Photo: Oktoberfest in LaCrosse, courtesy of Travel Wisconsin
Looking for great outdoor entertainment this fall? From farmers᾽ markets to fishing, wine walks and Santa sightings, there’s something festive for everyone.
SEPTEMBER
OKTOBERFEST USA, LA CROSSE
SEPT. 24-27
oktoberfestusa.com
One of the largest Oktoberfest celebrations — celebrating 65 years — in the country takes over downtown La Crosse for five days of parades, polka, beer tents and Gemütlichkeit. Between festhalle sessions, wander the Maple Leaf Parade route or catch the torchlight parade before settling in for a stein at one of the city’s riverside taverns.
WARRENS CRANBERRY FESTIVAL, WARRENS
SEPT. 25-27
cranfest.com
Billed as the world’s largest cranberry festival, this Monroe County tradition draws visitors to the heart of cranberry country for bog tours, a massive arts and crafts fair, a parade and every cranberry-flavored treat imaginable. Time it right and you’ll catch the marshes at peak crimson.
OCTOBER
BAYFIELD APPLE FESTIVAL, BAYFIELD
OCT. 2-4
bayfield.org
More than 60,000 visitors flock to this Lake Superior harbor town for orchard tours, a grand parade, live music and craft vendors lining the bluff-top streets. Grab a cider donut and catch the fall color along the Chequamegon Bay while you’re at it.
FALL WINE WALK, WISCONSIN DELLS
OCT. 3
wisdells.com
Historic downtown Wisconsin Dells trades waterpark noise for a cozy afternoon of wine sampling, shopping and live music along the storefronts. It’s a low-key way to see the Dells’ small-town side before the holiday crowds arrive.
CRANBERRY FEST, EAGLE RIVER
OCT. 3-4
eagleriver.org
The Northwoods celebrates its harvest with a sprawling arts and crafts fair, live entertainment and fresh-picked cranberries, all set against some of the best fall color in the state at the Vilas County Fairgrounds.
80TH ANNUAL SISTER BAY FALL FESTIVAL, SISTER BAY
OCT. 16-18
doorcounty.com
Door County’s marquee fall event turns 80 this year, with a Lions Club fish boil, a Saturday pancake breakfast and parade, and a huge arts and crafts fair filling the streets of this bay-side village.
NOVEMBER
CHRISTMAS AT HOUSE ON THE ROCK, SPRING GREEN
NOV. 12-DEC. 28
thehouseontherock.com
The Infinity Room and Streets of Yesterday get dressed for the holidays with hundreds of decorated trees and elaborate model-train displays, making this one of the state’s most over-the-top Christmas attractions.
MILWAUKEE HOLIDAY LIGHTS FESTIVAL, MILWAUKEE
NOV. 19-JAN. 1
county.milwaukee.gov
Downtown Milwaukee glows for six weeks straight, with more than half a million lights strung across three lakefront-adjacent parks, plus ice skating, a Santa house and weekend entertainment. A can’t-miss anchor for the state’s biggest city.
DOWNTOWN OSHKOSH HOLIDAY PARADE, OSHKOSH
NOV. 19
visitoshkosh.com
This year’s “Winter Wonderland” theme brings floats, marching bands and Santa’s arrival to downtown Oshkosh, kicking off the holiday season on the shores of Lake Winnebago.
CHRISTKINDLMARKET ON BROADWAY, GREEN BAY
NOV. 19-DEC. 19
downtowngreenbay.com
Wooden chalets, mulled wine and local makers fill Green Bay’s Broadway District for a German-style holiday market with weekend entertainment running Thursdays through Saturdays.
DOWNTOWN APPLETON CHRISTMAS PARADE, APPLETON
NOV. 24
appletonwi.gov
The 55th annual parade, Appleton’s biggest holiday tradition, rolls down College Avenue at 7 p.m. with 80 units — floats, decorated vehicles, even animals — plus more than 20 marching bands from across northeast Wisconsin.
LIGHTIN’ UP DOWNTOWN, KENOSHA
NOV. 27
visitkenosha.com
Kenosha’s day-after-Thanksgiving tradition flips the switch on the city’s holiday lights along the Lake Michigan lakefront, with music, treats and a visit from Santa to kick off the season.
DECEMBER
WAUSAU HOLIDAY PARADE, WAUSAU
DEC. 4
visitwausau.com
Downtown Wausau’s biggest holiday event of the year brings floats, marching bands and Santa through the streets after dark, capping the evening near the historic depot.
CHRISTKINDLI MARKET, NEW GLARUS
DEC. 4-6
swisstown.com
“America’s Little Switzerland” leans all the way into the season for its sixth annual market, with wooden stalls, alpine treats and old-world holiday charm filling downtown New Glarus.
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