This is the quiet weekend between Veterans Day and the holiday rush, and Saturday carries most of it. Runners start the Jail Break 5K in downtown Crown Point, Humane Indiana Wildlife fills the Porter County Expo Center with owls, La Porte pours craft beer at the Civic Auditorium and the Valparaiso University Jazz Ensemble closes the night. Friday has free music in Valpo. Saturday and Sunday afternoons open an old farm at the dunes and a Gilded Age mansion in Michigan City.
We’re the shop on South Main in Crown Point, and we work with buyers and sellers across Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland. We checked every stop below against the town, park, school or organizer page on Wednesday, Nov. 11. All times are Central Time. Plans change, so open the official link before you head out.
The weekend at a glance
| Day | Event | Time (Central) | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri | Fall Music Fridays with Pamela Rocha | 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. | Journeyman Distillery at The American Factory, 258 S. Campbell St., Valparaiso |
| Fri to Sun | Saw-whets and S’mores owl banding | 6 p.m. start (Indiana Audubon) | Duneside Shelter, Indiana Dunes State Park, 1600 N. 25 E., Chesterton |
| Sat | Jail Break 5K | 8:30 a.m. start | Old Sheriff’s House, 226 S. Main St., Crown Point |
| Sat | Festival of Owls | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Rd., Valparaiso |
| Sat | Art and Artifacts Sale | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Valparaiso Creates Center, 256 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso |
| Sat | Winter Seed Sowing Basics | 10 a.m. to noon | Gibson Woods Nature Preserve, 6201 Parrish Ave., Hammond |
| Sat | Still Crazy exhibit, last day | Gallery hours | South Shore Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster |
| Sat | Big Fish, sensory-friendly show | 1 p.m. | Crown Point High School, 1500 S. Main St., Crown Point |
| Sat and Sun | Chellberg Farm Open House | 1 to 3 p.m. (park listing) | Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm lot, 618 N. Mineral Springs Rd., Porter |
| Sat and Sun | Barker Mansion guided tour | 1 to 2:15 p.m. | The Barker Mansion, 631 Washington St., Michigan City |
| Sat | La Pour Brew and Wine Fest | VIP noon, general 1 to 4 p.m. | La Porte Civic Auditorium, 1001 Ridge St., La Porte |
| Sat | Valparaiso University Jazz Ensemble | 7:30 p.m. | University Theatre, Center for the Arts, 1709 Chapel Drive, Valparaiso |
Friday, November 13
Fall Music Fridays at The American Factory, Valparaiso
Journeyman Distillery keeps live music going on November Fridays at The American Factory, 258 S. Campbell St. This week it is Pamela Rocha, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The music is free and all ages are welcome, so it works for dinner with the kids or a drink after work.
Check details on Journeyman Distillery: Fall Music Fridays.
Saw-whets and S’mores at Indiana Dunes State Park, Friday through Sunday
Indiana Audubon’s Project Owlnet team bands Northern saw-whet owls at the Duneside Shelter in Indiana Dunes State Park, 1600 N. 25 E., Chesterton. Programs start at 6 p.m. Central in November. Volunteers check the nets every hour and band any owls they catch while you watch. Sightings are never guaranteed.
It is free after the state park entrance fee, but you need to register ahead. Bring a lawn chair, warm layers and a flashlight.
Check details on Indiana Audubon: Saw-Whets and S’mores registration and Friends of Indiana Dunes events calendar.
If the Duneland side of Porter County is on your list, read our Chesterton town guide and the Real Estate USA guide to Chesterton Indiana homes.
Saturday, November 14
Jail Break 5K, Crown Point
Race the Region and the Old Sheriff’s House Foundation start this 5K run and walk at 8:30 a.m. in front of the Old Sheriff’s House, 226 S. Main St., the jail John Dillinger walked out of in 1934. The flat course runs along Main Street, and every finisher gets a medal. Online registration is $30, or $35 with a shirt, and race day sign-up opens at 7:30 a.m. for $35 without a shirt, $40 with a shirt. Money raised goes to restoring the Sheriff’s House.
Check details on RunSignup: Jail Break 5K.
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.
