A free, family-friendly off-road weekend at Interlake, October 2–4, with daytime trail rides and Saturday’s Ignite the Night Run. All skill levels welcome. Meetup times are TBD and will be posted in Eastern Time.
The summer heat is fading, but we’re just getting started. Bring your Raptor, Bronco or off-road vehicle to Interlake State Recreation Area for a family-friendly weekend of trail riding, community and a Saturday night run. All generations, other brands and all skill levels are welcome.
Scout the trails in daylight, then return after dark to put those lighting setups to work. Depending on turnout, the group may split by preferred trail difficulty and group size.
RSVP and required waiver
This is a free community meetup. Attendance is tracked through the Facebook event: mark yourself Going and leave a comment if you need a hotel room. No event ticket purchase is required.
Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4, 2026.
Venue: Interlake State Recreation Area, Indiana. Group staging and night-run meetups are in the main parking lot.
The schedule is tentative. Arrival, morning meetup, dinner and night-run times are still to be confirmed. All posted event times will be Eastern Time, as specified by the organizer.
Friday, October 2
Arrival day — arrive in town and check into your accommodations
Optional evening hangout — a mod evening or s’mores meetup may be arranged, with details to be confirmed.
Saturday, October 3
Morning meetup, time TBD — group staging, drivers’ meeting, radio check, group photo and airing down in the main lot
Group trail ride — groups may split by trail preference and turnout
Lunch break — pack a tailgate lunch or quick trail meal, snacks and plenty of water
Afternoon scouting ride — explore the same trails planned for the night run, then return to the main lot and air up
Optional no-host dinner, time TBD — leave Interlake in the mid-afternoon and convoy to RETRO Mexican Restaurant in Jasper
After dinner — rest at your accommodations or hang out until the night meetup
Night-run meetup, time TBD — convoy back with the group or meet at the park lot at the announced time
Ignite the Night Run — meet in the main lot, air down and run the trails scouted earlier in the day after dark.
Sunday, October 4
Flexible departure day — head home when ready
Optional morning bonus session — another Interlake trail ride may take place if enough people are interested.
Indiana spans Central and Eastern time zones, and this event takes place close to the boundary. Your phone or truck clock may switch zones as you travel. The organizer will post all event times in Eastern Time; use those announced times when meeting the group.
The organizer recommends locking your phone or vehicle clock to a known time zone during the weekend. Follow the Facebook event for confirmed meetup times and updates.
Ticket options
Community meetup
$0 USD
$0 event admission. No paid event ticket is required. RSVP on Facebook and complete the required waiver before attending.
Park entry and personal expenses
Park entry fees are each participant’s responsibility. Bring your own trail food and drinks, arrange your accommodation, and pay for your own optional dinner.
Family and accommodation
Spouses and children are welcome. The organizer is looking into a discounted hotel room block depending on headcount and RSVP numbers. A hotel block and rate are not yet confirmed.
RSVP early and comment on the Facebook event if you need a room so the organizer can estimate demand. Jasper, Indiana is the suggested place to stay, but you are welcome to choose another nearby hotel or campground. No one is required to stay at a particular property.
What to bring
Your Ford Raptor, Bronco or other off-road vehicle. All generations and other brands are welcome.
A dual-band radio for trail communication. The source recommends MURS/GLRE and GMRS capability; channels will be determined at staging. A few spare handheld radios will be available, but supplies are very limited.
A packed lunch, snacks, plenty of water and a cooler of drinks for the trails.
Recovery gear such as tow straps and shackles, if you have them.
A good attitude and a spirit for adventure.
Safety and trail conditions
This is a casual group meetup. Each driver is responsible for their own vehicle, park passes, safety and decisions on the trail. Respect park rules and drive responsibly.
The event has a strict zero-tolerance policy for impaired driving. The group will be in a state park and on public roads; anyone found to be impaired will be asked to leave immediately.
Some routes are Jeep-style trails. Trail pinstriping, scratches and minor body damage are possible, and participants off-road at their own risk. The group will spot, guide and help minimize damage where reasonably possible, but cannot guarantee a damage-free run.
Updates and original event page
Mark yourself Going on Facebook, share the event with the community and comment if you need a hotel room. Check the Facebook event for final times, accommodation announcements and schedule changes.
Event content and the original poster are from Raptor Junkies’ Ignite the Night Fall Crawl listing, reviewed September 5, 2026. Schedule details may change.
