Celebrate the migration of birdlife through the Indiana Dunes region this Saturday at the 8th annual Indiana Dunes Birding Festival. While many of the festival’s main registered events are full, there are a selection of free, public events taking place.Â
In 2022, the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival Youth & Family Day features an expanded variety of bird and nature related activities, including hourly bird walks, free family bluebird box building, nature sketching, bird games, and more. All activities take place at the Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center from 9am- 4pm CT on Saturday.
The Indiana Dunes Visitor Center will be hosting a “Migration Marketplace” from 11am-4pm CT on Saturday, as well as 11am-2pm on Sunday. The marketplace has an assortment of nature and outdoor related organizations, vendors, and artists on display. The Dunes-Calumet Audubon is also hosting a native plant sale in the Marketplace both days.
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Dunes Birds in Art is a month long art exhibition featuring native birds of the Indiana Dunes region. The exhibition kicks off on Wed, May 11 at the Dunes Visitor Center at 6pm, and can be viewed throughout the weekend and the month of May. Â
Through May 14, nature enthusiasts are encouraged to check out the online silent auction. The auction supports the Mumford & Keller Grants and Scholarship Program.
The Youth and Family Birding Day at the Indiana Dunes State Park is free for the public, after paying the normal state park entry fee. Â More information on the festival can be found at www.indunesbirdingfestival.com.Â
The festival headquarters is found at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, at 1215 N SR. 49 in Chesterton.