Home for the Holidays: South Shore CVA provides a one-tank trip in the Region this fall and winter

As the holiday season approaches, the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority (CVA) is preparing another exciting period filled with cost-efficient opportunities to celebrate with friends and family members. Whether people are visiting the Region from the Michiana area, Chicago, or beyond, the South Shore CVA is continuing its campaign to promote this area as a one-tank trip for visitors.

Heather Becerra, chief marketing officer at the South Shore CVA, is excited for the slate of events hitting the Region this holiday season. She highlighted that there are plenty of events to entertain local community members, along with some new ideas that are on the horizon.

“We have our annual ‘A Christmas Story Comes Home’ exhibit at the Indiana Welcome Center, which will run from November 21 through December 30,” Becerra said. “It features six animatronic windows from the movie. We’ve done some events for painting a canvas, which is popular at a lot of attractions, but we’re also looking at doing some more trivia nights. We have ice skating during the winter season at Crown Point and Deep River Waterpark, along with the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop at the Crown Point Square. Whiting does its annual Pierogi Drop, which has been recognized by USA Today among the best New Year’s Eve drops.”

While many of these new events are more than a month out, one fresh activity that is coming to Crown Point is the Coffin Cup on Saturday, October 24. This event puts a final nail in the coffin for Halloween festivities prior to the seasonal changes, as it will be a team race of the dead down Main Street.

The South Shore CVA is always looking for ways to extend a visitor’s time spent in Northwest Indiana. While many individuals or families make the drive between Michiana and the Chicago area, the midpoint has opportunities for people of all ages to have a good time.

“You could come here for a day, or even make a weekend out of it. Whether it’s the Indiana Dunes, a holiday event at one of our local theaters, a holiday light show – we’re a great destination worth stopping for,” Becerra said. “You can have dinner at the Indiana Dunes State Park right on the lakefront, or check out our great casinos. You don’t have to go far to find high quality entertainment and restaurants.”

Additionally, the start of the new year is always a festive period. Holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day give families many reasons to celebrate. This includes events such as the Thanksgiving Turkey Walk, a brunch with Santa Claus, and Holly Days.

That’s why the South Shore CVA is prioritizing experiences for people to make memories with their loved ones.

“Visiting friends and relatives is probably one of our biggest markets,” Becerra said. “Some people might be coming up to see someone they know, or to share an experience together. Maybe they want to watch a parade or go ice skating. We know everybody’s budgets are a little tighter around this time of year, which is why a lot of our holiday events are free or low-cost.”

As the South Shore CVA looks ahead, there are some exciting long-term projects that will be discussed for the rest of the year, with the hope to put in effect by 2027.

“We have a lot of big things on the horizon. Of course, we have the potential of the Chicago Bears coming to Northwest Indiana. We’re also looking at breaking ground on a convention center, hopefully within the next few months,” Becerra said. “It’s more than just a great place to visit; it’s also a great place to live.”

To learn more about the South Shore CVA, you can visit southshorecva.com.