Brown County State Park celebrates Halloween on October 18th this year!

Contests:

Pumpkin Carving Contest: Bring your carved pumpkin to the Brown County State Park Nature Center by 4pm on Saturday, October 18th. Enter your pumpkin into one of our categories: under 10, 10 to 17, 18+, or family. The top three entries for each category will earn a prize! Please submit your pumpkin with a cell phone number and your campsite number (if applicable) so we can contact you for your prize. Pumpkins will be on display at Smores at the Friends Circle in the evening.

Campsite Decorating Contest: Register for our campsite decorating contest at the campground booth as you check in to your campsite. Decorate your site to your liking, but do not put nails in trees or park equipment, dig holes, or paint anything in the park. Judges will tour the campground after dark on October 18th to judge registered sites. Prizes will be delivered to winning campsites after judging is completed. Please make sure you take everything home with you and leave your site clean and suitable for the next campers.

Programs:

Live Raptor Show, 2pm: Join the Indiana Raptor Center for an exciting afternoon with some of Indiana's predatory birds! See multiple live raptors, hear what threats they face, and learn about how you can help and appreciate these incredible animals!  Please be aware the program involves live animals. The presenters move about the crowd with a bird on hand for close up looks. If you bring a pet, please be aware the presenter will not approach you.

What Goes Bump in the Night?, 2pm and 6pm: Join a naturalist to learn about the wild world cryptids and cryptozoology! This program will reveal what folktales and mythical creatures like Bigfoot and Moth Man can tell us about our culture and how cryptid stories start in the first place. Visit the Nature Center for some spooky stories and learn about Indiana's own unique cryptids!

Nature Center After Hours, 6pm to 9pm: Come to the Nature Center and see our displays, including some special skull displays.

S'mores at the Friends' Circle, 6pm to 9pm: Come to the Friends’ Circle behind the Nature Center picnic shelter for a s’more and some hot cider and cocoa.

Hikes:

Tornado Sunset Hike, 6:30pm: Meet a naturalist at Hohen Point. We’ll hike along the road to view the damage from May 16th’s tornado. Hikers must stay with the naturalist, and must stay on the road.

Candlelight Hike, 8pm to 10pm: Come to the Nature Center and take a hike around the Discovery Trail.  Bring a flashlight or headlamp, or take your time and enjoy the candles on the path. The trail will be open from 8pm to 10pm.