Looking for something to do in November in Crown Point, the rest of Northwest Indiana, or the nearby Chicago south suburbs? This is the November 2026 archive from our local events hub, not a national listings dump. We pull dates from official city, park, chamber, festival, and venue pages so locals can plan a Saturday, and so people relocating from Illinois can see what life actually looks like here.
If you are comparing towns, start with our guides to Crown Point, Schererville, and Valparaiso, or the Illinois to Indiana relocation page. When you are ready to look at homes, talk to a local broker at Realest in downtown Crown Point.
Dates on this page are for November 2026 and were checked against official sources on Monday, November 2, 2026. Towns are still posting holiday dates, so we will add more as they go up. Always click through before you go. Weather, tickets, and hours change. We skip anything we cannot verify.
Talk to a local broker
Realest is at 112 S. Main St., Suite B, Crown Point, IN 46307. Call Sash at (219) 808-1520, use the Realest.com contact form, or browse listings on Realest.com. Licensed in Indiana and Illinois.
November 2026 events
Edge of Liberty Craft Fair (season finale)
Sunday, November 1, 2026, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. CT, Valparaiso
606 N. Calumet Ave., just north of Valparaiso. An outdoor Sunday market with local makers, a food truck, live music, garden walks, and trails. Free to attend.
Details from The Edge of Liberty: November 1, 2026.
Harvest and Holly Market
Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7, 2026, 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Crown Point
Industrial Building at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 889 S. Court St. A two-day indoor holiday market with local makers, food vendors, and maker workshops. Shoppers over 18 pay $5 at the door.
Details from Region Social and Cedar Lake Farmers Market: Harvest and Holly Market.
Veterans Appreciation Celebration
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 4:30 to 8 p.m. (doors 4:30 p.m.), Portage
Woodland Park, 2100 Willowcreek Rd. The Exchange Club and Kiwanis Club of Portage host an evening for local veterans. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Veterans get in free. Everyone else pays $25.
Details from City of Portage: Veterans Appreciation Celebration.
Night Orienteering Adventure: Lemon Lake
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 3 to 8 p.m., Crown Point
Lemon Lake County Park, 6322 W. 133rd Ave. Learn map and compass skills and explore the park into the evening. You register through the Chicagoland Area Orienteering Club. Call Lake County Parks at 219-844-3188 with questions.
Details from Lake County Parks: Night Orienteering Adventure.
Observatory Open House: Saturn and Andromeda
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 5 to 9 p.m. (come and go), Lowell
Calumet Astronomy Center, 19110 Chase St., just south of Buckley Homestead. Volunteers from the Calumet Astronomical Society run the telescopes at the Thomas Conway Observatory, from the rings of Saturn out to the Andromeda galaxy. Come and go. Free. Check the Lake County Parks observatory page for weather calls before you drive out.
Details from Lake County Parks: Observatory Open House.
Pumpkin Smash
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Flossmoor, IL
Coyote Run Golf Course, 800 Kedzie Ave. Drop off old jack-o-lanterns so they get composted, not landfilled. Bring candy wrappers for the Trick or Trash recycling box. The park district lists no fee.
Details from Homewood-Flossmoor Park District: Pumpkin Smash.
USO Show with the Calumet Ridge Jazz Ensemble
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 7 p.m. (lounge 6 p.m., doors 6:30 p.m.), Valparaiso
Memorial Opera House, 104 Indiana Ave. A Veterans Day tribute in the style of a classic USO show, with the Calumet Ridge Jazz Ensemble. Tickets are $30 for adults, $27 for seniors, students, and military, and $60 for loge seats.
Details from Valparaiso Events: USO Show at Memorial Opera House.
Crown Point Veterans Day Ceremony
Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Crown Point
Historic Lake County Courthouse, east side steps, 1 Courthouse Square. The city Veterans Day ceremony on the square.
Details from City of Crown Point November 2026 calendar.
3 Little Birds Holiday Market
Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14, 2026, 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Valparaiso
Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Rd. More than 80 small local and boutique businesses sell handmade, vintage, and one-of-a-kind gifts, with live music and local food. Admission is $5.
Details from Porter County Expo Center: 3 Little Birds Market.
Winter Seed Sowing Basics
Saturday, November 14, 2026, 10 a.m. to noon, Hammond
Gibson Woods Nature Preserve, 6201 Parrish Ave. Local native plant expert Dolly Foster shows how to start a native plant garden by sowing seeds in winter. Ages 10 and up. Register ahead at 219-844-3188.
Details from Lake County Parks: Winter Seed Sowing Basics.
