Sweet Owen Tourism

10/29/2026

November is here, and there are so many fun events to take part in! From shopping small for your Christmas gifts right here in Owen County to finding events the whole family can enjoy, your weekend getaway is sure to be memorable. Check out our newsletter for a full listing of events happening throughout the month!

Hailing from Spencer, Tim Lewis is a renowned watercolor artist who will be at the Owen County Art Guild on November 1st from 2 - 4 PM for an Art Show. Enjoy refreshments and chat with the artist!  Follow the Owen County Art Guild on Facebook to see more events and information. 

10/26/2026

All seasons in Owen County are special, but there’s something a little extra special about fall!

There are so many beautiful natural wonders to take in the fall colors in Owen County, like Greens Bluff Nature Preserve, McCormick’s Creek State Park, Owen-Putnam State Forest, Cataract Falls State Recreation Area, MYPath Trail, and many more. Beyond the natural beauty, grabbing a fall drink downtown, shopping at our many local businesses, and enjoying a yummy pastry from our local bakery make for the perfect fall day.

If you’re coming into Owen County for a retreat, let us help you plan the perfect stay! Stop by our Visitors Center Monday–Friday from 10–3. If you can’t stop by during business hours, we have outdoor holders stocked with local information waiting to be discovered!

Fall in love with Owen County this autumn!

10/26/2026

The annual Vandalia Community Preservation Association Chili Fest, featuring the Lloyd Wood Band, will take place on Sunday, November 1st, at the historic Vandalia Schoolhouse and Vandalia Chapel!

Another afternoon of good food, fun, and excellent entertainment (by Lloyd Wood and his multi-talented band) is scheduled for Sunday November 1 in Owen County's historic village of Vandalia. Mark your calendars now!

Sweet Owen Tourism, Owen County Preservations, Owen County Community Foundation, Indiana Landmarks, The Lloyd Wood Fan Club, The Owen News

10/26/2026

The Owen County Art Guild will host an art show featuring artwork by Tim Lewis on November 1st!

10/22/2026

Falloween will take place this Friday, October 23rd, and Saturday, October 24th, at McCormick's Creek State Park!

Falloween Events:
October 23rd & 24th

Friday, October 23rd
Family Fun Fall Night
4 pm: Leaf Pounding Bandana- (Craft) Trees are getting ready to store their energy from their leaves into their trunks. Come to the Nature Center to hammer the colors of the forest into a bandana to take home. Learn how leaves are changing and preserve them on a wearable art. The cost of this program $3 per bandana. Program is held at Nature Center Amphitheater.

5 pm-6:30 pm: Face Painting- Come get a spooky new face before tonight’s Halloween movie showing. Free face painting is being offered at the Canyon Inn.

5 pm-6:30pm: Book Mobile- Owen County Book Mobile will be making a surprise stop at McCormick’s Creek. Come check out the book mobile and create a spooky craft in front of the Canyon Inn.

6:30 pm: Spooky Movie Night- Come see a spooky family-friendly movie showing on the big screen in the Lobby at the Canyon Inn. Enjoy free popcorn and cookies. This movie is rated G for everyone.

8 pm: Owl Prowl- Join a Park Naturalist in front of the Canyon Inn to learn about owl adaptations and call-in owls on this 1.4 mile night hike through the woods! Bring a redlight flashlight or borrow one from the naturalist.

Saturday, October 24th
Fall-o-ween
9:30 am-12 pm: Buck’s Dead and Breakfast-
Come create a spooky sweet treat at Buck’s Dead and Breakfast found in the Nature Center parking lot. Please bring cash, all proceeds go to Friends of McCormick’s Creek. Create a Spider Donuts $5. Hot Drinks $2.

10 am-12 pm: Pumpkin Carving- Carve a pumpkin and support the Friends of McCormick’s Creek. $5 cost per pumpkin. Please pay in cash and supplies are limited to the first 50 guests. Meet at the Nature Center Amphitheater to begin.

3 pm-4 pm- Ssssnakes- (Live Animals) Slither on over to our Nature Center Amphitheater to learn about the longest snake of North America and the strongest predatory snake in Indiana. Naturalist Kaitlyn will introduce you to our snake ambassadors in this live animal program.

