A self-contained booth packed with brochures, visitor/travel guides, maps, event calendars & giveaways.
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South Shore Posters
Fall Events
Are you a fan of popcorn, munchkins or a good scare? If so, fall is the time of year for you to visit the South Shore! September is full of festivals; watch the parades at Popcorn Festival in Valparaiso or the Wizard of Oz Festival in Chesterton. Browse a community yard sale, check out a car show or let the kids enjoy the games, crafts and activities at Bizarre Bazaar in Hammond. Cheer on the model boats at the Clocktower Model Boat Race in Hobart or celebrate your love of beer at the Valpo Brewfest.
If you prefer something a little spookier, visit Buckley Homestead in Lowell mid-September for the Legend of Sleepy Hollow or dare to tour one of the haunted houses or haunted trails in the area throughout October.
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Show mapped events
Signature Event
Valparaiso Popcorn Festival
September 07, 2013
Named the “Best Festival of the Region” by The Times readers for 13 years, the Valparaiso Popcorn Festival continues to offer family-fun activities for all ages. Over 200 arts & crafts booths, 30 food booths, kids’ games, the five-mile Popcorn Panic, and the nation’s First Popcorn Parade are only the beginning of the excitement of this incredible f... More
Special Events
Little Cousin Jasper Festival
September 06, 2013 to September 08, 2013 (Recurring daily)
- Location: Jasper County Courthouse Square
- 115 West Washington Street
- Rensselaer, IN 47978
- Phone: 219-866-5001
- Website
An annual 3 day festival emphasizing the history, people and culture of Rensselaer. This festival has been part of the community since 1974 and includes activities for young and old. More
The Wizard of Oz Festival
September 13, 2013 to September 15, 2013 (Recurring daily)
The Duneland Business Initiative Group invites the young and young at heart to the return of the Wizard of Oz Festival to Chesterton. Follow the Yellow Brick Road Parade as it winds through town, enjoy the collections and excitement of the auction at the Oz Collectors Exchange and Auction. Don't step on the Ruby Slippers of the teens at the Oz-mopolitan Teen Dance; sing a... More
Legend of Sleepy Hollow
September 20, 2013 to September 21, 2013 (Every Friday, Saturday)
- Venue: Buckley Homestead County Park A Living History Farm
- 3606 Belshaw Road
- Lowell, IN 46356
- Times: Evenings
- Admission: $8
- Phone: 219769PARK
- Website | Email
Contact Lake County Parks to purchase your tickets ahead of time as they always sell out! For four magical nights, Buckley Homestead is transformed into Tarrytown, NY, a quiet, dreamy little village known to many as Sleepy Hollow. The village abounds with stories and superstitions, the most famous of which is of a Hessian soldier who lost his head in the war and rides ea... More
Bizarre Bazaar
September 21, 2013
- Harrison Park and Hohman Avenue
- Hammond, IN
- Times: 10am to 5pm
- Admission: Free
- Phone: 219-512-4298
- Website
Admission is free. Attractions include bands, vendors, children's games and art activities, a car show and community yard sale. Join the unexpected, outrageous, and whimsically bizarre extravaganza that offers something for everyone! - Live Bands - Arts and Crafts Vendors - Food Vendors - Kids Games - Art Activities - Motorcycle, Rod and Custom Car Show - HAST Rad Ru... More
Sandhill Crane Festival and Car Show
September 21, 2013
- Location: Downtown
- Phone: 219-616-4732
- Website
This festival includes a Car, Motorcycle and Tractor Show with an awards ceremony. There will also be music, children's activities, food and craft vendors and games like corn hole and waterball. More
Buckley Homestead Fall Festival
October 12, 2013 to October 13, 2013 (Recurring daily)
- Venue: Buckley Homestead County Park A Living History Farm
- 3606 Belshaw Road
- Lowell, IN 46356
- Times: 10am to 5pm
- Phone: 219-769-7275
- Website
Family fun, great food, wonderful entertainment and traditional arts and crafts! Along the trail to the pioneer cabin reenactors portray military, civilians and artisans of various time periods. Take a taste of cornbread, hot from the wood-burning stove, then purchase Deep River stone ground cornmeal to take home and bake your own. What a great way to spend the day. Take... More
The Black Cat's Meow
October 24, 2013
- Venue: Bellaboo's Play and Discovery Center at Three Rivers County Park
- 2800 Colorado Street
- Lake Station, IN 46405
- Times: 5:30pm to 8pm
- Admission: See site for pricing
- Phone: 219-963-2070
- Website
This costume party & play extravaganza is the black cat's pajamas! The cutest of the cute come out on this day to show off their costumes and enjoy kid-loving Halloween play. Festive Snacks, Silly Capers, Cooky Cooking, a Less than Spooky Storyline, and a Costume Dance-Off are just a few of the many exciting features the children will go pumpkins over! Enjoy Halloween wh... More
Fall Harvest Festival
October 25, 2013
TENTATIVE DATE Wear your spookiest or silliest costume and go door-to-door in Valparaiso’s downtown to get some tasty treats from our restaurants and retailers. Visit Central Park Plaza for treats and fun in the park. Live performance on the Porter Health Amphitheater stage from 4pm to 6pm. Free Hayrides provided by the Valparaiso Parks Department! More
On-Going Events
Family Day at the Douglas Center
Started March 16, 2013 (Every Saturday)
- Venue: Douglas Center for Environmental Education - Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
- 7-85 N Lake St
- Gary, IN 46403
- Times: 1pm to 3pm
- Admission: Free
- Phone: 219-395-1882
- Website
Join a ranger for an Open House every Saturday afternoon at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore's Douglas Center. Explore the center and check out interactive exhibits, a video, and even a live animal room. You can also explore the Miller Woods Trail just outside the center. More
Farmers' Markets
May 04, 2013 to October 29, 2013 (Recurring daily)
- Location: Throughout the South Shore
- See website for individual markets
