Two Festivals at Indiana Dunes State Park

Experienced storytellers, hands-on activities set among spectacular scenery, and the sights, smells, and sounds of fall, will be featured at Indiana Dunes State Park, during concurrent festivals, Oct. 10-11.

Both the Friends of Indiana Dunes' Kids Fall Funfest and the 20th Annual Northwest Indiana Storytellers Festival will take place throughout both days at separate locations in the park.

The Funfest runs from noon-4 p.m. at the Wilson and Duneside shelters. Participants should bring the kids and meander from shelter to shelter, creating crafts and experiencing the season, after starting at the Friends of Indiana Dunes Welcome Booth to buy a $1 passport and guide to the different stops. Kids can get their passports stamped at each station, then use them to enter a raffle for unique prizes.

Special programs also will occur each day. A unique musical program by Professor Oops will be offered at the Wilson Shelter at 2 p.m. on both days. The professor calls himself an educator-humorist and stand-up "foolosopher" whose act features humor, magic, juggling and hilarious inventions.

A pumpkin pie eating contest will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. Slots are limited; sign up will be available Sunday at the festival.

The storytellers festival runs from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. each day and is suitable for all ages. Saturday night will include a bonus special time for ghost stories, with two separate sessions offered for young children and adults.

With the exception of the Funfest, all events are free after paying the standard weekend gate fee of  $5 daily for in-state vehicles and $10 daily for out-of-state vehicles. All program times are Central Daylight Time (CDT). For more information, call (219) 926-1390.