Valparaiso Outdoor Fun & Festivities

THE PERFECT PLACE FOR Outdoor Fun and Festivities

story by KATIE ABEL

This summer, head to the perfect place for outdoor fun and festivities – Valparaiso. Located just twelve miles south of the Indiana Dunes National Park, Valparaiso has something for everyone.

Savor fresh local produce and discover unique handmade products at the Valparaiso Market in downtown’s Central Park Plaza every Tuesday and Saturday morning. After the kids play in the splash pad, hop on Valparaiso BikeShare bikes and explore over 23 miles of pathways and more than 18 local parks. Check out the epic playground at ValPLAYso and then discover a new favorite off-road trail at Creekside Trails or Rogers Lakewood Park. While at Rogers Lakewood, test your disc golf skills on its championship caliber course and soak up some sun on a relaxing boat ride around Loomis Lake. And you don’t need to be a gardener to marvel at the beauty of Ogden Gardens, home to a Japanese garden and over four acres of flowers and greenery.

Summer evenings are also full of possibility in Valparaiso. If you’re eager for more bike riding, join the annual familyfriendly, 10-mile Valpo Night Ride on Saturday, August 20. For an evening sans pedaling, enjoy dinner al fresco at one of the

PHOTOS CLOCKWISE: Kids love Central Park Plaza’s splash pad, open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (weather and park rentals permitting). Valpo Night Ride participants pedal through the streets on a lovely summer evening. InHealth & United Way of Porter County won the Grand Prize for their 2021 Popcorn Parade float, the majority of which was made with popcorn and corn products.

many downtown restaurant patios, including Lincoln Flats and Peddlers Pizza Pub. Delight your inner child (or your actual children) with a stop at Rocket Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shop and then enjoy live music at the Summer Concert Series at Northwest Health Amphitheater in Central Park Plaza. Hosted by Valparaiso Events, this free Summer Concert Series features talented bands from the region and Chicago and runs every Thursday evening from July 14 to September 1.

Be sure to ‘pop’ by the 43rd Annual

ABOVE: Valpo Brewfest attendees suit up to sample over 200 unique styles of beer from America’s best craft breweries.

LEFT: Orville and company enjoy live music at Valparaiso Events’ Summer Concert Series at Northwest Health Amphitheater. Popcorn Festival on Saturday, September 10 in downtown Valpo. The festival features over 250 craft, art, and food booths, the Popcorn Panic races, a parade with floats made out of popcorn, an Ultimate Poppin’ Kids’ Zone with games and rides, and live music with a beer garden. Pre-festival events include a kick-off concert on Thursday evening and a Food Truck Rally & Hot Wheels Competition on Friday evening.

There’s also no shortage of fun for beer and wine enthusiasts this summer. Enjoy an evening of wine tasting and memory making at the Valparaiso Wine Festival on Saturday, July 23. Get ‘hopped’ up at the 2022 Valpo Brewfest on Saturday, September 24, and relax with imported German beer and German-inspired food at the Brewfest Kick-off Biergarten on Friday the 23rd.

For more information on the Valparaiso Market, parks, and the Valpo Night Ride, visit www.valpoparks.org. For more information on the Popcorn Festival as well as tickets and details for the Wine Festival and Brewfest, visit valparaisoevents.com.