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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December 2025-March 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 www.recreation.gov/sitepass/indu. 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 days:

• President’s Day (February 16)
• Memorial Day (May 25)
• Flag Day (June 14)
• Independence Day weekend (July 3–5)
• 110th Birthday of the National Park Service (August 25)
• Constitution Day (Sept. 17)
• Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday (Oct. 27)
• Veteran’s Day (November 11)

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

Special Events

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Holiday Traditions at Chellberg at Farm Chellberg Farmhouse

Saturday December 13
1:00 pm–3:00 pm
Join us as we celebrate “Holiday Traditions in the Dunes.” The program takes place at Chellberg Farmhouse. Head out to Chellberg Farm to learn more about the region’s cultural history while enjoying a fun-filled afternoon with family and friends.

Artist-in-Residence Art Display at Paul H. Douglas Center

Every Wednesday – Sunday
9:30 am–3:00 pm
Join us to celebrate and be inspired by a new exhibit including 21 art pieces at the Douglas Center, all inspired by the Indiana Dunes. The Artist-in-Residence program offers professional artists the opportunity to live in the park for two weeks to create art that helps generate appreciation and support for the national park. In exchange, the artist provides public engagement and donates a piece of art created during their stay.

Snowshoeing in Miller Woods* at Paul H. Douglas Center

Wednesdays-Sundays in December January February and March
(Except March 7 and 8)
9:30 am–3:00 pm
Try snowshoeing through the beautiful Miller Woods. Snowshoeing needs a minimum of a 6-inch snowpack for safety. A limited number of snowshoes are available for loan, or you can bring your own. Inquire at the front desk or call 219-395-1824 to check for appropriate conditions.

Martin Luther King Day Celebration Paul H. Douglas Center

Monday, January 19
1:00 pm- 2:00 pm
Celebrate and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders with the movie Martin Luther King “I Have a Dream.”

Maple Sugar Time Festival at Chellberg Farm

Saturday and Sunday, March 7 and 8
10:00 am–3:00 pm
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.

Friday

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Music Heritage Series Concert (Call 219-395-1882 for location)

• Friday December 19
  7:30 pm–9:00 pm
• Friday January 16
  7:30 pm–9:00 pm
• Friday February 20
  7:30 pm–9:00 pm
• Friday March 20
  7:30 pm–9:00 pm

Come out for a night of music and song. The Save the Tunes Council is a group of local musicians devoted to preserving and passing on folk songs using a variety of traditional musical instruments.

Saturday

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Winter Maritime Wanderers at Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk

• Saturday December 6
  8:30 am–10:30 am
• Saturday January 3
  8:30 am–10:30 am
• Saturday February 7
  8:30 am–10:30 am
• Saturday March 7
  8:30 am–10:30 am

Join Dunes-Calment Audubon expert birders to look for and identify water birds visiting Lake Michigan. Bring your binoculars and chairs to view numerous bird species in the water or over the lake. Be prepared for a variety of winter weather. * If there is significant snowfall the program will be cancelled.

Chellberg Farm Open House* at Chellberg Farmhouse

Every Saturday in December, January, February, and March
1:00 pm–3:00 pm
Except December 13 (Holiday Traditions) and March 7 (Maple Sugar Time)
Stop by the historic Chellberg Farm to tour the farmhouse, visit the animals, and hear stories of the area’s history from rangers and park volunteers. This program is sponsored by Friends of Indiana Dunes. For more information on how to join The Friends, visit dunefriends.org.

Sunday

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Chellberg Farm Open House* at Chellberg Farmhouse

Every Sunday in December, January, February, and March
1:00 pm–3:00 pm
Except March 8 (Maple Sugar Time)
Stop by the historic Chellberg Farm to tour the farmhouse, visit the animals, and hear stories of the area’s history from rangers and park volunteers. This program is sponsored by Friends of Indiana Dunes. For more information on how to join The Friends, visit dunefriends.org.

Critter Time* at Paul H. Douglas Center

Every Sunday in December, January, February, and March
1:30 pm–2:30 pm
Except March 8 (Maple Sugar Time)
Come learn about the ambassador animals at the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education! Find out why they're special, what they eat, where they live, and how park staff cares for them. Visit and find answers to these questions and more!

Education and Outreach

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Ranger-Guided Education and Outreach Programs at Paul H. Douglas Center

Dates and times vary per request in January, February, and March
Is your school or organization interested in a Ranger-guided program? Please visit Indiana Dunes National Park’s education webpage for more information and instructions on how to request a program. Please note, all Ranger-led programming is currently taking place at the Paul H. Douglas Center and its associated trails.

Volunteering - Drop In

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Trash Trekkers at Indiana Dunes Visitor Center and Paul H. Douglas Center

Daily – Indiana Dunes Visitor Center
8:30 am–4:00 pm
Wednesday-Sundays - Paul H Douglas Center
9:00 am–3:00 pm
Lend a hand in our drop-in litter cleanup program. Simply check in at the Visitor Center to receive trash bags, then choose from one of our many beach areas or hiking trails to collect trash. Visitors are awarded with a free, reusable water bottle for filling up their bags. Please leave trash in trash cans at the site you hiked.

Chellberg Farm Care Chellberg Parking Lot

Saturday, December 20, January 17, February 21, and March 21
9:00 am–12:00 pm
Every 3rd Saturday of the month
Meet up with a ranger and fellow volunteers to help care for the Chellberg Farm. Equipment and protective gear will be provided.

*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.