CASS COUNTY — Saturday nights throughout January and February, cross-country skiers, tubers and mountain bikers can be heard whooshing through the snow at Lawless Park, giggles echoing through the woods as people of all ages traverse lighted paths in the 860-acre Cass County park.

Weather permitting, the Cass County Parks and Recreation Department and Friends of Cass County Parks will celebrate the 12th year of Discover Winter Nights at Dr. T.K. Lawless Park, 15122 Monkey Run St., just west of Jones.

“[Winter Nights] is definitely our time to shine,” said Parks Director Scott Wyman. “We try to program within our parks at different times of the year, and this is our winter programming at Lawless.”

Although the parks department was not able to host the event a single weekend last year due to warmer-than-normal temperatures, Wyman said the organizations plan to host the nighttime festivities as long as there is snow on the ground.

Unlike other nights, the park will stay open until 9 p.m. and offer added amenities as part of the programming.

The event will feature a lighted tubing hill, three miles of cross-country skiing and a bon fire each week that weather permits. Participants may bring their own tubes or borrow tubes from the park. As in previous years, the parks department will offer wagon rides and crafts in the community room.

“We try to add one new activity each year to keep things interesting,” Wyman said. “This year, we actually have a bobsled we’re 

going to be pulling with a tractor.”

Additionally, a local stargazing enthusiast will bring his equipment so park visitors may stargaze in the winter.

“Also, for the first time ever, we’re allowing mountain biking during that time as well,” Wyman said. “We’ve opened up a cooperative effort with NIMBA — the Northern Indiana Mountain Bike Association — who helps to maintain our biking trails in the summer.”

NIMBA donated a piece of grooming equipment to the parks to enable park employees to groom the trails in the winter, making way for fat-tire bikers to traverse the trails in the wintertime. Bike riders are permitted to go out on the trail with their headlights and head lamps to enjoy the outdoors.

Wyman said that like all park events, Winter Nights are family friendly and safe for all ages.

“Everything’s affordable because we definitely have families in mind,” Wyman said.

Refreshments are also available at low rates. Park admission is $2 per person, with an additional charge of $1 per person for tractor-drawn sleigh rides.

Wyman said right now, there is not a substantial snow base, but weather patterns are likely to change. People interested in attending Winter Nights at Lawless Park may follow the park’s Facebook page, call the parks department at (269) 445-4456, or email Wyman at scottwy@cassco.org to find out if the event will be hosted each Saturday.