You've put away the sunscreen and the bathing suits, and turned off the air conditioning. You're digging your jackets out of storage, opening up the windows, and feeling the urge to light candles and make some pot roast. Now that the weather is glorious and crisp, it's time to get out there and enjoy all that the area has to offer. From Northwest Indiana's fall festivals to Chicago's special family offerings, we've done the research for you, so take advantage of this colorful, invigorating season before the Midwest winter takes hold!
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE
OPENING OCT 17 One World, One Sky--Big Bird's Adventure, Adler Planetarium, 1300 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago. 312.922.STAR. adlerplanetarium.org. Join Big Bird, Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu, Elmo's friend from China, on an exciting exploration of the sun, moon and stars. Elmo and Hu Hu Zhu learn that even though they live in two different countries, they still share the same sky. Presented in English, Spanish and Mandarin, this show, designed for 4-6 year olds, will also play in the Beijing Planetarium.
FESTIVE FALL EVENTS
SEPT 27 Punt, Pass & Kick in Hammond, registration 8am, competition 9am, Dowling Park, 3031 J.F. Mahoney Dr, Hammond. 219.853.6378. gohammond.com. Boys and girls ages 8-15 can participate in this competition to win a trip to this fall's NFL Playoffs. Children can register in four age divisions. A copy of the child's birth certificate is mandatory. No football shoes allowed.
OCT 4 Annual Hayride Around the Square, 9am-4pm, Crown Point square. 219.662.3290. crownpoint.in.gov. This free annual hayride features an autumn-themed wagon that roams around the square and face painting, pumpkins and candy for the kids. Also available, free tours of the Old Sherriff's House and Jail.
OCT 4-5 Buckley Homestead Fall Festival, 10am-5pm, Buckley Homestead County Park, 3606 Belshaw Rd, Lowell. 219.769.PARK. lakecountyparks.com. Farm traditions are explored at this annual event, which offers children's activities, a corn maze, crafts and skill demonstrations, historic buildings, food, entertainment, cowboys, music and storytelling.
OCT 5 Kid's Fall Funfest and Camping Extravaganza!, noon-4pm, Indiana Dunes State Park, Wilson, Tremont and Duneside Shelters. 219.926.1390. Kids can create fall crafts with a variety of hands-on activities located in any of these beachside shelters. The Wilson Shelter hosts a special musical program at 3 p.m. on Saturday with Les Gustafson Zook performing his "Songs of the Pioneers" program. A Storytellers Festival also takes place this weekend at the park.
OCT 11 New Buffalo Harvest Fest, noon-10pm, Lion's Park, downtown New Buffalo. 773.791.1809. newbuffalo.org. There's something for everyone at the 2nd annual Harvest Fest with live music from the Katie Todd Band, local favorite Steve Foresman, and Gypsi Fari, world-class wines from Southwest Michigan, tasty fare from area restaurants, a copious farmers' market, hayrides, a pumpkin patch, and free activities for kids.
OCT 17 Night Hike, 7pm, Oak Ridge Prairie County Park, 301 S Colfax St, Griffith. 219.844.3188. Discover a whole new sensory experience, just as an owl, bat or a raccoon experiences nature at night, on this free night hike. Call to register.
OCT 18 Oktoberfest, 10am-5pm, along 119th St, Whiting. whitingindiana.com. This fun-filled day includes fall food, pony and hayrides, a pumpkin patch, face painting and a farmers' market.
OCT 25-26 St. John Autumn Festival and Taste of St. John, noon-night, Lake Hills Park, 8550 Lake Hills Dr, St. John. 219.365.6043. stjohnin.com. While sampling St. John's finest food, families can enjoy hayrides, a haymaze, a pumpkin patch, and ghostly train rides. Kids can tour the House with the lights on for a not-as-scary adventure from noon to 4 p.m. and participate in the costume parade Saturday at 5 p.m.
NOV 27 State Street Thanksgiving Day Parade, 8:30am-11am, State St from Randolph to Congress, Chicago. chicagofestivals.org. More than 400,000 visitors are expected to line the route for this annual televised event, which features marching bands, equestrian units, floats, performance groups, celebrities, and everyone's favorite Thanksgiving parade staple: enormous helium balloons.
HALLOWEEN FUN FOR ALL AGES
SEPT 26-NOV 1 Carnival of Curiosities, Fri 4-9pm, Sat 1-9pm, Sun 1-6pm, Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago. 800.595.PIER. navypier.com. Navy Pier hosts this "scare-free" Halloween event, which features strolling sideshow characters and street performers, including fire spinners, stilt walkers, acrobats and more, on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. Free admission.
OCT 4-NOV 2 Six Flags Great America Fright Fest, 542 N Rt 21, Gurnee. 847.249.4236. sixflags.com. For the 18th year, Chicagoland's biggest theme park transforms into a Halloween playground. Experience hair-raising shows, two haunted houses, and breathtaking rollercoaster rides in the dark. Younger children can enjoy trick-or-treating, along with all of their favorite rides.