Festival of Owls, Porter County Expo Center, Valparaiso
Humane Indiana Wildlife’s Festival of Owls runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Rd. Doors open at 8 a.m. Live owl presentations happen at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m., with an owl calling contest at 11 a.m., children’s book authors reading and a wildlife photography talk in between. There are food trucks and a vendor market too. Tickets are $15 for ages 13 to 64, $10 for ages 4 to 12 and 65 plus, and free for kids 3 and under. Pets stay home.
Check details on Humane Indiana: Festival of Owls.
Art and Artifacts Sale, downtown Valparaiso
The Valparaiso Creative Council fills the Valparaiso Creates Center, 256 Indiana Ave., with hundreds of new and vintage pieces from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Expect paintings, pottery, glass, textiles, photography and jewelry. It is one day only, rain or shine, and they take cash, checks, Venmo, Zelle and PayPal.
Check details on Valparaiso Events: Art and Artifacts Sale.
If Valpo is on your list, read our Valparaiso town guide and the Real Estate USA guide to Valparaiso Indiana homes.
Winter Seed Sowing Basics at Gibson Woods, Hammond
Native plant expert Dolly Foster shows how to start next year’s native garden by sowing seeds outdoors in winter. The class runs from 10 a.m. to noon at Gibson Woods Nature Preserve, 6201 Parrish Ave. It is for ages 10 and up, and Lake County Parks asks you to register ahead at 219-844-3188.
Check details on Lake County Parks: Winter Seed Sowing Basics.
For the north end of Lake County, see our Hammond town guide and the Real Estate USA guide to Hammond Indiana homes.
Last day for Still Crazy at South Shore Arts, Munster
Saturday is the final day of Still Crazy: 40 Years of the Crazy IN Style Artists in the Bachman Gallery at South Shore Arts, 1040 Ridge Road. The show traces a Region graffiti crew that grew into murals, music and mentoring over four decades. Check gallery hours before you go.
Check details on South Shore Arts: Still Crazy.
If Munster is on your list, read our Munster town guide and the Real Estate USA guide to Munster Indiana homes.
Big Fish, sensory-friendly matinee, Crown Point
Crown Point High School Theatre stages a sensory-friendly performance of the musical Big Fish at 1 p.m. at the high school, 1500 S. Main St. House lights stay low, sound stays steady, there is more space between seats and a longer intermission, and nobody minds if you move around or step out. The show is recommended for ages 9 and up. Tickets for this and the regular performances are sold through CPHS Theatre.
Check details on Crown Point High School: sensory-friendly Big Fish.
La Pour Brew and Wine Fest, La Porte
The 11th La Pour Brew and Wine Fest sets up on the floor of the historic La Porte Civic Auditorium, 1001 Ridge St. VIP entry starts at noon and general admission runs from 1 to 4 p.m., with local and regional beer and wine, live music and food. Tickets are sold online and at the Civic Auditorium office.
Check details on La Porte Lakeside: La Pour Brew and Wine Fest and Indiana’s Cool North: La Pour Brew and Wine Fest.
Our La Porte town guide and the Real Estate USA guide to La Porte Indiana homes cover the town itself.
Valparaiso University Jazz Ensemble
The university’s jazz ensemble plays at 7:30 p.m. in the University Theatre at the Center for the Arts, 1709 Chapel Drive, on the Valpo campus. The university’s music page says performances are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.
Check details on Valparaiso University: music performances.
Saturday and Sunday afternoons
Chellberg Farm Open House, Indiana Dunes National Park near Porter
Rangers and volunteers open the Chellberg farmhouse, shown in the photo above, from 1 to 3 p.m. both days. Tour the brick farmhouse, visit the animals and ask about the farm’s history. Park at the Bailly Homestead and Chellberg Farm lot, 618 N. Mineral Springs Rd. A national park pass is required.
Check details on National Park Service: Chellberg Farm Open House.
If the town of Porter is on your list, read our Porter town guide.
Barker Mansion guided tours, Michigan City
The Barker Mansion, 631 Washington St., runs a guided tour at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Guides walk you through the mansion’s Gilded Age rooms with a few behind-the-scenes stops, and a tour takes about 75 to 90 minutes. Tickets are $25 and spots are limited, so book ahead.
Check details on The Barker Mansion: Guided Tour, Nov. 14 and Nov. 15.
If the lakefront in La Porte County is on your list, read our Michigan City town guide and the Real Estate USA guide to Michigan City Indiana homes.
