Haunted Highland Eats + New Help for Foster Pets + A Trojan Headed to State

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Check out our Highland Halloween Guide 2026 for haunted homes, trunk-or-treats, family activities and more!

During Monday night’s Town Council meeting, officials said more than 60 vehicles are signed up for tonight’s Trunk-or-Treat - about triple last year’s turnout. The downtown speakers are also back in service and will be playing Halloween music throughout the event.

That all happens alongside Highland Main Street’s Haunted Highland Restaurant Crawl from 4 to 8 p.m., with 10 downtown restaurants offering special $7 food and drink deals.

You can start with a Trick or Treat Latte and cookie at Sip, grab a sloppy joe at Growlers, try fruit pierogi at Dan’s, stop for lasagna at Jose’s or a jumbo slice at Langel’s - then keep going for hot dogs, apple pie à la mode, orzo, a porchetta patty melt or chicken broccoli.

Meanwhile, Trunk-or-Treat will line Highway Avenue from 4 to 8 p.m., giving families plenty of candy stops while they make their way through downtown.

No set route required - just bring your appetite, costumes and candy bags.

The best place to wait for a furever home isn’t inside a shelter at all.

Humane Indiana has received a 2026 Foster Support Grant from the Petfinder Foundation, giving the Northwest Indiana organization additional help purchasing supplies for the families who temporarily open their homes to animals in need.

Humane Indiana’s foster program provides everything a foster family needs, including food, crates, bedding, medication and other supplies, so there is no cost to care for a foster pet.

And those temporary homes can make a big difference.
Foster families may care for orphaned puppies and kittens, nursing moms and their litters, animals recovering from medical issues, or dogs and cats that simply need a quieter place to decompress and socialize before adoption.

The network also plays another important role through Humane Indiana’s Crisis Foster program. When a pet owner is dealing with a temporary hardship such as illness, homelessness, domestic violence or a house fire, a foster family may be able to care for the pet until the owner gets back on their feet. The goal is to reunite the family rather than have someone permanently give up a beloved pet because of a crisis.

Humane Indiana says the new grant will help purchase much-needed foster supplies and could benefit hundreds of animals in its care.

While Humane Indiana’s shelter and adoption center is in Munster, Highland is home to its PAWS Resale & Consignment Shop at 8149 Kennedy Ave., which helps support the organization’s animal-care mission.

For anyone who has considered fostering but worried about the expense, Humane Indiana provides the supplies. Foster commitments can range from a short stay to several weeks depending on the animal.

🐾 Interested in becoming a foster? Find out more about their foster care program and what animals are available here or sent an email: to: [email protected]

Highland Fire Department is preparing to retire Ladder Truck 4 after the older truck failed its required ladder test.

Fire Chief William Timmer told the Town Council at its Oct. 12 meeting that repairing the truck would not be worth the cost. The town plans to dispose of it through sealed bids or scrap, while a new ladder truck is expected to arrive early next year.

The department is also replacing its backup generator, which was damaged during the Aug. 11 storm. The town is seeking bids for a new unit expected to cost roughly $145,000 to $150,000.

Storm-related costs may be eligible for FEMA reimbursement, though final reimbursement depends on federal eligibility and approval. Highland has been seeking FEMA assistance for millions of dollars in damage and cleanup tied to the Aug. 11 storm.

The generator is a critical piece of equipment for keeping the fire station operating during a power outage, when emergency services still need to remain fully functional.

Senior Malachy C. finished 28th out of 244 runners at the IHSAA Regional at New Prairie High School on Saturday, Oct. 24, earning a spot in the IHSAA Boys Cross Country State Finals.

He’ll race Saturday, Oct. 31 at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute. The boys race begins at noon Highland time.

Malachy’s trip to State caps a strong postseason for Highland cross country. The Trojan boys advanced to regionals as a team, while all seven Highland girls who competed in the postseason also reached the regional round.

The boys have had a strong year in the classroom too, recently winning Highland High School’s fall President’s Cup with a 3.98 team GPA.

Fans making the trip can purchase $15 digital tickets through Eventlink. The race will also stream on IHSAAtv.org for $15.