October has hit its stride, and the next two weekends are a wonderful mix of the active and the cozy: a costume run in Frankfort, a treat stroll in Valparaiso, trunk-or-treats on both sides of the state line, and the haunted steam train keeping its weekend rhythm down in LaPorte. I went back through the event pages this week and verified everything below with the organizers and venues themselves, so you can plan with confidence. As always, give each place a quick check before you head out, since dates and hours can shift with the weather.
October 17: Frankfort's Scary at the Prairie 5K
Frankfort kicks off the weekend with Scary at the Prairie at Prairie Park in downtown Frankfort on Saturday, October 17, starting at 10:30 a.m. There is a 100-yard dash for the five-and-under crowd, a one-mile fun run for the whole family, and a 5K run and walk, all with a costume contest that makes the whole thing a little more fun. It is the kind of event that turns a morning workout into a neighborhood party.
October 17: Valparaiso's Autumn Promenade
Over on the Indiana side, Valparaiso's Downtown hosts the Autumn Promenade on Saturday, October 17 from noon to 4:30 p.m. It is a ticketed, fall-flavored treat stroll through the shops, and it replaces the former free Harvest Fest, so it is a slightly different shape than past years. Grab your ticket ahead of time, wander the storefronts and enjoy a slow afternoon downtown. The same weekend also brings Valparaiso's Brewski Festival and Fest in the First, so there is plenty to fill a day.
The haunted steam train keeps rolling
The Hesston Steam Museum's Ghost Train, down in LaPorte, runs weekends through the month from noon to 5 p.m. Central time. It is a family-friendly haunted-woods ride on the museum's historic steam railroads, with frequent departures, and it is one of those experiences kids remember for years. It is a bit of a drive, yet it is worth it for a genuinely different fall outing.
October 18: trunk-or-treats on the Indiana side
Sunday, October 18 brings trunk-or-treats in Munster and at St. Michael Catholic School in Schererville. These are the friendliest kind of Halloween events for little ones: decorated trunks, candy, and a safe, contained way to practice the trick-or-treat routine before the big night. Check the specific times with each host before you go.
October 24: a full day on the Indiana side
The following Saturday, October 24, is a busy one. The Northwest Indiana Spooktacular Craft and Vendor Market runs from 10 a.m. at Southlake Mall in Merrillville, right next to Schererville, with free admission and plenty of local vendors. Over in Portage, St. Peter Lutheran Church on Central Avenue holds its trunk-or-treat from 4 to 7 p.m., with free candy, a hayride and a mini haunted house. And Merrillville's Haunted Hills keeps its haunted attractions running on Saturdays through Halloween, for the brave ones in the family.
October 25: Crown Point's trunk or treat, and the markets keep going
Crown Point's own trunk or treat, hosted by the Crown Point Police Department, runs Sunday, October 25 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Legacy Fields at Center Ross Park on Center Ross Road. It is free, family friendly and runs rain or shine. On the Illinois side, the Frankfort Country Market keeps its Sunday mornings going through October 25 at Breidert Green, so you can still stock up on fall produce and local goods. Tinley Park's Boo Bash typically lands the last Sunday of the month at Harmony Square, so it is worth checking the village calendar for the exact date and hours.
Frankfort's Ghost Stories on the Green
Frankfort rounds out the season with Ghost Stories on the Green at Breidert Green, an evening of ghost stories and a family magic show hosted by the Village of Frankfort and the Frankfort Public Library. It is free and one of the coziest ways to ease into Halloween. The exact 2026 date was still being finalized when I checked, so give the village a quick call or check its calendar before you plan around it.
Halloween weekend is coming
Looking ahead, Halloween weekend lands October 30 through November 1, and the town-by-town trick-or-treat schedules are typically announced by each community in October, so keep an eye on the local calendars. Frankfort has a trunk or treat planned for Saturday, October 31, and the Hesston Ghost Train stays on its weekend schedule through the month. Whatever your family's pace, there is a way to make the season yours.
Make a weekend of it
This is the stretch of October where the season feels like it belongs to you: a costume run on a Saturday morning, a treat stroll downtown, a hayride under the lights. These are the small traditions that make a place feel like home. And if you are weighing a move to any of these towns, come spend a weekend first: run the 5K, stroll the promenade, sit on a bench and watch the neighborhood go by. That is when you know. When you are ready to make the move for real, I would love to be in your corner. You Can With Joanne!™