Wheeler Bearcat Holiday Craft Show
Saturday, November 14, 2026, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Valparaiso
Wheeler High School Fieldhouse, 587 W. 300 N. The 10th annual show has more than 100 crafters plus bounce houses for kids. It raises money for Wheeler basketball and athletics. $1 admission, free under 18.
Details from Valparaiso Events: Bearcat Holiday Craft Show.
Valparaiso University Jazz Ensemble
Saturday, November 14, 2026, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Valparaiso
Chapel of the Resurrection on the Valparaiso University campus. The university jazz ensemble plays an evening concert. Check the listing for tickets.
Details from Valparaiso Events calendar: Jazz Ensemble.
Touch a Turkey
Friday, November 20, 2026, Noon to 12:30 p.m., Lake Station
Bellaboo’s Play & Discovery Center, 2800 Colorado St. A real turkey from Buckley Homestead visits, and kids can get photos with it. Check the listing for admission.
Details from Lake County Parks: Touch a Turkey.
Pink Friday
Friday, November 20, 2026, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (deals vary by shop), Valparaiso
Downtown Valparaiso. A shop-local holiday day run by Valparaiso Events. Grab a Pink Friday tote and map at your first stop, then work through the specials.
Details from Valparaiso Events: Pink Friday.
Crown Point Pink Friday Sip and Shop
Friday, November 20, 2026, 4 to 8 p.m., Crown Point
Downtown Crown Point, around the courthouse square. The city and Core Crown Point bring Pink Friday back so you can sip and shop small around the square. The city says it will post the list of shops taking part.
Details from City of Crown Point: Pink Friday Sip and Shop.
Light the Night
Saturday, November 21, 2026, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Munster
Munster Town Hall, 1005 Ridge Rd. The Choice Community Council of Munster lights the trees to start the holiday season, with Santa visits, kids activities, and the second annual Tree Walk decorating contest. Paid for with a Munster Civic Foundation grant.
Details from Town of Munster: Light the Night.
Valpo Holidaze Craft and Vendor Show
Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22, 2026, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Valparaiso
Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Rd. 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. Admission is cash only: $5, $3 for seniors and veterans, and free under 10.
Details from Porter County Expo Center: Valpo Holidaze.
Owl Prowl (Deep River)
Saturday, November 21, 2026, 5 to 6:15 p.m., Hobart
Deep River County Park, Big Maple Lake, 7302 Ainsworth Rd. Walk the woods with a naturalist, calling and listening for owls. Ages 5 and up. $2 per person, and you must register ahead through Lake County Parks.
Details from Lake County Parks: Owl Prowl.
Autumn Artisan Market
Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22, 2026, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT both days, Valparaiso
Journeyman Distillery at The American Factory, 258 S. Campbell St. Local artisans sell handmade gifts inside the distillery, and the cocktail bar is open. Journeyman lists no admission fee.
Details from Journeyman Distillery: Autumn Artisan Market.
Butterball Burner 5K Fun Run
Sunday, November 22, 2026, 8 a.m. (race-day check-in 7 a.m.), Homewood, IL
H-F Racquet and Fitness Club, 2920 183rd St. A pre-Thanksgiving 5K run or walk for all ages, and you do not need a membership. $30 through November 19 and $35 after that. Race-day check-in starts at 7 a.m.
Details from Homewood-Flossmoor Park District: Butterball Burner 5K.
Full Moon Stroll
Tuesday, November 24, 2026, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Hammond
Gibson Woods Nature Preserve, 6201 Parrish Ave. An easy evening walk through the dunes and woods as the moon comes up. $2 per person, and you must register ahead.
Details from Lake County Parks: Full Moon Stroll.
51st Annual Pumpkin Plod 10K
Thursday, November 26, 2026, 9 a.m. (bib pickup 7:30 to 8:45 a.m.), Highland
Shirt and bib pickup at the Lincoln Center Fieldhouse. A flat, fast Thanksgiving morning 10K, chip-timed, with pumpkin pies for the top three in each category. Walkers can do an unofficial 5K. Registration on RunSignup is $35 (the $30 early rate ended October 16).
Details from Highland Parks: 51st Annual Pumpkin Plod.
Hometown Flying Turkey Market
Thursday, November 26, 2026, 7 to 10 a.m., Crown Point
Lake County Fairgrounds. A short Thanksgiving morning artisan market under roof from Hometown Happenings, the group behind the Hocus Pocus Market.
Details from Hometown Happenings: Market schedule.
Opt Outside Family Nature Hike
Friday, November 27, 2026, Noon to 1:15 p.m., Griffith
Oak Ridge Prairie, 301 S. Colfax St. Walk off Thanksgiving dinner with a guided family hike the day after the holiday. Registration is required. Call 219-844-3188.
