Griffith Oktoberfest runs all three days at Central Park. Friday night brings the Whole Hog Invitational to Bulldog Park in Crown Point, and the season’s final Biergarten runs Friday and Saturday at Sunset Hill in Valparaiso. Saturday is the busy day. Valparaiso has its Fall Harvest Festival, Hobart has Pumpkins in the Park and a golf cart parade, Schererville hosts the DAV Walk, and the telescopes open for a free night near Lowell. On Sunday the Crown Point Fire Department opens its station for the annual Fire Prevention Open House.
We’re the shop on South Main in Crown Point. We checked every stop below against the town, park or organizer page on Wednesday, Oct. 7. All times are Central Time, which Lake and Porter counties use. Plans change, so open the official link before you head out.
The weekend at a glance
| Day | Event | Time (Central) | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri to Sun | Griffith Oktoberfest | Fri 5 to 10:30 p.m., Sat 2 to 10 p.m., Sun 2 to 8 p.m. | Central Park, 600 N. Broad St., Griffith |
| Fri | Whole Hog Invitational | 5 to 10 p.m. | Bulldog Park, 183 S. West St., Crown Point |
| Fri and Sat | Season Final Biergarten at Sunset Hill | Fri 3 to 9 p.m., Sat noon to 9 p.m. | Sunset Hill Farm County Park, 775 N. Meridian Road, Valparaiso |
| Sat | Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Walk | Registration 8:30 to 10 a.m., ceremony 10 a.m. | Schererville Police Department, 25 E. Joliet St., Schererville |
| Sat | Valparaiso Fall Harvest Festival | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Central Park Plaza, 68 Lafayette St., Valparaiso |
| Sat | Hobart Golf Cart Parade and Pumpkins in the Park | Parade 3:30 p.m., park 4 to 6 p.m. | City Ball Park, 400 E. 8th St., Hobart |
| Sat | Observatory Open House | 6 to 9 p.m. | Calumet Astronomy Center, 19110 Chase St., Lowell |
| Sun | Crown Point Fire Prevention Open House | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Crown Point Fire Station, 126 N. East St., Crown Point |
Friday, October 9
Griffith Oktoberfest at Central Park, Friday through Sunday
The Town of Griffith runs Oktoberfest all weekend at Central Park, 600 N. Broad St. Friday goes from 5 to 10:30 p.m., Saturday from 2 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 8 p.m. Look for German food, German beer and wine, live German music and a pumpkin patch.
Kids get their own stretch Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. under the Big Tent, with free pumpkins and decorating kits for kids 12 and under. Leave the cooler at home. The town bans outside coolers and outside alcohol, and it says the rule is strictly enforced.
Official listing: Town of Griffith: Griffith Oktoberfest.
Thinking about Griffith for more than one weekend? Start with our Griffith town guide, then the Real Estate USA guide to Griffith Indiana homes.
Whole Hog Invitational at Bulldog Park, Crown Point
Our South Main neighbor Meraki Hospitality Group (110 S. Main St.) and Indiana Grown host the first Whole Hog Invitational Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. at Bulldog Park, 183 S. West St. Five chef teams cook with heritage pork from Howe Farms and ingredients from Indiana producers. You taste every dish and vote for the champion.
There’s a DJ, live music from Free Joel, local farmers and producers, and bounce houses for the kids. The City of Crown Point brings its Mobile Sensory Hub. A 50/50 raffle benefits NWI No Child Hungry. It’s a ticketed event, so check current prices on the Meraki page before you go.
Official: Meraki Hospitality Group: Whole Hog Invitational. The City of Crown Point lists it in The Hub, 2026 Issue 4 (PDF).
Crown Point is home base for us. Our Crown Point town guide and the Real Estate USA guide to Crown Point Indiana homes are the next read if a move is on your mind.
Season Final Biergarten at Sunset Hill, Valparaiso, Friday and Saturday
Porter County Parks and Brew Fest Partners close out the 2026 Biergarten run at Sunset Hill Farm County Park, 775 N. Meridian Road, Valparaiso. The final dates are Oct. 8 to 10. Friday goes from 3 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. Admission is free.
Bring the family. The Biergarten area has a playground, and the park has plenty of parking.
Official: Porter County Parks: Biergarten. Park address: Sunset Hill Farm County Park.
Valpo gets two stops this weekend, so see the Fall Harvest Festival below too. If Valpo keeps pulling you back, read our Valparaiso town guide and the Real Estate USA guide to Valparaiso Indiana homes.
Saturday, October 10
Disabled American Veterans Walk in Schererville
The annual DAV Walk starts at the Schererville Police Department, 25 E. Joliet St. Registration runs 8:30 to 10 a.m. The opening ceremony is at 10 a.m. at the St. John Township Veterans Memorial in front of the police department. At 10:30 a.m. the group walks to Redar Park, and a light lunch runs 11 a.m. to noon.
Registration is $25 for adults and $10 for students. The town page says you can pre-register at dav17in.com, but that chapter site still lists the original Aug. 22 date. Go by the town page for the Oct. 10 walk, or register on site from 8:30 to 10 a.m.
Official: Town of Schererville: DAV Walk on October 10, 2026.
For more on the town, see our Schererville town guide and the Real Estate USA guide to Schererville Indiana homes.
