Northwest Indiana has ten holiday markets and shop-local days on the calendar between November 13 and December 12, 2026, from a 200-booth show at the Porter County Expo Center to a three-hour Thanksgiving morning market at the Lake County Fairgrounds. Below are the dates, hours, admission, and the official page for each one, checked on November 10, 2026.
Want to see homes in the town you are shopping in? Call Sash at (219) 808-1520.
It is a gray Saturday morning in Valparaiso, the week before Thanksgiving.
Inside an old brick factory, the light comes in cool through tall steel windows and turns warm under the string lights. A long wooden table holds fresh wreaths tied with plain linen ribbon, a row of speckled mugs, and beeswax candles. Somebody is wrapping a mug in brown paper at the next table.
A couple from the south suburbs came out for the market and stayed for the town. They are renting in Illinois and looking at houses in Porter County. They walked in at ten with a coffee and no list.
By noon they have a wreath, two mugs, and a question they ask us a lot this time of year. What else is going on around here before Christmas?
Here is the list.
Holiday markets in Northwest Indiana, November and December 2026
Every market below comes from our verified November 2026 events page and December 2026 events page. Each name links to the organizer, and the organizer sets the hours, prices, and any change.
Ten markets, in date order
| Date | Market | Where | Hours | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 13 and 14 | 3 Little Birds Holiday Market | Valparaiso, Porter County Expo Center | 4 to 8 p.m. Fri, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat | $5 |
| Nov 14 | Wheeler Bearcat Holiday Craft Show | Valparaiso, Wheeler High School Fieldhouse | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | $1, free under 18 |
| Nov 20 | Pink Friday | Downtown Valparaiso | 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. | Free |
| Nov 20 | Pink Friday Sip and Shop | Downtown Crown Point | 4 to 8 p.m. | Shop the square |
| Nov 21 and 22 | Valpo Holidaze Craft and Vendor Show | Valparaiso, Porter County Expo Center | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun | $5, cash only |
| Nov 21 and 22 | Autumn Artisan Market | Valparaiso, Journeyman Distillery | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days | No fee listed |
| Nov 26 | Hometown Flying Turkey Market | Crown Point, Lake County Fairgrounds | 7 to 10 a.m. | Check organizer |
| Nov 28 | Merry Mini Makers Market | Hobart | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Check city page |
| Nov 28 | Crown Point Winter Market | Crown Point, Wheeler Middle School | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Check city page |
| Dec 11 and 12 | Hunt and Gather Market | Crown Point, Lake County Fairgrounds | 4 to 10 p.m. Fri, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat | Check organizer |
Checked November 10, 2026, against each official page. Hours and prices can change. Confirm before you drive.
The big rooms in Valparaiso
The 3 Little Birds Holiday Market opens the season at the Porter County Expo Center on Friday, November 13, from 4 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, November 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Expo Center lists more than 80 small local and boutique businesses, with handmade, vintage, and one-of-a-kind gifts, live music, and local food. Admission is $5.
The same Saturday, the Wheeler Bearcat Holiday Craft Show fills the Wheeler High School Fieldhouse with more than 100 crafters from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is the 10th annual show, it raises money for Wheeler basketball and athletics, and there are bounce houses for kids. It costs $1, and it is free under 18.
A week later comes the largest one we list. Valpo Holidaze runs Saturday, November 21, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, November 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., back at the Expo Center. The Expo Center lists more than 200 vendor booths across three buildings, food trucks, a Santa’s workshop for kids, and free pictures with Santa from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The door is cash only. It is $5, $3 for seniors and veterans, and free under 10.
The same weekend, the Autumn Artisan Market sets up inside Journeyman Distillery at The American Factory, 258 S. Campbell St., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Local artisans sell handmade gifts, the cocktail bar is open, and Journeyman lists no admission fee.
Pink Friday downtowns
On Friday, November 20, Valparaiso and Crown Point both hold Pink Friday downtown. Pink Friday in Valparaiso runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Valparaiso Events says to grab a Pink Friday tote and map at your first shop, then work through the specials.
In Crown Point, the city and Core Crown Point bring back the Pink Friday Sip and Shop around the courthouse square from 4 to 8 p.m. The city says it will post the list of shops taking part.
Thanksgiving week in Crown Point and Hobart
On Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 26, the Hometown Flying Turkey Market runs from 7 to 10 a.m. at the Lake County Fairgrounds. Hometown Happenings, the group behind the Hocus Pocus Market, calls it a short artisan market under roof.
Saturday, November 28, is a full day. The Crown Point Winter Market is at Wheeler Middle School, 401 W. Joliet St., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the same morning as the Santa Parade. In Hobart, the Merry Mini Makers Market runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the same day as the city tree lighting. Check the city page for the location. For the lightings and parades that weekend, see our guide to holiday tree lightings in Northwest Indiana.
One more in December
The Hunt and Gather Market comes back to the Lake County Fairgrounds on Friday, December 11, from 4 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, December 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is a quarterly pop-up with vintage and antique vendors, handmade goods, fine art, a full bar, live music, and food. Confirm admission on the organizer site before you go.
