One of Northwest Indiana’s largest Halloween events, Wickedly Whiting, celebrates 100 years of the undead this October.
This year’s Wickedly Whiting is Oct. 7-8 and the theme is Vampires, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first vampire film, “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror.”
Other activities include costume contests for kids, pets and adults, entertainment in the beer garden and lots of Halloween-themed attractions like Massacre Manor Haunted House and a trolley tour of terror through Whiting.
If you like your ghost stories and sightings with a heaping side of historical context — and in some cases, pizza and beer — Chaos Haunted and Historical Tours out of Portage has you covered. The company offers bus tours, walking tours and pub crawls of famously haunted places throughout Northwest Indiana. Several themed tours are offered throughout October.
If you like live theater, check out “Something Evil at WMDR” in Hobart. M & M Ross stages five interactive shows at its Center Stage Studio Theatre. Radio station WMDR is going to broadcast a live Halloween show only to find out that someone or something is taking cast members. Everyone — including the audience — is a suspect.
Here are some Halloween events happening in Northwest Indiana this Halloween season. Check the websites for rules, regulations, rainout policies and for answers to any other questions you might have.
CEDAR LAKE
Knights of Columbus Haunted Walk: Hours are 7-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Oct. 15-30. 13039 Wicker Ave. Admission: $12. 219-232-6091; hauntedforestnwi.com.
CHESTERTON
Northwest Indiana Storyteller Festival and Ghost Stories: 5:30-8 p.m. Oct. 14. Indiana Dunes State Park, 1600 N 25th East. Admission: $7-$12 entrance fee per car. 219-926-1390; indianadunes.com/events/annual-nwi-storytelling-festival-and-ghost-stories.
Cemetery Ghost Hunt: 7 p.m. Oct. 6. Val’s Famous Pizza, 112 S. 11th St. Admission: $25. 219-714-3761; chaostrips.com.
CROWN POINT
Dinner, Drinks and Ghost Hunting: 7 p.m. Sept. 30, Nov. 4 and 12. Carriage Court Pizza, 211 S. East St. No. A. Admission: $30 (does not include dinner and drinks). 219-714-3761; chaostrips.com/tours.
South Lake County Haunted Bus Tour: 7 p.m. Oct. 8, 14 and 28. The Old Courthouse, 1 Main Street. $45. 219-714-3761; chaostrips.com/tours.
Lake County Chiller Haunted Bus Tours: 7-11 p.m. Oct. 1, 7, 21, 29 and Nov. 5. The Old Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Square. Admission: $45. 219-714-3761; chaostrips.com/tours.
Midnight Tour at Crown Point Jail: 11:55 p.m. Oct. 1 and 8. Old Sheriff’s House Lake County Jail; 228 S. Main St. Admission: $45. 219-714-3761; chaostrips.com/tours.
Sunday Ghost Hunt at Crown Point Jail: 7 p.m. Oct. 16. Old Sheriff’s House Lake County Jail; 228 S. Main St. Admission: $45. 219-714-3761; chaostrips.com/tours.
The Séance Halloween Night: 7, 8 and 9 p.m. Oct. 31. Old Sheriff’s House Lake County Jail; 228 S. Main St. Admission: $25. 219-714-3761; chaostrips.com/the-seance-on-halloween.
Haunted Walking Tour: 7 p.m. Fridays in October. Crown Point Courthouse Square, 1 Courthouse Square. $19.50. 219-714-3761; chaostrips.com.
Haunted Hills Hospital Haunted House Fall Fest: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 22. 7611 E. Lincoln Highway. $5. 219-241-9498; hauntedhillshospital.com/fall-festival.html.
Hometown Hocus Pocus Market: 5-10 p.m. Oct. 28. Industrial Building at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 889 S. Court St. Admission: $3-$5. 219-662-9840; facebook.com/HometownHappenings and search events.
EAST CHICAGO
Nightmare on McShane: 5-7 p.m. Oct. 21. Tod Park, 533 W. 140th. Admission: free. 219-391-8474; facebook.com/ECTVNEWS/events.
HAMMOND
Halloween Fright Light Laser Show: 5-6 p.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 28. Challenger Learning Center NWI, 2300 173rd St. Admission: $15. 219-989-3250; facebook.com/ChallengerNWI and search events.
HESSTON
Ghost Train: Open 12-5 p.m. Oct. 15-16, Oct. 22-23 and 29-30. Hesston Steam Museum, 1201 E. 1000 N., Hesston. Admission: $9; $5 for kids 3-12. 219-778-2783; hesston.org.