5:30 pm- 7:30 pm: Pumpkin Parade- (Hike) Put on a costume and meet the Friends of McCormick’s Creek at the Nature Center to take a spooky hike through the woods to see Jack-o-Lanterns from local artists. We will be on an accessible path for everyone to enjoy. Vote on your favorite Jack-o-Lanterns and take a treat bag to go!

8 pm-9 pm: Nocturnal Animal Show- (Live Animals) Come join WildCare to meet some of their nocturnal animal ambassadors, Silver Haired Bat and Southern Flying Squirrel. Discover the difference in these flying mammals! Program is being offered at the Nature Center Auditorium.

For more fun fall events, please visit: on.IN.gov/mccormickcreek

10/22/2026

McCormick's Creek State Park is having a Fall Photo Contest!

McCormick's Creek seeks your help in gathering photos of the fall splendor at the park by participating in our Fall Photo Contest. The winning prize is a 2027 State Parks Annual Entrance Pass!

To enter, please send the following information in an email to [email protected] from Oct. 1, 2026–Nov. 14, 2026:

Photo (attached as a jpeg, jpg, png)
Participant name
Address
Date the photo was taken
The winner will be selected by a panel of DNR staff, and the entries will be shared on the McCormick’s Creek page after the contest.

Visit for more information: https://events.IN.gov/event/fall-photo-contest-mccormicks-creek-state-park-3192

Photo by Richard Jones

10/22/2026

The Halloween Hysteria Demolition Derby will take place this Saturday, October 24th, at the Owen County Fairgrounds!

10/22/2026

Trunk or Treat will take place at the Owen County Fairgrounds this Saturday, October 24th, from 5:30 pm. to 7:00 p.m. After Trunk or Treat will be the Halloween Hysteria Demolition Derby starting at 7:00 p.m.

10/16/2026

Check out the upcoming fall foliage programs at McCormick's Creek State Park!

Upcoming Programs on Fall Foliage!

Sunday, October 11th
4 pm: Eco Printing Workshop- (Craft) Come capture natural botanical dyes in this workshop held at the Nature Center. We will be hammering leaves to preserve their prints on fabric. This program is recommended for ages 8 and up and cost $2 per person.

Saturday, October 17th
11 am-12 pm: Collecting Colors- (Hike & Craft) Join Naturalist Kaitlyn on an easy hike to learn how to identify trees by their leaves. Next, we will move inside to learn how you can keep the colors of autumn preserved in this leaf craft. Meet at the Nature Center Auditorium.

2 pm: Indentitree- (Hike) Join Naturalist Katilyn in front of Centennial Shelter to take a short hike on our new Echo Canyon Trail to learn tree Identification.

Friday, October 23rd
4 pm: Leaf Pounding Bandana- (Craft) Trees are getting ready to store their energy from their leaves into their trunks. Come to the Nature Center to hammer the colors of the forest into a bandana to take home. Learn how leaves are changing and preserve them on a wearable art. The cost of this program $3 per bandana. Program is held at Nature Center Amphitheater.

Sunday, October 25th
4 pm-5pm: Leaf Rubbings- (Craft) Join Naturalist Kaitlyn at the Nature Center to learn how to identify native trees and make creative art with them.

Thursday, October 29th
10 am: Carrier Babes: Colors of the World- (Hike) Take a short, easy hike to see the fall foliage. Walking babes can help collect leaves to help us identify trees. Hot chocolate and c***r will be served. Hot chocolate and c***r will be served at the Centennial Shelter. While this program is geared for parents/caregivers with newborns to 3-year-olds, your whole flock is welcome with their siblings. Please visit on.IN.gov/mccormickscreek for more information on this hike. Please register by emailing [email protected] to participate.

Friday, October 30th
4 pm: Maple Leaf Bat- (Craft) Stop in the Nature Center to turn a maple leaf into a bat in this quick and sustainable craft.

Friday, November 6th
10 am: Misty Morning Waterfall Hike- (Hike) Meet Naturalist Jessica in front of the Canyon Inn for a short hike to the Waterfall Overlook. This hike is ADA friendly.

1 pm: Autumn Lookout- (Hike) Join Naturalist Jessica in front of the Canyon Inn to take an Autumn Stroll to enjoy the colors of the leaves before they fall. We will be taking trail 4, 1.6 mile hike to the Fire Tower to see the colors from above.

Photo by Cary Walsh
For more interpretive programs, please visit: on.IN.gov/mccormickscreek