Northwest Indiana

Indiana Weekend Picks

The best events, dining, and activities happening across Northwest Indiana. From Crown Point's charming downtown square to the shoreline trails of the Indiana Dunes, there's always something worth your weekend.

Crown Point Dyer Highland Lowell Munster Portage Schererville St John

A cozy indoor holiday maker market with wooden stalls of handmade gifts under warm string lights

Arts & Culture

Hunt + Gather Holiday Market in Crown Point

The Crown Point Holiday Hunt + Gather Market returns Friday, Dec 11, 2026, at 4 p.m. at 899 S Court St, an evening of local makers and handmade gifts on the city's south side.

Early-morning runners passing the historic red-brick Old Sheriff's House and Jail in Crown Point, Indiana

Outdoors & Nature

Jail Break 5K: A Morning Run Past Crown Point's Old Jail

The Jail Break 5K sends runners past the historic Old Sheriff's House and Jail in downtown Crown Point on Saturday, Nov 14, 2026, with the start around 8:30 a.m., hosted by Race the Region and the Old Sheriff's House Foundation.

Easels with cardinal paintings and glasses of mead in a warm taproom lit by string lights

Arts & Culture

Paint & Drink: Cardinal in the Window at Manic Meadery

Paint & Drink: Cardinal in the Window brings a guided paint-and-sip evening to Manic Meadery in Crown Point on Friday, Nov 13, 2026, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

A bright event space with toy-themed party tables, balloons, and craft stations for kids

Family Fun

Toy Story Friendsgiving: A Family Morning in Crown Point

Toy Story Friendsgiving brings a family-friendly morning of toys and crafts to The Social Suite 219 in Crown Point on Saturday, Nov 14, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.

Rows of vendor tables with collectibles and crafts inside a bright exhibition hall at a county fairgrounds

Arts & Culture

Crown Point Holiday Gun & Knife Show at the Lake County Fairgrounds

The Holiday Gun & Knife Show returns to the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point on Saturday and Sunday, Nov 14 and 15, 2026, with collectibles, crafts, and commercial vendors from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Candlelit carolers gathered on a historic courthouse square dressed in holiday wreaths and garlands at dusk

Arts & Culture

Photos with Santa & Wassailing on the Square in Crown Point

Free photos with Santa at the historic Lake County Courthouse run weekends Nov 28 through Dec 20, 2026, from noon to 4 p.m., capped by Wassailing on the Square on Saturday, Dec 19, at 5:30 p.m.

Shoppers browsing handmade gifts and wreaths at indoor vendor tables under warm string lights

Arts & Culture

Crown Point Winter Market: A Holiday Shopping Day at Wheeler Middle School

The City of Crown Point's annual Winter Market fills Wheeler Middle School on Saturday, Nov 28, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the perfect kickoff to holiday shopping the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

A historic brick courthouse with a clock tower above a town square of lit evergreen trees and warm string lights at night

Family Fun

Crown Point Christmas on the Square: Tree Lighting at the Courthouse

Crown Point lights up the historic courthouse square for Christmas on Friday, Nov 27, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., with the mayor lighting the trees, choir and handbell performances, and hot chocolate and cookies.

Charming downtown Crown Point street at dusk with warm-lit storefronts

Dining & Drinks

Crown Point's Main Street: A Saturday Stroll

Walk the historic Crown Point square, grab coffee at Sip Coffee House, and explore the shops and restaurants lining Main Street. A perfect low-key Saturday.

A decorated town Christmas tree glowing at dusk with families gathered around

Family Fun

Dyer Holiday Tree Lighting: A Friday Evening in Town

Dyer's annual Holiday Tree Lighting glows Friday, Dec 4, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m., kicking off the town's holiday season.

A suburban home covered in a dazzling animated winter light display with glowing holiday figures at night

Family Fun

Rodda's Winter Wonderland: A Neighborhood Light Show in Dyer

Rodda's Winter Wonderland at 2833 Lancelot Lane in Dyer lights up nightly from Thanksgiving through the holiday season, one of Northwest Indiana's largest residential Christmas light displays.

