Indiana Dunes Events Guide

Paul H. Douglas Center Activities

At the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education features an open house every Saturday year-round and every Sunday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Visitors can help feed the center's resident turtles or fish, check out the interactive exhibits, join a ranger for a hike in Miller Woods or engage in the Junior Ranger or Junior Explorer programs.

Maple Sugar Time

The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore hosts the popular Maple Sugar Time every year in early March. Visitors eagerly anticipate seeing how maple sugar is tapped and watching it being made into delicious maple syrup. Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm tours are also available during this time.

Photo credit: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Century of Progress Homes Tours

On the third Saturday in October, visitors have the rare opportunity to tour the five historic Century of Progress homes, sponsored by the Dunes National Park Association. Originally constructed for the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, these homes demonstrated modern architectural design, experimental materials and new technologies such as central air conditioning and dishwashers in keeping with the fair's theme of "Century of Progress." Tours are offered by reservation only and tickets can be purchased in early September. The event will be posted on our Dunes event calendar when tickets go on sale.

Photo credit: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Visitors can enjoy hunting for treasures and gathering for a chili supper at the Dunes Geocache Adventure in January. International Migratory Bird Day in May features a weekend full of bird-related activities and programs. "Howl"oween at the Indiana Dunes in late October gives visitors the opportunity to decorate their campsites and go trick-or-treating around the campground.

During the summer, the Indiana Dunes State Park offers fun events for the whole family, such as glamorous camping during Dunes Glamping Weekend in early June, oohing and aahing during July's Fireworks on the Beach, impressive artwork made out of sand at the Annual Sand Sculpture Contest in mid-July and the opportunity to watch meteors and sleep on the beach at the Annual Perseid Stargaze Event in August.