Valparaiso Fall Harvest Festival at Central Park Plaza
Valparaiso Events runs the Fall Harvest Festival Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Central Park Plaza, 68 Lafayette St., home of the 1st Source Bank Amphitheater. Kids can paint pumpkins. There’s apple cider, caramel apples, bounce houses and face painting.
It lines up with the last day of the Valparaiso Market, so bring a bag for the market too.
Official: Valparaiso Events: Fall Harvest Festival.
Pair it with the Biergarten for a full Valpo Saturday. More on downtown in our Valparaiso town guide.
Hobart Golf Cart Parade and Pumpkins in the Park
The City of Hobart lists the Halloween Golf Cart Parade at 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Pumpkins in the Park with a concert from 4 to 6 p.m. The city’s 2026 flyer names a new spot this year, City Ball Park, 400 E. 8th St. Expect candy, music, a costume contest and trunk-or-treat spaces run by local businesses and groups.
The city takes the first 15 costume contest entries in each category. It also says the parade route is different this year because of construction at Festival Park.
Official: City of Hobart: 2026 Events and Halloween in the Park. Venue: City of Hobart: Pumpkins in the Park 2026 flyer (PDF).
For Hobart past the parade, see our Hobart town guide and the Real Estate USA guide to Hobart Indiana homes.
Observatory Open House near Lowell
Lake County Parks and the volunteers of the Conway Astronomical Society open the Calumet Astronomy Center, 19110 Chase St., Lowell, Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. It’s free, and you can come and go. This month’s sky tour covers Saturn and the stars of Capricorn, the sea goat. Volunteers run the telescopes and take questions.
Official: Lake County Parks: Observatory Open House.
If south Lake County is on your list, read our Lowell town guide and the Real Estate USA guide to Lowell Indiana homes.
Sunday, October 11
Crown Point Fire Prevention Open House
The Crown Point Fire Department opens the fire station at 126 N. East St. on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for its annual Fire Prevention Open House. Bring the kids and your fire safety questions.
The City of Crown Point lists it in The Hub, 2026 Issue 4 (PDF).
Sunday also has Griffith Oktoberfest from 2 to 8 p.m. if you want one more afternoon out.
If a town keeps winning your weekends
Pay attention to that. Pick the town that felt easy and look at what’s for sale there. Search homes for sale on realest.com. Every town guide we keep is on our communities page.
When you want to talk it through, start on Buy or Sell, send a short question through Ask Realest, or call the shop at (219) 801-0432.
Planning past this weekend? Real Estate USA keeps a longer October 2026 events calendar for the region.
Questions about this weekend in Northwest Indiana
What is happening in Northwest Indiana this weekend, Oct. 9 to 11, 2026?
Griffith Oktoberfest runs Friday through Sunday at Central Park. Friday has the Whole Hog Invitational at Bulldog Park in Crown Point and the final Sunset Hill Biergarten in Valparaiso, which also runs Saturday. Saturday has the Valparaiso Fall Harvest Festival, the DAV Walk in Schererville, Hobart’s golf cart parade and Pumpkins in the Park, and an Observatory Open House near Lowell. Sunday has the Crown Point Fire Prevention Open House. We are licensed in Indiana and Illinois.
What is there to do in Crown Point this weekend?
The Whole Hog Invitational runs Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. at Bulldog Park, 183 S. West St. It is a ticketed chef competition. The Crown Point Fire Department holds its annual Fire Prevention Open House Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the fire station, 126 N. East St.
Are there free events in Northwest Indiana this weekend?
Yes. Admission is free at the Sunset Hill Biergarten in Valparaiso, open Friday 3 to 9 p.m. and Saturday noon to 9 p.m. The Observatory Open House at the Calumet Astronomy Center near Lowell is free Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m.
What time zone are Northwest Indiana event times in?
Central Time. Lake and Porter counties keep Central Time, the same as Chicago and one hour behind Indianapolis.
Where can I search homes if one of these towns feels right?
Search homes for sale on realest.com. Then read the realest.net town guide and the Real Estate USA living guide for that town. Call the shop on South Main at (219) 801-0432 when you want a Realtor on it.
Does Realest run these events?
No. Towns, parks departments, nonprofits and local businesses run them. We check each official page and post one list from our shop at 112 S. Main St., Suite B, in Crown Point.
Talk to the shop
Realest, 112 S. Main St., Suite B, Crown Point, IN 46307
(219) 801-0432. Love Thy Neighbor.
Sources
- Town of Griffith: Griffith Oktoberfest, Oct. 9 to 11, 2026
- Meraki Hospitality Group: Whole Hog Invitational, Oct. 9, 2026
- City of Crown Point: The Hub, 2026 Issue 4 (Whole Hog Oct. 9, Fire Prevention Open House Oct. 11)
- Porter County Parks: Biergarten, final 2026 dates Oct. 8 to 10
- Town of Schererville: DAV Walk on October 10, 2026
- Valparaiso Events: Fall Harvest Festival, Oct. 10, 2026
- City of Hobart: 2026 Events (Pumpkins in the Park and Golf Cart Parade, Oct. 10)
- City of Hobart: Pumpkins in the Park 2026 flyer, City Ball Park, 400 E. 8th St. (PDF)
- Lake County Parks: Observatory Open House, Oct. 10, 2026
Times and details can change. The official page wins.
Top photo: Hayride at Buckley Homestead County Park, Lowell, October 2019 by Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized to 1200 by 800. Buckley Homestead is in the Lowell area, a short drive from Saturday’s Observatory Open House. Its hayrides are not on this weekend’s list.