- Along the South Shore, IN
- Times: Varies
- Website
From May through October, you can find farmer's markets throughout the South Shore on different days of the week. Click on the link above for details on the dates, times, locations and more for each community. More
Central Park Plaza Market
June 04, 2013 to October 29, 2013 (Every Tuesday, Saturday)
Visit the Central Park Plaza Market for fresh local produce, handmade products and beautiful plants and flowers. Every Tuesday and Saturday through October 29 from 8am-2pm. More
Pursued by Happiness
September 06, 2013 to September 22, 2013
- Venue: Towle Community Theater
- 5205 Hohman Avenue
- Hammond, IN 46320
- Times: Thursday-Saturday 8pm, Sunday 2pm
- Admission: $17
- Phone: 219-937-8780
- Website
Show dates: September 6-8, 13-15, 19-22 Are we pursuing happiness or is happiness, biologically speaking, pursuing us? In Pursued by Happiness, an unexpected meeting between two 40-something biochemists touches off a whirlwind romance. But when it's time to meet the parents, a series of shocking revelations test the new couple's relationship in this quirky comedy from t... More
Covered Bridge Harvest Fest
September 27, 2013 to September 29, 2013 (Recurring daily)
- Venue: Lake County Fairgrounds
- 889 S Court St
- Crown Point, IN 46307
- Times: various
- Admission: Free
- Phone: 219-661-3071
- Website | Email
An annual Festival honoring the only "Covered Bridge' in Lake County. Focused on family fun, hand made crafts,and entertainment. Friday evening begins with the "Pumpkin Bash" and Silent Auction. Saturday and Sunday feature Pumpkin games, arts and crafts, and entertainment. Raising proceeds for the development of Special Olympics Lake County Training Facili... More
Valpo Brewfest
September 28, 2013
TENTATIVE DATE Sample over 125 different styles of beers from America’s best craft brewers and vote for your favorite Indiana craft beer as we award the coveted HOOSIER BREW award to the top vote recipient. BrewFest @ Valpo is a celebration of the great craft beer and the cool people that enjoy it. Cheers to Ya! VIP hour starts at 12pm. All attendees receive a sampling ... More
Haunted Railway Garden
October 01, 2013 to October 31, 2013 (Recurring daily)
- Venue: Taltree Arboretum & Gardens
- 450 West 100 North
- Valparaiso, IN 46385
- Admission: $10 for non-members, $8 for college students and military personnel with valid ID
- Phone: 219-462-0025
- Website
The Railway Garden at Taltree is looking a little ghoulish this October! Spooky trees and creepy crawlies are taking over the rail lines. More
Fall is the time of year the orchards and pumpkin patches come alive! From apples to pumpkins, mazes, bakeries and live entertainment, they know how to really make it fun for the whole family! County Line Orchard 200 County Line Road, Hobart 219-947-4477 www.countylineorchard.com Garwood Orchards 5911 W. 50 South, LaPorte 219-362-4385 www.appleupick.... More
Northwest Indiana’s very own candy factory boasts the world’s best gummies! Tour the factory and experience your favorites being made, see the world’s tallest chocolate waterfall and sample some of the best candies around!…more
What began as a local newspaper’s effort to tell the compelling stories of Northwest Indiana men and women who sacrificed during the Civil War has evolved into a large-scale historical preservation effort. The joint partnership of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority and the Calumet Region Civil War Preservation Project seeks to carry forward on hundreds of hours of community service that already have taken place. …more
Conveniently located between Chicago and Indianapolis, Fair Oaks Farms offers a fun family playground that everyone will enjoy! From the Dairy Adventure and Birthday Barn, to the Cheese Factory and Mooville, Fair Oaks Farms will keep the family entertained, and well-fed, for a full day of education and fun!…more
When a guest visits a hotel, restaurant, bank, or gas station, they rarely meet the manager or owner of the establishment. It's up to the front-line employee to make the customer's visit enjoyable.The R.O.S.E. Awards were created to recognize these "directors of first impression" who consistently work hard to make our lives easier. Guests & managers are able to nominate an employee who consistently "goes the extra mile."…more
Heavy industry carried the South Shore economy for decades. Now, the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority tells a story about a community: it’s been built by steel but changing from tourism. Northwest Indiana’s appeal is its devotion to ensure new & already existing businesses succeed. Area leaders have teamed together to revitalize the mill towns and make Northwest Indiana the place people want to live & work. …more
Experience the journey of the Passion of Christ as never before in this interactive trail featuring 40 life-sized bronze statues. Experience the various Stations of the Cross with audio descriptions as you walk the winding pathway.…more
With five different casinos, Northwest Indiana offers much excitement and action along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan! With decadent restaurants, world class entertainment and floors (and floors) of slots and table games, your night is just getting started when you test your luck at one of our casinos.…more
Pierogi Fest, the pride of Whiting, is an opportunity for the residents to celebrate their heritage while poking a little fun at themselves at the same time. The one of a kind parade and festival have received countrywide recognition having been featured on the Food Network and the Travel Channel.…more
This holiday season, The Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond will feature 6 animated displays featuring scenes from "A Christmas Story". The displays include: Higbee’s Department Store Window, Flick’s Tongue and the Triple Dog Dare, It’s a Major Award, Santa’s Mountain at Higbee’s, the Bumpus Hounds, and the Parker Living Room. The displays were first showcased in 2003 in the windows of the Herald Square Macy’s in New York City. …more
