Things to Do This Weekend in Northwest Indiana | September 11-13, 2026

This is the weekend Northwest Indiana shifts from summer to fall, and the region celebrates it in classic style: popcorn, apples, farm history, and golden dunes. The headline event is the Valparaiso Popcorn Festival on Saturday, September 12, the 47th edition of a hometown celebration honoring Valparaiso's own Orville Redenbacher, and there is plenty more happening across Porter, La Porte, and Lake counties.

Here is your complete guide to everything happening from Friday, September 11 through Sunday, September 13, plus a few of my favorite ways to spend it. Whether you are a longtime local or brand new to the region, this is a great window into why Northwest Indiana is such a fun place to call home.

Friday, September 11

Indiana Dunes Outdoor Adventure Festival: Ranger Camp kicks off

Fall at the dunes starts now. The Indiana Dunes Outdoor Adventure Festival runs from Friday, September 4 through Sunday, September 20, with more than 50 events at parks and preserves across the region. This weekend's showcase is the Ranger Camp 3-Day Expedition, a ranger-led adventure combining biking, hiking, and paddling, and it rolls out Friday, September 11. Many Outdoor Adventure Festival events are free and do not require pre-registration, but the Ranger Camp 3-Day Expedition requires advance registration and is limited to 30 participants. Required park entrance passes and fees also apply. Check the official Indiana Dunes Outdoor Adventure Festival website for times, locations, and the daily schedule.

When: Friday, September 11 through Sunday, September 13
Where: Parks and preserves across the Indiana Dunes region
Cost: Most events free

Downtown Valparaiso warms up

On Friday evening, head to downtown Valparaiso and feel the festival energy arrive. Restaurants and shops around the square on Lincolnway fill with locals and out-of-town visitors alike, making it an easy night for dinner and a stroll before the big day. It is a low-key prologue to a weekend that will be full of popcorn, music, and thousands of visitors by Saturday morning.

Saturday, September 12

47th Annual Valparaiso Popcorn Festival: Central Park Plaza

Saturday belongs entirely to the Valparaiso Popcorn Festival. The 47th annual edition runs 8 AM to 6:30 PM in downtown Valparaiso, celebrating the city's hometown legend, Orville Redenbacher. The day fires off with the Popcorn Panic 5K and 5-mile races, then rolls into the Popcorn Parade, more than 300 arts, crafts, and food vendors, two live music stages, the kids' play zone, and a beer garden. Admission is free. See the official Valparaiso Popcorn Festival page for the full schedule.

When: Saturday, September 12 · 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Where: Downtown Valparaiso, Central Park Plaza, Lincolnway
Cost: Free to attend; food and activities extra

Apple Fest at Garwood Orchards: La Porte County

The Apple Fest at Garwood Orchards runs Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 4 PM at the orchard on W 50 South in La Porte, and it is the region's classic kickoff to autumn. In its 39th year you will find an arts and crafts showcase, wagon rides, live music, the orchard grill, and the bakery, plus u-pick apples in rows that are perfect for golden-hour photos.

When: Saturday and Sunday, September 12-13 · 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Where: Garwood Orchards, 5911 W 50 S, La Porte, IN
Cost: Free entry; apples and food extra

Door Village Harvest Festival: Scipio Park

For a step back in time, the Door Village Harvest Festival sets up Saturday and Sunday at Scipio Township Park on Joliet Road in the historic village of Door. Expect antique cars and tractors, crafts, food, horse-and-wagon tours, a living cemetery tour with live actors, and the pancake breakfast. Parking is $3, and the fee goes to Scipio Park's upkeep.

When: Saturday and Sunday, September 12–13 · 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Where: Scipio Park, 3501 W Joliet Road, Door Village, IN
Cost: Free admission; $3 parking

Saturday mornings belong to the markets

Saturday morning also belongs to the farmers markets. The Chesterton European Market fills downtown Chesterton with local fruit, produce, and crafts, while the Crown Point Farmers Market at Bulldog Park wraps up before lunch. Both are an affordable way to start the day with the season before the festival crowds peak. For more on the historic square, see our Crown Point neighborhood guide.

Sunday, September 13

Second day at the orchards and the parks

Sunday is your last day for the scheduled Apple Fest at Garwood Orchards weekend hours, while The Farm Market is open 9 AM–6 PM, while u-pick is scheduled from 9 AM–5:30 PM. Garwood recommends calling ahead because picking conditions and hours can change. The Door Village Harvest Festival also runs its final day with lunch and music in the park. The two sit about an hour apart, so the La Porte County fall driving loop is an easy way to enjoy both.

La Porte Municipal Airport Air Fair & Pancake Breakfast

Sunday is the La Porte Municipal Airport Air Fair & Pancake Breakfast, a free family day on the tarmac at the airport off State Road 39. The official 2026 flyer confirms the morning pancake breakfast along with Discovery Flights ($100), Helicopter Rides ($60), and Touch-a-Truck for the kids, making it a fun, low-key way to close out the weekend before heading to the dunes or the orchards.

When: Sunday, September 13
Where: La Porte Municipal Airport, 2341 S State Road 39, La Porte, IN
Cost: Free to attend; Discovery Flights ($100), Helicopter Rides ($60)

Indiana Dunes for the last warm colors of the year

The Indiana Dunes National Park is a sweet spot on fall weekends: the crowds thin, and the golden grass and beach trails turn postcard-perfect in the late afternoon. The National Park Service events calendar lists festival programs, pass fees, and trail conditions. A walk on the West Beach boardwalk is a calm, low-cost way to close out the weekend.

How should you plan your weekend?

Friday: Start the Indiana Dunes outdoor weekend, or take an easy evening stroll through downtown Valparaiso before the festival.

Saturday: Spend the day at the Valparaiso Popcorn Festival, then drive the La Porte County loop to Garwood Orchards and Door Village for apples and farm history.

Sunday: Start at the La Porte Municipal Airport Air Fair & Pancake Breakfast for Discovery Flights ($100), Helicopter Rides ($60), and Touch-a-Truck, then an orchard afternoon and golden-hour dunes before the work week.

One thing I love about weekends like this: they show you how everyday life actually feels in Northwest Indiana. Festivals, orchards, parks, and markets are part of the rhythm here, and there is no better time to discover it than September. If you are thinking about making this your home, I would love to help you find the right fit. I bring 9 years of experience, 80+ homes sold, and a genuine love for this community to every conversation. Reach out anytime on my contact page for a free consultation or market analysis, or browse the neighborhood guides to find the town that fits you. For more ideas anytime, check our complete guide to Northwest Indiana activities, and catch up on last weekend in our Things to Do September 4-7 guide.