Official Indiana Wizard of Oz Festival Website

What is the Indiana Wizard of Oz Festival, you ask? Well if you have never been here before, get ready for a surprise! Come experience the Oz magic! We feature the actual actors who played the Munchkins in the 1939 movie classic "The Wizard of Oz"! Yes real Munchkins and Munchkins by Marriage! And if that isn’t exciting enough we have award-winning authors and notable Oz memorabilia collectors. Plus a whole gaggle of costumed characters, which smaller attendees are sure have just stepped down from the movie screen. We have Dorothy and her three best friends. A few witches (a good one and a wicked one) and a wizard. Plus a flock of flying monkeys (well actually one monkette and a monkey in training.) Don’t forget a magical Princess who is partial to Teddy Bears. Puppets and singers and artists, oh my! It isn’t humbug; Come and see for yourself! We encourage you all to come dressed as your favorite Oz character.

Events: Our schedule is published elsewhere on this site, but these are some of the events you can expect to find: Breakfast with the Munchkins: Sunday morning. Celebrity Autograph Parties: Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Children’s Lunch with the Costumed Characters: Saturday afternoon. Costumed Characters: Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Craft and Food Booths: Saturday and Sunday. Fantasy Parade: Saturday morning. If you are in costume, please feel free to join in and march at the end of the parade! Friday Evening Event: The Emerald City Gala for adult Oz fans. Grand Finale: Sunday afternoon. Judy/Oz Exchange & Auction: Saturday night. Look-A-Like Contests: Saturday and Sunday. Munchkinland Market Days: Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Plus lots more!

Want a Copy of Our Event Guide? If you need a copy when it is printed, send a large self-addressed stamped envelope (10 “ wide) with your request to: Lakeshore Festival & Events Corp., PO Box 2138, Chesterton, IN 46304-2138.

Want to Come & Experience the Magic? We strongly suggest that you make your hotel reservations early, as we tend to fill up all the hotels in Porter County. This year our Munchkinland host hotels are the Courtyard by Marriott; 2301 E Morthland Dr; Valparaiso, IN 46383; (219) 465-1700; (800) 321-2211 and the Fairfield by Marriott; 2101 E Morthland Dr; Valparaiso, IN 46383; (219) 465-6225; (800) 228-2800. Call them to stay with the Munchkins. Here are a couple of other suggested locations: The Econo Lodge Motel in Chesterton, IN (219) 929-4416 and The Hilton Garden Inn in Chesterton, IN (219) 983-9500. These hotels have housed our celebrities in the past. You never know who you may “bump into” on your way to the ice machine. Flying in via broom or bubble? Your closest airports are Midway and O’Hare in Chicago, IL. Want to ride from the airport in style? Contact American Limousine (219) 464-7572. They provide our celebrity airport transportation. If you forget your broom, why not Ride Like a Munchkin?