Details from Lake County Parks: Family Nature Hike.
Campfire and Owl Prowl (Stoney Run)
Friday, November 27, 2026, 4 to 5:30 p.m., Hebron
Stoney Run County Park, 9230 E. 142nd Ave. Sit by the campfire, then head into the woods to listen for owls at dusk. $7 per person, and you must register ahead.
Details from Lake County Parks: Campfire and Owl Prowl.
Ice Rink Opening Day at Bulldog Park
Friday, November 27, 2026, Noon to 9 p.m., Crown Point
Timothy Grzych Ice Rink at Bulldog Park, 183 S. West St. The downtown rink opens for the 2026 to 2027 season with open skate, a few hours before the Tank and Tree Lighting. Hours depend on the weather and can change.
Details from City of Crown Point: Ice Rink Opening Day.
Crown Point Tank and Tree Lighting
Friday, November 27, 2026, Tank lighting 6 p.m. Tree lighting 6:30 p.m., Crown Point
The tank lighting starts at 6 p.m. at Goldsborough and Main streets. The tree lighting follows at 6:30 p.m. on the east steps of the old courthouse. This is how downtown Crown Point starts the holidays.
Details from City of Crown Point November 2026 calendar.
Schererville Tree Lighting Parade and Tree Lighting
Friday, November 27, 2026, Parade 6:30 p.m., tree lighting follows, Schererville
This is the first year for the parade. It leaves the Schererville Community Center, 500 E. Joliet St., and ends at Town Hall, where the annual tree lighting starts. Parade entries are free and due November 20.
Details from Town of Schererville and Schererville Parks: 2026 Tree Lighting Parade.
The Secret Garden (Memorial Opera House)
Friday, November 27 to Sunday, November 29, 2026, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Valparaiso
Memorial Opera House, 104 Indiana Ave. The musical opens Thanksgiving weekend and runs weekends through December 13. Adults $30, seniors, students, and military $27, loge $60.
Details from Valparaiso Events calendar: The Secret Garden.
Merry Mini Makers Market
Saturday, November 28, 2026, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hobart
A daytime holiday market on the City of Hobart events list, the same day as the city tree lighting. Check the city page for the location.
Details from City of Hobart: 2026 events.
Crown Point Santa Parade
Saturday, November 28, 2026, 10 to 11 a.m., Crown Point
Pointe Plaza, 1900 N. Main St. Santa lands by helicopter with the Lake County Sheriff, greets families, then rides to the old courthouse.
Details from City of Crown Point November 2026 calendar.
Crown Point Winter Market
Saturday, November 28, 2026, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Crown Point
Wheeler Middle School, 401 W. Joliet St. The city winter market, on the same Saturday as the Santa Parade.
Details from City of Crown Point November 2026 calendar.
La Porte Santa Parade and Tree Lighting
Saturday, November 28, 2026, 4 p.m., La Porte
Downtown La Porte. The parade starts at State and Tipton streets, heads west on State to Michigan Ave., south to Lincolnway, then east to Plaza 618 for the city tree lighting. Santa photos at his chalet, coffee, hot chocolate, and Christmas music follow.
Details from Explore La Porte: La Porte Santa Parade.
Hobart Christmas Tree Lighting
Saturday, November 28, 2026, 5 p.m., Hobart
The City of Hobart lights its Christmas tree on Small Business Saturday. Check the city page for the location.
Details from City of Hobart: 2026 events.
Winter Fest and Tree Lighting
Saturday, November 28, 2026, 5 to 7 p.m., Valparaiso
Central Park Plaza. Music, free photos with Santa, the Good Neighbor Award, and the lighting of the big tree. Show a receipt from a downtown restaurant for discounted ice rink admission. Free.
Details from Valparaiso Parks: Winter Fest and Tree Lighting.
Hometown Holiday Celebration and Twilight Parade
Saturday, November 28, 2026, Holiday market from 8 a.m. Parade steps off 5:15 p.m., Chesterton
Downtown Chesterton and Thomas Centennial Park. A holiday edition of the European Market opens at 8 a.m. The Twilight Parade steps off at 5:15 p.m., and Santa visits the park right after.
Details from Duneland Chamber: Hometown Holiday and Twilight Parade.
Photos with Santa (Crown Point)
Saturday, November 28 and Sunday, November 29, 2026, Noon to 4 p.m., Crown Point
Lower level of the historic Lake County Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Square. Free photos with Santa. Bring your own camera. Santa is back on weekends in December through Tuesday, December 22.
Details from City of Crown Point: Photos with Santa.
