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Indiana Dunes State Park to feature special fall events

September 01, 2010

Catch up with the fall season and all its beauty at Indiana Dunes State Park.

Autumn at the Dunes begins with a slow dance of turning leaves and crescendos into a flurry of vibrant reds, oranges and yellows. Whether you’re looking to experience history first-hand, view migrating birds up close or listen to scary stories, Labor Day is hardly the end of fun at the state park.

The state park starts the season Sept. 11 and 12, with History Comes Alive Weekend, featuring  a reenactment of the landing of the Ouiatenon Brigade along the beaches of Lake Michigan. Portraying French-Canadian voyageurs of the 1700s, the brigade prides itself in its authenticity of dress, food and general lifestyle. The group encampment will be located near the Pavilion and available for visitors to experience throughout the weekend. Interpretive naturalists will lead hikes to the encampment from the nature center. Other programs highlighting the park’s early history, including Native American re-enacting at the nature center, will occur both days on Sept. 11.

The feature event of the season is the Northwest Indiana Storytelling Festival on Oct. 9. The festival takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the nature center auditorium. Two special ghost story sessions at the park's Wilson Shelter on Saturday night will cap the program.

“Howl”oween returns to haunt the state park on Oct. 30. Guests can spook their campsite with decorations for prizes and dress up their goblins for trick or treating Saturday night in the campground. Special programs on owls, bats and spiders will occur throughout the weekend, culminating in spooky night hikes to various park locations. Camping reservations fill fast and can be made at www.camp.IN.gov or at 1-866-6CAMPIN.

The state park will welcome back the second year of owl banding in October and November.  From mid-October through mid-November, guests can join state park naturalists for evenings at the nature center as they capture, band and release the smallest owls in Indiana, the Northern saw-whet owl. Exact dates and times are determined from forecasted weather conditions; guests can inquire at the nature center for more specifics as the banding season approaches.

All events are free after paying the standard gate fee of $5 Friday-Sunday for in-state vehicles and $10 daily for out-of-state vehicles. For more information about these events or any other interpretive programs at the state park, call the nature center at (219) 926-1390.

Check out the Duneland Calendar for more area events!