Next weekend: Pink Friday and the holiday markets
Pink Friday returns to downtown Crown Point from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, with sip and shop stops around the square, per the city Weekly Message. Real Estate USA has the full list of holiday markets in Northwest Indiana through Dec. 12. Missed last weekend? Our Nov. 6 to 8 weekend list is still up.
If one town keeps pulling you back
Pick the town that felt easy and see what’s for sale there. Search homes for sale on Realest. 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 Sash at (219) 808-1520.
Planning past this weekend? Real Estate USA keeps a regional events calendar.
Questions about this weekend in Northwest Indiana
What is happening in Northwest Indiana this weekend, Nov. 13 to 15, 2026?
Friday brings free live music to The American Factory in Valpo. Saturday is the busy day, with the Jail Break 5K in Crown Point, the Festival of Owls and an art sale in Valpo, a seed sowing class in Hammond, a brew fest in La Porte, a sensory-friendly Big Fish in Crown Point and the Valparaiso University Jazz Ensemble at night. Chellberg Farm near Porter and the Barker Mansion in Michigan City open for visits Saturday and Sunday, and owl banding runs all three nights at Indiana Dunes State Park.
Where can I see owls in Northwest Indiana this weekend?
Two places. Humane Indiana Wildlife holds the Festival of Owls on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Porter County Expo Center in Valparaiso, with live owl talks all day. Tickets are $15, $10 for ages 4 to 12 and 65 plus, and free for kids 3 and under. At night, Indiana Audubon bands Northern saw-whet owls Friday through Sunday at the Duneside Shelter in Indiana Dunes State Park, starting at 6 p.m. It is free after the park entrance fee, and you need to register ahead.
What is going on in La Porte County this weekend?
The La Pour Brew and Wine Fest fills the La Porte Civic Auditorium on Saturday, with VIP entry at noon and general admission from 1 to 4 p.m. In Michigan City, the Barker Mansion runs guided tours Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. for $25.
What can families do in Northwest Indiana this weekend?
The Festival of Owls in Valpo is built for kids, with storytime, an owl calling contest and live animals. Chellberg Farm near Porter opens the farmhouse and barnyard Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Crown Point High School Theatre gives a sensory-friendly Big Fish on Saturday at 1 p.m., recommended for ages 9 and up.
Where can I search homes if one of these towns feels right?
Search homes for sale on Realest. Then read our town guide and the Real Estate USA living guide for that town. Call Sash at (219) 808-1520 when you want a Realtor to walk homes with you.
Does Realest run these events?
No. Towns, parks, schools, museums, 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
Call Sash at (219) 808-1520, reach Pam at (219) 801-0432, or send us a note. Love Thy Neighbor.
Sources
- Fall Music Fridays, Journeyman Distillery, Nov. 13, 2026 (Pamela Rocha)
- Saw-Whets and S’mores at Indiana Dunes, Indiana Audubon Society
- Friends of Indiana Dunes events calendar, Nov. 13 to 15, 2026
- Jail Break 5K, Race the Region and Old Sheriff’s House Foundation, Nov. 14, 2026
- Festival of Owls, Humane Indiana Wildlife, Nov. 14, 2026
- Art and Artifacts Sale, Valparaiso Events listing, Nov. 14, 2026
- Winter Seed Sowing Basics, Lake County Parks, Nov. 14, 2026
- Still Crazy: 40 Years of the Crazy IN Style Artists, South Shore Arts, through Nov. 14, 2026
- Sensory-friendly Big Fish, Crown Point High School, Nov. 14, 2026
- La Pour Brew and Wine Fest, La Porte Lakeside, Nov. 14, 2026
- La Pour Brew and Wine Fest, Indiana’s Cool North (Northern Indiana Tourism Development Commission)
- Music performances, Valparaiso University, Nov. 14, 2026
- Chellberg Farm Open House, Indiana Dunes National Park, Nov. 14 and 15, 2026
- Guided Tour, The Barker Mansion, Nov. 14, 2026
- Guided Tour, The Barker Mansion, Nov. 15, 2026
- Weekly Message, Nov. 10, 2026, City of Crown Point
Times and details can change. The official page wins.
The top photo of the Chellberg farmhouse near Porter is by Chris Light, taken in September 2004 and cropped, used under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. It shows the farmhouse that opens for this weekend’s open house.