HOBART
“Something Evil”: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21-22, 28-29 and 3 p.m. Oct. 30. Center Stage Studio Theatre, 227 Center St. Admission: $10. 219-777-0698; facebook.com/mmrmt.
Ghost Hunting at the Art Theatre: 7-10 p.m. Oct. 18 and 25. Hobart Art Theatre, 230 Main St. Admission: $30. 219-714-3761; chaostrips.com.
Super Spooky Golf Cart Parade and Halloween in the Park: 2-5 p.m. Oct. 29. Festival Park, 111 E. Old Ridge Road. Admission: free. 219-942-4511; cityofhobart.org/201/Special-Events.
LOWELL
Pumpkin Glow Trail: 6:30-9 p.m. Sept. 30-Oct. 30. Harvest Tyme Farm Park, 17904 Grant St. Admission: $11.95-$15.95. 219-440-2386; harvesttymefun.com/pumpkin-glow-trail.
MICHIGAN CITY
Franklinstein Horror Fest: 5-10 p.m. Oct. 14. Uptown Social, 907 Franklin St. Admission: $10-$15. 219-809-9119; franklinsteinhorrorfest.com.
Haunted Trails and Family Fall Fest: 2-4 p.m. Oct 16. Friendship Botanic Gardens, 2055 E. U.S. 12. Admission: $5; $2 for kids 12 and under. 219-878-9885; facebook.com/friendshipgardensindiana.
MUNSTER
Pumpkins, Witches and Hayrides: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 1. Centennial Park, 1005 S. Centennial Drive. Admission: $10 wristbands, $3 per ticket. facebook.com/munster.parks1.
A Walk in the Woods: 7-9 p.m. Oct. 21. Heritage Park, Ridge Road and Columbia Avenue. Admission: $1. 219-836-6923; facebook.com/munster.parks1 and search events.
PORTAGE
Light Up the Gourds!: 5-9:30 p.m. Oct. 15. Imagination Glen Park — West, 2275 McCool Road. Admission: free. 219-762-0369; facebook.com/PortageParks and search events.
Haunted Hayrides: 6:30-9:30 Oct. 20-22. Woodland Park, 2100 Willowcreek Road. Admission: $4. 219-762-1675; facebook.com/PortageParks and search events.
PORTER
Dark Shores Haunted Bus Tour: 7-11 p.m. Oct. 15 and 22. Indiana Dunes Visitor’s Center, 1420 Munson Road. Admission: $45. 219-714-3761; chaostrips.com.
ST. JOHN
Boo Bash and Trunk or Treat: 10 a.m.-noon Oct. 22. Prairie West Park, 93rd and West Oakridge. Admission: free. 219-365-6236; stjohnin.com/Parks/BooBash.php.
VALPARAISO
Walking Haunted Pub Crawl: 7:30 p.m. Saturdays in October plus Oct. 28. The Franklin House, 58 S. Campbell St. Admission: $25 (alcohol not included). 219-714-3761; chaostrips.com.
Halloweekend at Gabis Arboretum: 6 p.m. Oct. 14 (21-and-over) and 5 p.m. Oct. 15. Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest, 450 W. 100 North St. Admission: $10/$8 members. 219-462-0025; pnw.edu/gabis-arboretum/events-and-programs/hallo-weekend.
Valpo Fall Harvest Festival: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 15. Central Park Plaza, 68 Lafayette St. Admission: free. 219-464-8332; valparaisoevents.com/fall-harvest-festival.
Porter County Terrors Haunted Bus Tour: 7-11 p.m. Oct. 15, 22 and 29. Meet at 153 S. Franklin St. Admission: $45. 219-714-3761; chaostrips.com/tours.
Haunted Hayrides by ABATE: 6:30-10 p.m. Oct. 21-22 and 28-29. Sunset Hill Farm County Park, 775 N. Meridian Road. Admission: $10; children 6 and under free with adult. 219-851-0980; registration.abateonline.org/programs-events/events/upcoming-events.
Phantoms of the Opera House: 7 p.m.-midnight Oct. 29. Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Road. Admission: $29-$35. 219-548-9137; memorialoperahouse.com/898/Phantoms-Of-The-Opera-House.
WHITING
Haunted Hayride: 6-11 p.m. Sept. 30-Oct. 1. Whiting Lakefront Park, 1561 Park Road. Admission: $5. 219-659-0292; facebook.com/WRCoCHauntedHayride.
Wickedly Whiting: 5-11 p.m. Oct. 7 and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Oct. 8. Downtown Whiting, 1417 119th St. Admission: free. 219-659-0292; wickedlywhiting.com.
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.