Welcome Winter in Indiana’s Cool North

Festivals

Shipshewana Ice Festival and Chili Cook-off

Where: Shipshewana
When: January 16-17, 2026

Works of art emerge from huge blocks of ice as professional ice carvers create amazing sculptures. Roam the streets of downtown Shipshewana to watch the artists in action.  Then taste masterpieces of a different kind at the chili cook-off.  Shipshewana Ice Festival

Winterfest 2026

Where: LaPorte County Parks
When: January 23-25, 2026

Get ready to embrace the chill and enjoy a weekend packed with winter excitement! ❄️ WinterFest ❄️ is back from January 23–25, featuring a variety of fun, winter-themed activities for all ages. Check out the full schedule here or visit www.laporteparkandrec.com/winterfest for details on each event.

Outdoor Escapes

Skate the Plaza at Deep River Waterpark

Skate the Plaza at Deep River! Glide across a 14,500-sq-ft ice rink under festive lights with friends or family, in a place usually made for summer splash. Skate rental and heated party rooms are also available. at the Deep River Waterpark in Crown Point.

South Bend – Skating, Tubing, and Skiing

Grab your hat and mittens and embrace winter in South Bend!  The new ice trail  and pond at Howard Park and skating ribbon and ice bumper cars at IronWorks are the new premier winter destinations.  The Merrifield Park Ice Rink offers skating and skate rentals several days a week. Squeals of delight fill the air on the innertube runs at Ferrettie/Baugo and St. Patrick’s County Parks. St. Patrick’s also offers cross-country skiing.

Elkhart – Skating and Snowy Adventures

Skaters love the NIBCO Water & Ice Park, complete with an ice rink and path, skate rentals, and a warming facility with concessions. Cross-country skiers head for the groomed trails at Ox Bow County Park and Bonneyville Mill Park a few miles away. Both parks offer sledding and snowshoeing too.

Indiana Dunes – Special Winter Hikes

Winter turns the Indiana Dunes into a quiet wonderland perfect for hiking along snowy woodland trails and among sandy dunes. Head out yourself anytime or join naturalists at the Indiana Dunes State Park in Chesterton who lead special hikes for a more rugged trek through the high dunes.

Valparaiso Ice Skating

At Valparaiso’s open-air William E. Urschel Pavilion, you’ll hardly notice you’re outdoors. A roof protects you from any wintry elements, and lights, music, and a well-maintained rink make ice skating a dream. Part of downtown’s Central Park Plaza development, the pavilion includes an indoor area for skate rentals and hot drinks during the winter months.

Indoor Fun and Games

Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa

Where: Michigan City

Here’s an ultimate winter escape for a few hours or a few days! At the Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa in Michigan City, the beat goes on 24/7 year-round with 65,000 square feet of gaming space, including 1,700 slot machines and 40 table games. Add in musical entertainment, fabulous food, luxurious lodgings and a pampering spa to complete the fun.

Super Museums

• Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum, Elkhart – Holy Museum, Batman! Even Robin would be amazed at this super fun museum filled with comics, toys, displays and even Captain America’s shield and a replica of the Bat Cave.
• HEROES Museum, Gallery and Arcade, Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets, Michigan City – Voted “Best Daddy Daycare”  so while the women shop let Dad take the kids to the Heroes Museum, showcasing the world-class superhero memorabilia collection.
• Kidsfirst Children’s Museum (and more!), South Bend – Youngsters will love finding out what it was like to learn in a one-room schoolhouse and live in a cabin through hands-on exhibits. It’s part of The History Museum complex where you can tour a Victorian mansion and 1930s worker’s cottage.
• LaPorte County Historical Society Museum, LaPorte – Exhibits about fancy cars, women who made history, pioneer life, and a murderous legend, plus a huge collection of rare guns fill this fascinating museum.

Up Your Alley

A boutique bowling experience in Schererville where an upscale restaurant and bar collide with an entertainment facility. Enjoy 50,000 sq. ft. filled with 20 bowling lanes, axe throwing, laser tag, Cybersport and 60 arcade games.

Shows and Sports

South Bend – Performing Arts

The historic Morris Performing Arts Center provides an outstanding venue for Broadway shows, the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, plus other entertainment. Also in town, Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center features concerts, theater performances and film.

Shipshewana – Blue Gate Theatre and Shipshewana Event Center

This state-of-the-art complex includes the intimate Blue Gate Theatre and the Blue Gate Music Hall with a full line up of theatre productions, musicians and other shows.

Elkhart – The Lerner Theatre

Built in 1923 as a movie house, this historic theater has been completely renovated. The Lerner features concerts, theater and films. During the holiday season, various holiday productions are scheduled.

Notre Dame – Hockey and Hoops

Experience thrilling action as the Fighting Irish compete in men’s basketball and hockey and women’s basketball at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend.

Dining

Winter is the perfect time for indoor dining, and we’ve got some great dining experiences in Indiana’s Cool North.

• Find the Amish comfort foods at Essenhaus or Blue Gate.
• See our Top 10 (+2) list of Food War winners selected by locals
• Our Northern Indiana Brewery Tour offers great food in addition to their locally crafted brews.
• Our Top 15 Unique Eats are some of the best Northern Indiana has to offer.

Shopping

For gift shopping or post-holiday bargains, here are some ideas:

• Amish Treasures and More – You can’t beat the shops in Shipshewana or the Antique & Miscellaneous Auction held each Wednesday for Amish goods and myriad finds. In Nappanee, Coppes Commons spotlights Amish works and other unique goods and Neighbors Mercantile offers unique and nostalgic goods.
• Bargains – Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets in Michigan City features daily bargains in 100 name-brand stores.
• Outdoor Paraphernalia –Bass Pro Shops in Portage and Cabelas in Hammond have everything imaginable for outdoor sports, adventure, and fun  and all those museum quality displays.  You could spend an entire day in either store!
• Satisfy your Sweet Tooth – Visit the factory at Albanese Confectionery to see where all those gummies and chocolates are made.  Don’t miss the Wakarusa Dime Store where you can find all those candies you remember from your childhood.