Autumn cool camping fun
DNR provides abundant fall harvest of camping fests



Halloween-a-way camping
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Enjoy cool-weather camping, hayrides, Jack-o-lantern carving and autumn serenity before joining the DNR at the campfire for scary tales at a state park or recreation area Halloween celebration.

Raccoon State Recreation Area, fearless Harmonie State Park, brave Brookville Lake and plucky Oubache State Park dare to kick off the Halloween weekend early on Friday, Oct 28.

Costumed kids, spacious leaf-spangled campsites, crackling campfires, melted s-mores, and ghoulish decorations fill the rolling Raccoon SRA campground during Raccoon SRA's Halloween Camping Weekend. Raccoon SRA is nearly surrounded by the waters of Cecil M. Harden Lake, noted for some of Indiana's best big fall striped bass fishing.

Haunted hayrides and haunted house invade Harmonie State Park during Haunted Harmonie. Raccoon SRA and Harmonie State Park events run Oct. 28-30. Raccoon SRA, 317-344-1412. Harmonie State Park, 812-682-4821.

Brookville Lake's Spooktacular Camping Weekend and Oubache State Park's Fall Camping Celebration run Oct. 28-29. Brookville Lake, 765-647-2657. Oubache State Park, 260-824-0926.

Goblins, ghosts, ghouls and gargoyles lurk in the woods along Lieber SRA's Haunted Hayride. The recreation area at Cagle's Mill Lake will host the adrenaline-inducing event on the evening of Oct. 29. Lieber SRA, 765-795-4576.

More scary Halloween fun on Saturday, Oct 29.
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-Pokagon State Park Ghost Tales and Stories of the Season, 260-833-2012.

-Turkey Run State Park Inn Halloween & Costume Party, 1-877-500-6151.

-Brown County State Park Friends' Halloween Haunted Trail and Campsite Decorating Contest, 812-988-6406.

-Spring Mill State Park Scary Stories Campfire, 812-849-4129.

-Chain O' Lakes State Park All Hallow's Eve at the Park, 260-636-2654.

Spring Mill State Park will have a Scarecrow Weekend and Haunted Village on Oct. 15-16. Spring Mill State Park, 812-849-4129.

More fall-break camping shindigs
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- Mississinewa Lake Autumn Camping Weekend and Hardy Lake Raptor Days, Sept. 30-Oct. 2.

- Versailles State Park Bluegrass Festival and McCormick's Creek State Park Harvest Heritage Days, Oct. 1-2.

- O'Bannon Woods State Park Autumn Camping Weekend, Oct. 8-9.

- Patoka Lake Autumn Getaway Weekend, Summit Lake State Park Harvest Homecoming and Charlestown State Park Autumn Celebration, Oct. 14-16.

- Indiana Dunes State Park Fall Funfest and Storytelling Festival, October 15-16.

- Monroe Lake Fall Camping Jamboree and Spring Mill State Park Fall Family Weekend, October 21-23.

- McCormick's Creek State Park Fall Folk Fest, October 29-30
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There's a special event for nearly every age and taste at an Indiana state park or reservoir property this fall. Check out the calendar at: http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/interpretiveservices/programs/special_events/

DNR destination information: http://www.in.gov/dnr/destinations/list.html

Call 1-866-6CAMP-IN to reserve a state park or recreation area campsite, or click over to: www.camp.IN.gov

State Park Inn room reservations: www.indianainns.com

State parks and recreation areas charge a $4 gate fee in season.