OCT 22 Campfire Chillers, 6:30-7:45pm, Deep River County Park, 9410 Old Lincoln Hwy, Hobart. 219.945.0543. lakecountyparks.com. Master storyteller Karen Slager tells some of her favorite spooky tales in front of a crackling campfire at this annual fall event. Families should dress warmly and bring their own seating and marshmallows and roasting sticks to enjoy after the storytelling.
OCT 23-NOV 4 Halloween Happenings, 6-11pm, Woodland Park, 2100 Willowcreek Rd, Portage. 219.762.1675 x303. Halloween activities include a haunted hayride, a haunted house, and a Halloween production by the Portage Community Theatre.
OCT 24-25 Trick or Treat Fun Nite, Fri 5-7pm, Sat noon-3pm, downtown Valparaiso. popcornfest.org. This fun free fall celebration includes cider and hayrides around Valparaiso's downtown square.
OCT 25 Halloween Parade, registration 1-1:45pm, parade 2-3pm, Dyer Town Hall, 1 Town Square, Dyer. 219.865.2505. dyeronline.com. All ages are welcome to dress up and participate in this annual event.
OCT 29-31 Dark in the Park, 6-10pm, Lakefront Park, E 119th St & N Front St, Whiting. 219.659.0292. whitingindiana.com. Spooky fun for all ages, this annual event features a "Feel & Squeal" exhibit with hands-on activities, a "Meet the Monsters" show, a trail of tiny terrors for younger children, and free horror classic films, a fortune teller, concession stands and more for the older crowd.
(BEWARE) SPOOKY THRILLS
OCT 10-OCT 22 Lake Hills Haunted House, Mon-Thu 6-10pm, Fri-Sat 6-11pm, Old Lake Hills Clubhouse, 8550 Lake Hills Dr, St. John. 219.365.6043. stjohnin.com. Old Lake Hills Clubhouse becomes two floors of ghostly ghouls at this haunted house. Not recommended for younger children or those that scare easily.
OCT 24-25 All Hallows Eve--A 19th Century Halloween, 6:30-10pm, Naper Settlement, 523 S Webster St, Naperville. 630.420.6010. napersettlement.org. Meet Jack the Ripper, the Headless Horseman, Dr. Frankenstein, and other fiendish characters and creatures of the night as they roam the 13-acre grounds during this unique 19th-century celebration. Not recommended for children under eight or those that scary easily.
OCT 30 Bieker Woods Night Walk, registration 6pm, walk 6:30-8:30pm, Bieker Woods, 8500 Columbia Ave, Munster. 219.836.PARK. munster.org. Tour guides lead participants to new chills and thrills in this scary, yet fun, experience. Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by an adult, and those that scary easily should enter with caution.
FARMS, ORCHARDS AND MORE
Chellberg Farm and Bailly Homestead, Mineral Springs Rd between US 12 & 20, Porter. 219.926.7561. nps.gov/indu. Through Oct 26, families can travel back in time as volunteers in period costumes demonstrate lifestyles of 100 and 150 years ago.
County Line Orchard, 200 County Line Rd, Hobart. 219.947.4477. countylineorchard.com. Families can pick apples and pumpkins, get lost in one of two half-mile corn mazes, visit farm animals at the Kids Farm and more at this U-Pick orchard.
Fair Oaks Farm, 856 N 600 E, Fair Oaks. 877.536.1194. fofarms.com. Families can visit this family owned, heartland dairy to take a tour of the dairy barn, the Birthing Barn, and the cheese factory. Other fun features include a 4-D theater, a Dairy Fun Room with interactive activities, and more.
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, 219.926.7561. nps.gov/indu. The beautiful shores of Lake Michigan offer a variety of opportunities for outdoor family fun, including bird watching, picnicking, horseback riding, hiking, fishing, boating and more.
Kregel's Pumpkin Patch, 13407 Grant St, Crown Point. 219.663.6475. Kids will enjoy the hayrides, corn maze, farm animals and the pumpkin slingshot, and parents will love the plethora of fresh fall produce, including squash, tomatoes, apples and more, at this family-run pumpkin patch and farm stand.
Mowry's Fruit Farm, 2411 E 109th Ave, Crown Point. 219.633.4782. apples2pick.com. Families can pick their own apples and pears at this family owned and operated U-Pick farm. The farm stand also sells local honey, apple cider, Amish-made apple butter and peach butter, caramel apple dip, and Amish peanut butter.
River's Edge Farm, 8602 Randolph St, Crown Point. 219.947.4466. riversedgefarm.org. Located on the edge of Deep River, this 40-acre farm features hiking paths, pumpkin patches, a petting zoo, a maze and playground, a farm stand, a fishing pond, and more.
