Deam Lake Nature Center now open year round
The Nature Center at Deam Lake is open year-round to better accommodate school groups and visitors. Operated by a full-time naturalist, the Nature Center offers a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the environment of southern Indiana. Several programs are offered throughout the year. More are being developed. Deam Lake programs will alternate based on time of year, and be offered on a weekly basis. Go to dnr.IN.gov/forestry/6463.htm for more information.
Halloween happenings at DNR State Parks and Reservoirs
Indiana Dunes State Park
- Oct. 25/26: "Howl"oween. Trick-or-treating, campsite decorating and more. Enjoy night hikes to the famous pet cemetery, live bat programs and spooky stories.
Brookville-Whitewater Reservoir
- Oct. 24/25: "Spooktacular" Camping. Enjoy a Friday night campfire at Mounds SRA (Brookville Lake ) CampStore , as well as at the WhitewaterMemorial State Park naturalist cabin. A fun, spooky craft and refreshments will be available. On Saturday, both sites will have a campsite decorating contest, trick-or-treating in the campgrounds, spooky crafts, live music, and spooky bingo. Mounds SRA will host a cornhole tournament and costume contest (for kids, adults and pets). Call (765) 647-2657 for schedule.
- Oct. 18/25: Haunted Hayrides. Dave Nelson, saddle barn concessionaire, is offering hayrides on both dates, and will host karaoke and a costume contest the evening of the 25th.
- Oct. 24-26: Turkey Run SP's spooky Halloween Camping Weekend. Bring flashlights for the famous Monster Egg Hunt, hike the Haunted Trail, trick-or-treat in the campground, make jack-o-lanterns, enter yourself or your pet in a costume contest, and bring supplies to make your campsite the scariest. Call (765) 597-2635 x322 or x323 for more information. Make camping reservations at CAMP.IN.gov or 1-866-622-6746.
Fort Harrison State Park
- Oct. 25, 7 p.m., A Soldier's Haunting: An evening of scary good fun, (317) 591-0122 for information.
Prophetstown State Park
- Oct. 31:
- 2 p.m., Going Batty: Meet at the park office to hear fun facts about bats and make your own spooky bat puppet.
- 4 p.m, Pumpkin Painting: Buy a pumpkin from the camp host or naturalist, or bring your own to the Prairie View picnic area to paint it.
- 7 p.m., Halloween Storytime: Meet one of the Tippecanoe Storytellers for a half-hour of hair-raising stories around the campfire. Hope you’re not scared of the dark!
- 8 p.m., Campsite Decoration Contest: Decorate your campsite to make it as spooky as possible and you might win a prize. Winners notified on Saturday morning.
- Remember to stop by the camp host to pick up a pumpkin.
- Nov. 1
- 1 p.m., Halloween Games, Coneflower Shelter, games and fun prizes. Games include bobbing for apples, pin the broom on the witch, and other fun activities.
- 3 p.m., Costume Judging Contest, Coneflower Shelter. Have your costume judged before heading off for trick-or-treating.
- 4 p.m., Dog Costume Contest: Dress up man's best friend and take to Coneflower Shelter for costume judging.
Pokagon State Park
- Oct. 25: 17th Annual Ghost Tales
and other Stories of the Season
Local professional storytellers Lou Ann Homan and Steve Etheridge will perform in the park’s CCC Shelter. Two sessions, one at 6:30 p.m. for parents with younger children and one at 8:30 p.m. for older children and adults. Program fee for each session is $1 per person. Please plan to attend just one session. Seating is limited for both. Lunches and picnic tables will be provided, but there will be some space for lawn chairs. Bblankets are a good idea; building is not heated. Parking is available in the North Beach parking lot. A flashlight is recommended for the walk back to the shelter. Early arrival is recommended for this popular event. The evening is sponsored by Pokagon State Park Interpretive Services and Potawatomi Inn. Normal park entrance fee charged.
Cecil M. Hardin Reservoir ( Mansfield Mill/Raccoon SRA)
- Oct. 24-26: Raccoon SRA Halloween Camping Weekend, activities include a "Raccowl" egg hunt, trick-or-treating through the campground, pumpkin carving, and costume and campsite decorating contests. Each contest will have prizes awarded to the winners in each age group, except for campsite decorating, which is viewed as a family or group event. Age groups are 5 and younger, 6 to 11, and 12 to adult. In the evening, after the contests, there will be a hayride through the campground for a nominal fee. All other programs are free of charge, but donations will be accepted to defray the cost of decorations and prizes.
Potato Creek State Park
- Oct. 25: Halloween Happenings – Campsite decoration contest, trick-or-treating, pot luck dinner and more. Co-sponsored by the Friends of Potato Creek.
O’Bannon Woods State Park
- Oct. 24 - 25 “Halloween Camping Weekend” – Enjoy the cool nights and smell of autumn in the park's Class A campground. Decorate your campsite in the spirit of the season and participate in some family fun, crafts, and candy. Bring your secret family crock-pot recipe of chili for the second annual chili cook-off. Call (812) 738-8234 for details.
Chain O’Lakes State Park
- Oct.
25: All Hallow’s
Eve
Join us for an all-day celebration, noon* , Community Chili Pot starts, to participate, please bring 1 or 2 of the following ingredient donations to the tent area of the playground: diced onions, canned chili beans, canned tomatoes, tomato juice or V-8 juice, or crackers. The chili is cooked by the Pettigrew family and friends. Be sure to thank them.1- 3 p.m. and 5:30-7 p.m., Hay Rides … leaving from the playground area. $1/rider. 1:30 - 2:30 p.m- Decorating trick-or-treat bags and pumpkin at the DNR tent in the playground area; 3 – 4 p.m, Trick-or-Treat in the campground; 4 p.m., Deadline to register at camp store for Campsite Decorating Contest;4 - 4:30 p.m., Costume Parade and Contest at the DNR tent. Categories: Ages 0-7, 8-12, 13 and older, and Pets; 5-6 p.m, Community chili served under DNR tent. Bring your own bowl and spoon; 6 p.m., best decorated campsite selected; dusk-10 p.m., Haunted Trail, courtesy of the Garrett Boy Scouts. Meet at the Sunny Ridge Shelter.
Mounds State Park
- Oct. 24-25: dusk to 11 p.m., Halloween Hayride & Haunted Trail. Join us Friday and Saturday nights for a hayride down the haunted trails of Mounds State Park .
McCormick’s Creek State Park
- Oct. 31-Nov. 1: Friends of McCormick's Creek State Park presents the third annual Fall-0-ween Festival. Friday evening features live creatures, including bats, owls and seasonal surprises. Saturday activities include mask-making, nature fear factor, campground decor contest and treat time, evening Youth Haunted Trail and later Family Haunted Trail. For more information, call (812)829-4344.