Which market fits your Saturday
| If you | Try | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want the biggest room | Valpo Holidaze | More than 200 booths in three buildings. Bring cash for the door. |
| You want handmade and quiet | Autumn Artisan Market | Local artisans inside a working distillery, with the cocktail bar open. |
| You want to walk a downtown | Pink Friday in Valparaiso or Crown Point | Downtown Valparaiso all day, or the Crown Point square from 4 to 8 p.m. |
| You have kids along | Wheeler Bearcat show or Valpo Holidaze | Bounce houses at Wheeler, Santa photos at Holidaze. |
| You only have Thanksgiving morning | Hometown Flying Turkey Market | Three hours under roof at the fairgrounds, done by 10 a.m. |
Our picks from the listings above. Every market here is indoors or downtown, so a cold Saturday still works.
Why we send buyers to markets
A holiday market is a good test drive for a town. You see where people park, how full the downtown gets, and how far the drive is from the neighborhoods you like. If you are moving from Illinois, start with our Illinois to Indiana relocation guide, then read about buying a house in winter.
Shopping in Valparaiso, Crown Point, or Hobart? Those pages show what homes there look like. For a walk outdoors between markets, see Lake County parks in November.
Back in Valparaiso
The couple carries the wreath out to the car. The sky is still gray, and the downtown is filling up for lunch.
On the way out of town, they take the long way past a few streets they have only seen online. One house has a wreath on the door already. They take a picture of the street sign and add Valpo Holidaze to their calendar for next weekend.
Work with Realest
Talk to a Realest agent
Spending a market weekend in a town you might move to? Call Sash, or look at homes for sale near the market.
Call Sash at (219) 808-1520
Search homes for sale
Thinking about selling after the holidays? Ask for your home value or call Sash at (219) 808-1520.
Would you rather write? Send us a note.
Want a short list of homes near the market you plan to visit? Tell us which market and we will put one together.
Sash Joveski and Pamela “Pam” Joveski are founding members of Realest. Pam’s number is (219) 801-0432. Realest is licensed in Indiana and Illinois and is at 112 S. Main St., Suite B, Crown Point, serving all of Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland.
The market photo was generated for this guide on November 10, 2026, then cropped with text added. Shown for illustration only. It is not a photo of any market listed here.
Event details come from each organizer and can change or be canceled. Confirm hours and admission on the official page before you go. The Valparaiso couple is an example, not real clients.
Sources
- Porter County Expo Center: 3 Little Birds Market
- Valparaiso Events: Bearcat Holiday Craft Show
- Valparaiso Events: Pink Friday
- City of Crown Point: Pink Friday Sip and Shop
- Porter County Expo Center: Valpo Holidaze
- Journeyman Distillery: Autumn Artisan Market
- Hometown Happenings: Market schedule
- City of Hobart: 2026 events
- City of Crown Point: November 2026 calendar
- Hunt and Gather Market
- Real Estate USA: Northwest Indiana events, November 2026
- Real Estate USA: Northwest Indiana events, December 2026
Ask Realest
Got a short question about a town, a commute, or what buying looks like in Northwest Indiana in winter?
Ask Realest answers short buyer and seller questions in plain English, any time of day.
When you are ready to talk it through, contact us or call Sash at (219) 808-1520.
FAQ
What holiday markets are coming up in Northwest Indiana in 2026?
As of November 10, 2026, we list ten: the 3 Little Birds Holiday Market (November 13 and 14), the Wheeler Bearcat Holiday Craft Show (November 14), Pink Friday in downtown Valparaiso and Crown Point’s Pink Friday Sip and Shop (November 20), Valpo Holidaze and Journeyman’s Autumn Artisan Market (November 21 and 22), the Hometown Flying Turkey Market (Thanksgiving morning), the Merry Mini Makers Market in Hobart and the Crown Point Winter Market (November 28), and the Hunt and Gather Market (December 11 and 12).
Which Northwest Indiana holiday markets are free to get in?
Pink Friday in downtown Valparaiso is free, and Journeyman Distillery lists no admission fee for its Autumn Artisan Market. Crown Point’s Pink Friday Sip and Shop is a downtown shopping night. The Wheeler Bearcat show is $1 and free under 18. The 3 Little Birds Market is $5. Valpo Holidaze is $5, $3 for seniors and veterans, and free under 10, cash only. Check each organizer’s page before you go.
Where is the biggest holiday market in Northwest Indiana this year?
Of the markets we list, Valpo Holidaze at the Porter County Expo Center in Valparaiso is the largest by count. The Expo Center lists more than 200 vendor booths across three buildings on November 21 and 22, 2026, plus food trucks and free pictures with Santa from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Is there a holiday market on Thanksgiving morning in Northwest Indiana?
Yes. Hometown Happenings lists the Hometown Flying Turkey Market at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point on Thursday, November 26, 2026, from 7 to 10 a.m. It is a short market under roof, so you can shop and still get home for dinner.
Can a holiday market help me pick a town to move to?
It can help. A market or a shop-local night shows you the downtown, the parking, and the crowd on a busy weekend. Call Sash at (219) 808-1520 if you want to see homes in that town the same day.