Tables of handmade gifts, wreaths, and knitted decor at a bright school gymnasium holiday craft fair

Arts & Culture

Dyer Holiday Shopping Spree & Craft Show

Dyer's Holiday Shopping Spree & Craft Show returns Saturday, Nov 21, 2026, at Kahler Middle School with local vendors and handmade holiday gifts, an easy way to knock out early Christmas shopping.

Vintage finds and craft tables set up for an indoor community garage sale at a bright civic center

Arts & Culture

Indoor Garage Sale & Cozy Cookoff: A Highland Saturday

Highland Parks & Recreation's Indoor Garage Sale fills Lincoln Center on Saturday, Nov 14, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with vintage finds and local vendors, and America's Antique Mall follows with its Cozy Cookoff from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

A small-town Christmas parade marching down a snowy main street at dusk, Santa waving from a decorated gazebo under glowing trees and string lights

Family Fun

Santa's March & Tree Lighting in Highland

Highland's Santa's March & Tree Lighting returns Saturday, Nov 28, 2026, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at Main Square Park, with the march stepping off around 4:45 p.m. from 1st Street and Highway to Main Square.

Illuminated trees and glowing light arches lining a snowy walking path in a small-town park at night

Family Fun

Highland Festival of Lights: A Glowing Season at Main Square Park

Highland's Festival of Lights turns Main Square Park into a glowing winter scene from late November through early January, with New Year's Eve fireworks and a closing tree-burning in early January.

Rows of American flags lining a memorial avenue in golden morning light with a small gathering at a flagpole monument

Arts & Culture

The Pumpkin Plod: Highland's Thanksgiving Morning Run

Highland's 51st annual Pumpkin Plod 10K and 5K returns Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov 26, 2026, at 9 a.m., a festive race-day start from Highway Avenue and Kennedy Avenue to the Lincoln Center finish line.

A small-town street of holiday-lit homes with shoppers strolling between open houses at dusk

Arts & Culture

Christmas Through Lowell: A Holiday Home Tour Weekend

Lowell's 34th annual Christmas Through Lowell runs Friday through Sunday, Nov 20-22, 2026, a holiday shopping and open-house tour of 80-plus homes and host sites with handmade crafts, antiques, folk art, and ceramics.

A holiday-lit showboat on the canal with vendor stalls and string lights along the street

Family Fun

Lowell Holiday Winterfest: A Saturday of Seasonal Cheer

Lowell's Holiday Winterfest returns Saturday, Dec 5, 2026, with a night-time Santa parade, Santa visits at the Showboat, and the townwide window-decorating contest.

Tables of vintage books and finds at a community book sale on a bright morning

Arts & Culture

Lowell Library Bag Book Sale: Fill a Bag for $3

The Lowell Public Library's $3 Bag Book Sale returns Saturday, Nov 28, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., a bargain-hunter's favorite the day after Thanksgiving.

A classic car driving through a glowing tunnel of colorful holiday lights on a country farm lane at night

Family Fun

Christmas Tyme Lights: A Walk-Through Light Display at Harvest Tyme

Harvest Tyme's Christmas Tyme Lights walk-through display glows along a one-mile lighted trail at 17904 Grant St in Lowell, running select nights, Nov 28 to Dec 28, 2026, from 5 to 9 p.m.

Craft vendor tables with handmade goods filling a bright indoor mall atrium

Arts & Culture

Northwest Indiana Fall Craft & Vendor Market at Southlake Mall

The Northwest Indiana Fall Craft & Vendor Market fills Southlake Mall on Saturday, Nov 14 (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and Sunday, Nov 15 (noon to 6 p.m.) with handmade crafts, home decor, food, and local art.

Colorful indoor trampoline and adventure park with neon accents and trampoline courts

Family Fun

Rainy-Day Fun in Northwest Indiana: Indoor Picks for the Season

When the weather turns cold or wet in Northwest Indiana: Urban Air and Kids Empire in Merrillville, Bellaboo's in nearby Lake Station, Chuck E. Cheese in Merrillville, and bowling in Portage.