Vienna Boys Choir Holiday Concert
Sunday, November 29, 2026, 4 p.m. (doors 3:30 p.m.), Valparaiso
Valparaiso High School Auditorium, 2727 Campbell St. Valparaiso Events brings in the Vienna Boys Choir for a holiday concert. Doors open at 3:30 p.m., and seats are first come, first served. Tickets are sold through Valparaiso Events, and all sales are final.
Details from Valparaiso Events: Vienna Boys Choir.
Earlier in November (past)
Tinley Park Turkey Trot
Sunday, November 1, 2026, 8 to 10 a.m., Tinley Park, IL
Vogt Woods, 6641 W. 171st St. A chip-timed race with age-group awards. Preregistration is $22, or $30 with a shirt, and closes October 28 at 3 p.m. Race-day registration is $45 and opens at 7 a.m.
Details from Tinley Park-Park District: Turkey Trot.
More Northwest Indiana events
This is one month from the local hub. See the Northwest Indiana events month index, then August 2026, September 2026, October 2026, or November 2026.
November 2026 frequently asked questions
What Northwest Indiana events are listed for November 2026?
This archive covers the November 2026 dates we could verify as of November 2, 2026: the Edge of Liberty Craft Fair finale and the Tinley Park Turkey Trot (November 1), Portage’s Veterans Appreciation Celebration, the observatory open house near Lowell, Flossmoor’s Pumpkin Smash, and the USO Show at Memorial Opera House (November 7), the Crown Point Veterans Day Ceremony (November 11), the 3 Little Birds Holiday Market at the Porter County Expo Center (November 13 to 14), the Wheeler Bearcat Holiday Craft Show, Winter Seed Sowing Basics at Gibson Woods, and the Valparaiso University Jazz Ensemble (November 14), Pink Friday in downtown Valparaiso, Crown Point’s Pink Friday Sip and Shop, and Touch a Turkey at Bellaboo’s (November 20), Munster’s Light the Night and the Deep River Owl Prowl (November 21), Journeyman’s Autumn Artisan Market and Valpo Holidaze at the Porter County Expo Center (November 21 to 22), the Butterball Burner 5K in Homewood (November 22), Highland’s Pumpkin Plod and the Hometown Flying Turkey Market (Thanksgiving, November 26), the Crown Point ice rink opening and Tank and Tree Lighting, Schererville’s first Tree Lighting Parade, and the opening of The Secret Garden at Memorial Opera House (November 27), the Crown Point Santa Parade, Winter Market, and Photos with Santa, Valparaiso’s Winter Fest and Tree Lighting, Hobart’s tree lighting and Merry Mini Makers Market, the La Porte Santa Parade, and Chesterton’s Twilight Parade (November 28), and the Vienna Boys Choir in Valparaiso plus a second day of Crown Point Photos with Santa (November 29). We add dates as towns post them, and we do not invent events.
Which November 2026 events are free?
The Edge of Liberty Craft Fair, the observatory open house, Valparaiso’s Winter Fest and Tree Lighting, and Pink Friday are free. Veterans get into Portage’s Veterans Appreciation Celebration free, and other guests pay $25. The Wheeler craft show is $1 and free under 18. Crown Point’s Veterans Day Ceremony, Tank and Tree Lighting, and Santa Parade, Munster’s Light the Night, and Chesterton’s Twilight Parade list no admission. The Turkey Trot is $22 to $45, the Butterball Burner 5K is $30 to $35, the Pumpkin Plod is $35, the USO Show is $27 to $60, the Owl Prowl is $2, the 3 Little Birds Market is $5, Valpo Holidaze is $5 ($3 seniors and veterans, free under 10, cash only), Crown Point Photos with Santa are free, and the Vienna Boys Choir is ticketed.
Where do these November dates come from?
Each listing ends with a link to its official source, such as a city or town page, Lake County Parks, the Homewood-Flossmoor and Tinley Park park districts, Valparaiso Events, the Duneland Chamber, or the event organizer. Those organizers set hours, tickets, and cancellations. Email Sash@realest.com with an official URL if we missed a real date.
Submit an event
Know a real Crown Point, Lake County, Porter County, or south-suburb event we missed? Email Sash@realest.com or use the Real Estate USA contact form. Include the official source link. We will not post dates we cannot verify.
Thinking about a move to Northwest Indiana?
Festivals are a good way to walk a downtown before you buy. If you are relocating from the Chicago suburbs, start with Illinois to Indiana relocation, then talk to Realest.
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Photo by T. Tolbert of the Old Lake County Courthouse in Crown Point, Indiana, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped, text added.
