All skill levels are welcome to try your hand at creating your own beautiful sculptures and crafts. By using special felting needles, you're able to lock together the felt and create shapes. The needles are sharp, so a steady delicate hand is helpful to manipulate and transform the fabric. Classes are led by Felting by Laura and includes all materials, plus snacks. Classes may run over on time depending on size and pace of group.

Spring into action during the month of March and support a local non-profit with Valpo Parks! Our office will be taking donations to help support a Valparaiso organization in their journey to help families and children in the area. 

Registration is open! Register today for our ice skating lessons at Central Park Plaza Ice Rink. We offer Tots classes for ages 3 to 5 and Beginners classes for ages 6 to 17 to help young skaters feel comfortable on the ice.

Interested in working on your audition skill set? Ready to take your skills to the next level? Come join us for Audition Bootcamp! Theatre professionals with a history of casting productions will work with you on singing audition prep, perfecting monologues, and learning dance calls with grace and attention to detail.

Join Friends of Fishing & Valpo Parks for the annual Ice Fishing Derby! This is a family fun event, so everyone is welcome to come out and enjoy a day of ice fishing! Same day registration begins at 5am at the Program Center. All fish must be measured by 12pm. No late entries please.

Returning by popular demand, this Christmastime tour is the perfect trip for young and old alike!  On this narrated tour you'll visit 4 different bakeries where you'll receive samples and have time to shop for all your favorites.  Between stops you'll enjoy a sit down lunch and enjoy the beautifully decorated city.

Help us spread some holiday cheer! Join Valpo Parks and the Dunes Leathernecks Marine Corp League for their largest fundraiser of the year, the Toys for Tots toy drive. 

Families can drive through the gleaming stationary display of emergency vehicles, with Big Santa greeting you as you enter Foundation Meadows Park. Kids of all ages can experience the joy of giving while enjoying seeing Santa, lights, treats and more!

Enjoy caroling, photos with Santa, treats, and the lighting of the Central Park Plaza Christmas tree (lighting takes place at 6:00 pm). 

After the festivities, guests are encouraged to enjoy dinner at a downtown restaurant. Present a receipt from a downtown business at the ice rink from 7 - 10 pm for a special of $10 admission and skate rental to support Small Business Saturday.

Time to get creative! Learn how to needle felt your own unique little monster in this guided class. Needle felting is just like sculpting, but with fiber!

Valpo Parks Youth Skateboarding Lessons are crafted to offer skaters of varying abilities the chance to acquire fresh skills and enhance existing techniques. Participants will delve into everything from learning fundamentals to mastering ground tricks, all instructed at our newly inaugurated Flounder and Friends Skatepark!

This annual reception is held to honor those who lend their support and volunteer to aid in the mission of the Valpo Parks Foundation.  Please join the Valpo Parks Foundation in celebrating this year's honorees at the 2024 Friends & Legends reception.

Registration begins at 6:30am on the day of the event.  Weigh-in at noon at the clubhouse, all live fish.

Art Prize celebrates their 15th Anniversary in 2024!  This amazing art festival is set in the heart of Downtown Grand Rapids and features artists from all over the world.  Guests will enjoy a hearty sit-down lunch at Hopcat combined with walking and bus tours of various art installations throughout the city.

Kids can join in the Popcorn Festival fun with this unique kid-friendly race in Downtown Valparaiso.  Kids run this 100- 300 yard event; distance varies by age group.  Everyone receives a t-shirt and participation ribbon.

Join Valpo Parks for a fun-filled weekend of all things bicycling at Creekside Trails!  The Valpo Bike Fest is focused on bringing enthusiasts, competitors, casual participants, and spectators together to share in the mental, physical, and social benefits of bicycling, food, drinks and music will be featured all weekend long. Most activities will be located at Trailyard (2551 Clifford Rd.).

Kids of all ages will enjoy exploring their favorite big rigs during this free, hands-on Touch a Truck event. Take pictures with your favorite trucks, enjoy the DJ, food trucks, and more! 

Bring all your friends out to Central Park Plaza for the best party in the neighborhood!
Block Party in the Park has something for everyone.  Whether you're the life of the party or a wallflower, you won't want to miss this new variation of your favorite Valpo Parks Foundation fundraiser.  Kick back and relax with a cold beverage, chat with your friends and neighbors, play yard games, dance to the music, or keep to yourself and just take it all in!  

Spice up your Monday nights with the Slow Dance series. Learn a variety of slow dance styles: Includes Waltz, Bachata, Rumba and a Traditional Slow Dance (6 week session)

The Friends of Fishing Club and Valpo Parks once again team up to host the 12th annual Take-A-Kid Fishing derby. This event is completely free for the entire family.

Grab a partner and enter the double elimination cornhole tourney at the beautiful William E Urschel Pavilion in Downtown Valparaiso!

Please join Valpo Parks and the City of Valparaiso to remember those who have served and given the ultimate sacrifice. This year’s Memorial Day Service is on Friday, May 24, 2024, at 9:00 am at the Service Memorial at Foundation Meadows Park.

The Color Fun Run is FUN for the whole family!  This 1.5 mile course will include running or walking and colorful fun along with various obstacle stations to keep you on your toes!   This family-friendly untimed event is great for all ages and abilities!

Each workshop is run by a professional photographer and is geared toward helping you achieve your comfort level with your camera. Instruction will be given on exposure, composition, and more. A take-home reference guide will be provided for all participants. Class is run by Megan from Hochbaum Photography.

Learn the basics of coding with Scottie Go! Scottie the friendly alien who crash landed on Earth and needs help collecting the parts to his spaceship. Students will work together to guide him through his adventure and complete objectives in this fun augmented reality game.

Walkers of all ages and abilities are invited to walk and talk with a Community Healthcare System provider. This easy walk will explore the trails of Rogers Lakewood Park with the ability to connect and ask health questions while enjoying nature. Gate code will be provided to registered participants.

Both beginners and skaters with some experience are invited to join us for our first ever skateboarding lessons! Beginners ages 8 to 13 will become comfortable skating and learn basic skills. Intermediate skaters will master basics like positioning, transitions, tricks and more! Register by April 17.

In this immersive and hands-on course, students will learn the fundamental techniques and knowledge required to thrive in the great outdoors.

Ahead of Earth Day, join us to take some nature indoors by creating a special dragonfly made out of maple tree samaras, better known by most as "helicopters!" Class includes all materials plus snacks. *Class may run over on time depending on size and pace of group.