rangers to learn about the Miami and Potawatomi Native Americans in our area.

Feeding the Chickens

• Saturdays
• Time: 4:00–4:15 pm
• Location: Chellberg Farm

1966 Hike Challenge: Hike all 19 trail systems (66 miles). Pick up pamphlet at Visitor or Douglas Center.

• Dates & Locations:
  • July 4: Burns Harbor Trailhead (4.1 mi)
  • July 11: Tolleston Dunes Trail (2.9 mi)
  • July 18: Calumet Dunes (4.5 mi)
  • July 25: Chellberg Farm (4.0 mi)
• Time: 8:00–10:00 am

Art in the Park

• Date: July 11
• Time: 1:00–3:00 pm
• Location: Douglas Center
• Register at http://www.recreation.gov/

Dunes After Dark

• Dates: July 18 & 25
• Time: 7:00–9:00 pm
• Location: Bailly Contact Station
• Night hikes and wildlife exploration

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Sunday

• Locations: Chellberg Farm/Bailly Homestead, West Beach, Portage Lakefront
• Junior Ranger Program: Drop by for help completing your booklet.

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Programs

Super Kids Scavenger Hunt

• Sundays
• Time: 9:30 am–3:30 pm
• Location: Douglas Center

Into the Bog Open House

• Dates: July 12, 19 & 26
• Time: 9:00–11:30 am
• Location: Pinhook Bog Parking Lot
• Join a Ranger at Pinhook Bog, one of Indiana’s true quaking bogs. Parking is limited and trails may be muddy or wet.

Breakfast With the Birds Open House

• Date: July 5
• Time: 9:30–11:30 am
• Location: Douglas Center
• Join the Dunes-Calumet Audubon Society for a casual morning of learning about birds, their habits, and habitats.

Crossroads in the Wilderness: A Homestead Walkthrough*

• Sundays
• Time: 2:00–4:00 pm
• Location: Bailly Homestead
• View historic cabins and learn about the area’s early settlers. The Bailly house is closed due to ongoing restoration.

Chellberg Farm Open House*

• Sundays
• Time: 1:00–3:00 pm
• Location: Chellberg Farmhouse
• Stop by historic Chellberg Farm to tour the farmhouse, grounds, and learn about the area’s rich history.

Music on the Porch

• Dates: July 5 & 19
• Time: 5:00–6:00 pm
• Location: Chellberg Farmhouse
• Folk music with Save the Tunes Council.

Indigenous Cultural Trail

• Dates: July 12, 19 & 26
• Time: 3:00–4:00 pm
• Location: Visitor Center
• Explore with Rangers to learn about the Miami and Potawatomi Native Americans in our area.

Henry's Hike

• Dates: July 12, 19 & 26
• Time: 9:00–10:00 am
• Location: West Beach Bathhouse
• Join a Ranger to learn about the father of ecology, Henry Chandler Cowles, while exploring the Succession Trail.

Beachcomber 101

• Dates: July 12, 19 & 26
• Time: 4:00–5:00 pm
• Location: Central Parking Lot
• Join a Ranger to discover beach secrets while strolling along the water’s edge.

Mt. Baldy Sunset Open House

• Dates: July 12, 19 & 26
• Time: 7:00–9:00 pm
• Location: Mt. Baldy Parking Lot
• Take part in a guided hike with a Ranger to reach the stunning, restricted summit of Mt. Baldy.

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Additional Information

• Visit our calendar page or use the NPS app for the online calendar.
• Program offerings are subject to change depending on conditions and staff availability.
• Check listings at the Visitor Center, Douglas Center, and other information centers daily for additional programs.

• Questions? Call 219-395-1882.

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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

 

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 [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.

 

❤ Support your park.

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