Things to Do This Weekend in Northwest Indiana | September 25-27, 2026

This weekend in Northwest Indiana brings one of the biggest festival lineups of the fall. The Highland Backyard BBQ Festival at Main Square Park begins Thursday, September 24, while the 16th and final Valpo Brewfest in Valparaiso and the Wanatah Scarecrow Festival in La Porte County all land between Friday, September 25 and Sunday, September 27, joined by farmers markets, a free family movie in Munster, and live music across the region.

Here is your complete guide to everything happening from Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 27, plus a few of my favorite ways to spend it. If you are new to the area or just visiting, this is a wonderful window into how the region gathers, celebrates, and welcomes everyone in.

Friday, September 25

Backyard BBQ Festival fires up in Highland

Highland's Backyard BBQ Festival begins Thursday, September 24 and keeps rolling through Sunday at Main Square Park, 3001 Ridge Road. Hosted by Highland Parks and Recreation, the fifth annual festival brings a beer garden, barbecue and food vendors, crafts, carnival rides, children's activities, and live music at the gazebo. The official hours are Thursday, September 24: 5:00–10:30 PM, Friday, September 25: 5:00–11:00 PM, Saturday, September 26: 2:00–11:00 PM, and Sunday, September 27: 2:00–9:00 PM, with JUMP – America's Van Halen Experience closing the festival on Sunday. The official Highland Parks and Recreation event page has the full lineup.

When: Thursday, September 24: 5:00–10:30 PM · Friday, September 25: 5:00–11:00 PM · Saturday, September 26: 2:00–11:00 PM · Sunday, September 27: 2:00–9:00 PM
Where: Main Square Park, 3001 Ridge Road, Highland, IN
Cost: Free to attend; food, drinks, and rides extra

Wing & Roll at Bulldog Park in Crown Point

Friday evening in Crown Point, Mental Health America hosts Wing & Roll at Bulldog Park, the city's gathering spot across from the historic square. It is a fun, community-minded way to kick off the weekend in one of my favorite Lake County downtowns. Check the City of Crown Point entertainment calendar for start time, ticket details, and anything else you need before you go.

When: Friday, September 25, 2026 (evening)
Where: Bulldog Park, Crown Point, IN
Cost: See the city calendar for ticket details

Brewfest warm-up and breweries with live music

Valparaiso's big Saturday event starts Friday night with the Brewfest Biergarten Kick-Off, and Four Corners Winery in Valparaiso hosts its 5th Annual Food Truck Festival on Friday. The Valparaiso Events calendar is the best place to check times for both. Over in Michigan City, Zorn Brew Works opens the weekend with live music from Craig Turner at 7:30 PM, and the South Shore CVA regional events calendar keeps a running list of more shows around the region.

When: Friday, September 25, 2026
Where: Valparaiso and Michigan City
Cost: Varies by event

Saturday, September 26

Valpo Brewfest at Central Park Plaza

The headline act of the weekend is the Valpo Brewfest, billed as the 16th and final edition of the festival. It runs 1:00 to 4:30 PM at Central Park Plaza in downtown Valparaiso and features more than 200 beers, ciders, and meads from regional and national breweries, plus live music in the heart of the city. This is a 21-and-over event, so plan your day around it and check the Valparaiso Events website for tickets and the pour list.

When: Saturday, September 26 · 1:00 to 4:30 PM
Where: Central Park Plaza, Valparaiso, IN
Cost: 21+; ticket details on the Valparaiso Events website

Wanatah Scarecrow Festival, day two

The Wanatah Scarecrow Festival runs all three days at Scarecrow Square (Main and Cross Streets) in Wanatah, and Saturday is its biggest day, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Expect 175+ craft vendors, 20+ food vendors, children's rides, scarecrow sculpting, the Scarecrow Scamper and 5K/3K fun runs, a car show, live music, and bingo, with free entertainment all day.

When: Friday-Sunday, September 25-27 (Saturday 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM)
Where: Scarecrow Square, Main and Cross Streets, Wanatah, IN
Cost: Free admission; food, rides, and some activities may have separate costs

Farmers markets and a free family movie

Saturday morning brings the Crown Point Farmers Market at Bulldog Park, a great stop for local produce and fall treats, with the full schedule on the Crown Point entertainment calendar. Families can head to Munster, where the Lake County Public Library screens the free family movie 'Matilda' at 1:30 PM. Over in Michigan City, the Farmed & Forged farmers market at 800 Washington Street holds its final Saturday market of the season from 8:00 AM to noon. The Visit Michigan City La Porte events page lists market details and more.

Outdoors after dark in Valparaiso

Valparaiso Parks and Recreation makes the most of the near-full moon with a Full Moon Paddle Night at Rogers-Lakewood Park on Saturday evening, and Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest leads a native plant seed collection workshop from 10:00 AM to noon. See the Valparaiso Parks and Recreation calendar for meeting times, gear requirements, and registration. Michigan City rounds out Saturday with live music from Butterfield Creek at Zorn Brew Works at 7:30 PM.

When: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Where: Rogers-Lakewood Park and Gabis Arboretum, Valparaiso, IN
Cost: Varies by program; registration may be required

Sunday, September 27

Scarecrow Festival finale and the Backyard BBQ close

Sunday is the final day of the Wanatah Scarecrow Festival, running 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and the last day of the Backyard BBQ Festival in Highland, where JUMP – America's Van Halen Experience closes the festival on the gazebo stage from 6:30 to 9:00 PM. Both are worth the trip, and together they bookend the weekend with classic small-town Indiana energy.

Final markets and lakeside music

Downtown La Porte hosts the final Sunday market at the Farmed & Forged Market Hall, 618 Lincolnway, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, a wonderful way to stock up on local goods before the season winds down. In Michigan City, Shoreline Brewery keeps its Summer Sunday series going with live music from Freek Johnson at 3:00 PM. If you would rather end quietly, the trails and shoreline of Indiana Dunes National Park are gorgeous in the low autumn sun.

When: Sunday, September 27, 2026
Where: La Porte and Michigan City, plus parks across the region
Cost: Markets are free to browse; music and park entry vary

How should you plan your weekend?

Friday: Grab wings at Bulldog Park in Crown Point, or drive out for the Brewfest Biergarten Kick-Off in Valparaiso after starting the weekend at the Backyard BBQ Festival in Highland.

Saturday: Start at the Crown Point Farmers Market or the Wanatah Scarecrow Festival, take the kids to 'Matilda' at the Munster library, and spend the afternoon at the Valpo Brewfest if the adults have a sitter.

Sunday: Close out the Backyard BBQ Festival in Highland or the Scarecrow Festival in Wanatah, browse the Farmed & Forged Sunday market in La Porte, and finish with sunset music at Shoreline Brewery in Michigan City.

Weekends like this remind me why Northwest Indiana feels like such a special place to call home. Festivals, parks, farms, and neighbors who show up for each other, all within a short drive of each other. If you are thinking about making this area 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 18-20 guide.