A vintage porcelain teapot and delicate teacups on a lace tablecloth with a tiered stand of scones and petit fours

Dining & Drinks

Victoria Jean's Holiday Tea: An Afternoon of Tea & Treats in Munster

Victoria Jean's Tea Room in Munster hosts its Holiday Tea on Friday, Nov 13, 2026, at noon, with a festive afternoon of tea, scones, and seasonal treats for $25 a ticket.

Families gathered on a park lawn for an evening tree lighting with a glowing evergreen and string-lit market stalls

Family Fun

Munster Holiday Season: Light the Night and the Arts & Crafts Fair

Munster lights up for the season with Light the Night, the town's tree-lighting kickoff, on Saturday, Nov 21, 2026, 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Munster Town Hall, followed by the Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair on Sunday, Dec 6, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Warm-lit intimate theater interior with red velvet seats

Arts & Culture

A Night at Theatre at the Center

Catch a professional live performance at this intimate Munster theater. Big productions in a cozy setting, perfect for a date night or a night out, with the holiday classic It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play on stage Dec 9-20.

Community gathering in a park with vendor tents and families on a sunny day

Outdoors & Nature

Weekend Vibes at Munster's Centennial Park

Trails, an amphitheater, and plenty of green space. Centennial Park is Munster's outdoor hub for a relaxed weekend afternoon.

A holiday parade of light-decorated floats rolling down a small-town main street at dusk

Family Fun

Portage Christmas Festival & Kiwanis Parade of Toys

Portage's Christmas Festival returns Saturday, Dec 5, 2026, from 4:30 to 9:45 p.m. around City Hall and Founders Square, with the Kiwanis Parade of Toys, tree lighting, and horse-and-carriage rides.

Market stalls with handmade goods under string lights at a holiday market

Arts & Culture

3 Little Birds Holiday Market: Handmade Finds at the Porter County Expo Center

The 3 Little Birds Holiday Market returns to the Porter County Expo Center on Friday and Saturday, Nov 13 and 14, 2026, with handmade and upcycled gifts, local food, live holiday music, and a specialty beverage bar.

Vendors at decorated tables selling handmade wreaths, ornaments, and gifts in a large community hall with festive garland

Arts & Culture

Portage Christmas Craft Show at Woodland Park

Portage's Christmas Craft Show fills Woodland Park on Saturday and Sunday, Dec 5 and 6, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with 75-plus vendors, carriage rides, live music, food trucks, and Santa. Free with a non-perishable food donation.

A decorated Christmas tree glowing with warm white and rose-gold lights on the lawn of a brick municipal building at dusk

Family Fun

Schererville Tree Lighting: The Chamber Kicks Off the Holidays

The Schererville Chamber of Commerce lights the town's tree on Friday, Nov 27, 2026, at 4 p.m. at 122 E Joliet St, with trees on display through Jan 8, 2027.

Handmade craft booths with ornaments and knit goods under string lights inside a bright school gymnasium

Arts & Culture

Lake Central Holiday Craft Fair: A Day of Local Makers in St. John

The Lake Central Holiday Craft Fair brings local makers to Lake Central High School in St. John on Saturday, Dec 12, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with handmade gifts and holiday decor just in time for the season.

A Grinch-themed holiday photo backdrop and craft tables under warm fairy lights strung across a park pavilion at dusk

Family Fun

A Very Grinchy Christmas: Holiday Family Fun in St. John

St. John's 'A Very Grinchy Christmas' brings a holiday family celebration to Prairie West Park on Saturday, Dec 5, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Long tables of local small bites and dessert trays under string lights in a warm community center food festival

Dining & Drinks

St. John Gobble & Grub Festival: A Night Off From Cooking

St. John's Gobble & Grub Festival returns Saturday, Nov 21, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the St. John Community Center (10216 Cline Ave), with small bites from local restaurants and sweet treats from dessert vendors, all in one night off from cooking.

A car driving through a park light display with decorated Christmas trees and glowing light arches at dusk

Family Fun

St. John Christmas in the Park: Festival of Lights at Prairie West

St. John's 22nd Annual Christmas in the Park opens Friday, Nov 27, 2026, at 7 p.m. at Prairie West Park with a tree-lighting ceremony, fireworks, and live music, then glows through New Year's Day.

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