Family-Friendly Fall Activities Near Merrillville 2026

Valparaiso 15 mi Free

Community partners hand out candy and giveaways alongside on-site food vendors.

Illustration of two tiny costumed figures near a flag among tall golden cornstalks, with small farm houses and pumpkins (Harvest Tyme Fall Festival & Pumpkin Patch)

Harvest Tyme Fall Festival & Pumpkin Patch

Sep 19 – Oct 25

Lowell 13 mi $$

Northwest Indiana fall festival with corn mazes, amusement rides, and pumpkin picking.

Wanatah Scarecrow Festival

Sep 25 – Sep 27

Wanatah 23 mi

Fall festival featuring handmade scarecrow displays, food vendors, and live entertainment.

Odyssey Fun Farm

Sep 26 – Oct 31

Tinley Park 24 mi $$

Family-friendly fall fun across a 110-acre farm in Tinley Park.

Illustration of a pumpkin patch full of orange pumpkins with two small farmers, red wheelbarrows and a farm stand (Johnson's Farm Pumpkin Festival)

Johnson's Farm Pumpkin Festival

Sep 26 – Oct 25

Hobart 7 mi $$

Pick-your-own pumpkins, corn maze, and family farm activities.

Pumpkin Glow

Sep 19 – Oct 25

Lowell 13 mi $

Half-mile trail featuring over one million lights and hand-carved jack-o-lanterns.

Illustration of clay figures in costumes mingling among striped market tents and pumpkin displays under orange autumn trees (Tinley Park Boo Bash)

Tinley Park Boo Bash

Sun, Oct 25

Tinley Park 24 mi

Family trick-or-treating through business booths with live DJ entertainment.

Halloween in the Park

Sat, Oct 10

Hobart 5 mi

Community trunk-or-treat gathering with candy, music, and costume contests.

Illustration of a ghost and two costumed kids trick or treating past glowing houses with pumpkins and autumn leaves at dusk (Crown Point Pumpkin Walk)

Crown Point Pumpkin Walk

Crown Point 5 mi Free

Trick-or-treat around the square with participating local businesses.

Illustration of a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a small tent, a witch and costumed children under orange trees (Trick or Treat @ Woodson Branch)

Trick or Treat @ Woodson Branch

Gary 9 mi

Trick-or-treating for children in Pre-K through eighth grade.

Pumpkin Fun @ Woodson

Thu, Oct 22

Gary 9 mi

Bring your own pumpkin to decorate using library-supplied materials.

Illustration of small cars parked at sunset with orange balloons, tiny houses on their roofs, a pumpkin and string lights (This is Life Trunk or Treat & Halloween Costume Contest)

This is Life Trunk or Treat & Halloween Costume Contest

Chicago 25 mi Free

Community trunk or treat gathering featuring candy and a costume contest.

Illustration of two small costumed children and a witch among pumpkins, hay bales and autumn trees on a sunny lawn (Scarecrow Craft @ Kennedy Branch)

Scarecrow Craft @ Kennedy Branch

Tue, Oct 20

Gary

Children's scarecrow craft session at the Kennedy Branch library.

Illustration of small costumed children and a witch on a sunny autumn lawn with pumpkins, hay bales and orange trees (Halloween and Fall Story Hour @ Children’s Services)

Halloween and Fall Story Hour @ Children’s Services

Mon, Oct 19

Gary 8 mi

Seasonal story hour hosted at the library's Children's Services department.

Illustration of small costumed figures and a witch playing on a sunny lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a tent and orange trees (Halloween Story Time & Craft @ Woodson)

Halloween Story Time & Craft @ Woodson

Mon, Oct 26

Gary 9 mi

Halloween story session and craft activity held at the library branch.

Illustration of a giant pumpkin float rolling down a town street past costumed figures, with orange balloons and confetti (Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade)

Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade

Chicago 31 mi Free

Chicago's Halloween night parade featuring a costume contest with cash prizes.

Illustration of costumed figures near striped booths and pumpkin displays on a grassy town square with orange autumn trees (West Chicago Halloween Festivities)

West Chicago Halloween Festivities

West Chicago 32 mi

Family trick-or-treating and fall activities in downtown West Chicago.

Illustration of three costumed clay children and little ghosts at a table with pumpkins and decorated cookies in autumn light (Pumpkinfest at Fair Oaks Farms)

Pumpkinfest at Fair Oaks Farms

Oct 10 – Oct 11

Fair Oaks 33 mi $

Features giant pumpkin weigh-offs, pumpkin carving, and festive orchard games.

Illustration of clay goats, a duck and costumed figures among pumpkins and hay beside a small wooden shelter in daylight (Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm and Fall Fest)

Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm and Fall Fest

Sep 4 – Nov 8

Homer Glen 33 mi $$

Chicagoland fall festival featuring unlimited carnival rides, pig races, and farm fun.

Boo at the Washington Park Zoo

Michigan City 28 mi $$

Trick-or-treat stations and festive animal enrichment throughout the zoo.

Illustration of a clay altar with candles and marigolds, skull decorations and small dancing figures under paper banners (Slightly Spooky Saturday)

Slightly Spooky Saturday

Chicago 32 mi Free

Trick-or-treating, live entertainment, and free workshops at Navy Pier.

The Great Pumpkin Party

Sat, Oct 3

Orland Park 29 mi

Family fall festival with pony rides, hayrides, and costume contests.

Hull-o-ween Open House

Chicago 31 mi Free

Folklore storytelling, 1920s silent films, and custom spooky poetry on-site.

IPH's Fall Fest on The Riverwalk

Sep 19 – Oct 31

Chicago 32 mi $

Riverwalk festival featuring boat hayrides on the Chicago River and pumpkin patch.

Illustration of small costumed figures and a witch playing on a sunny lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a tent and orange trees (Tinley Junction: Ghostly Golf)

Tinley Junction: Ghostly Golf

Oct 2 – Oct 4

Tinley Park 26 mi $

Play mini-golf on a decorated course in costume for a treat.

Illustration of a giant pumpkin on a stand in a grassy field near striped booths with small figures and pumpkins (Hammond Halloween Trail at Fair Oaks Farms)

Hammond Halloween Trail at Fair Oaks Farms

Fair Oaks 33 mi $

A not-scary trick-or-treating trail designed for young kids.

Illustration of small costumed figures and a witch playing on a sunny lawn with pumpkins, hay bales, a tent and orange trees (Howl-O-Ween at Wolfe Wildlife)

Howl-O-Ween at Wolfe Wildlife

Oak Lawn 26 mi $

Halloween games and activities along the Wolfe Wildlife walking path.

Illustration of costumed figures mingling among striped festival booths, pumpkins, and orange autumn trees at dusk (Nightmare on Grounds St. Market)

Nightmare on Grounds St. Market

Chicago 32 mi Free

Chicago Halloween and horror market featuring local vendors, tattoos, and oddities.

Illustration of glowing jack-o'-lanterns, candles and scattered seeds on a wooden table under string lights at dusk (Pumpkin Carving & Painting at Midwest Coast Brewing Company)

Pumpkin Carving & Painting at Midwest Coast Brewing Company

Thu, Oct 29

Chicago 33 mi $$$

Includes a pumpkin, carving supplies, paint, and your first drink.

Pumpkin Painting