The annual Holiday Art Fair in Madison is an excellent showcase of contemporary fine art and craft during the gift-giving season. This juried show includes over 85 artists exhibiting ceramics, fiber art, glass, jewelry, paintings, prints, photographs, and more. The festive event will also feature performances by local arts organizations throughout the weekend, holiday refreshments, Rediscovered Arts & Treasures Sale, silent auction, and the popular Gourmet Gallery filled with treats for every taste.
The Holiday Art Fair is held at the MMoCA, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. It’s right on State Street downtown, close to U.S. 151/Washington Avenue. Of course, I-39, 90, and 94, U.S. 12, 14, 18, 51, and Highways 30 and 113 all bring you into Madison!
Admission to the Holiday Art Fair is $6, with children under 12 admitted free. Their website has all the details and the full lineup!
Start:
November 20, 2015 2:30 pm
End:
November 22, 2015 3:00 pm
Venue:
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
Phone:
608-257-0158
Address:
227 State Street, Madison, WI, 53703, United States
The River Falls area comes alive when you take part in the Fall Finds and Barn Tour! Enjoy a leisurely tour of the beautiful Wisconsin countryside while you experience a diverse mix of shopping in rustic barns and downtown shops in and around River Falls. Find eclectic & handmade items, fine art, unique gifts, antiques, functional wares, local harvest and preserves, furniture, festive holiday, garden art & so much more, including:
– 125 on Main
– Over 30 artists and eclectic mix of holiday, harvest, repurposed, vintage and more.
– Holidays at Blue Ridge – over 20 artists’ original artwork, jewelry, edibles and more.
– Our Neighbor’s Old Barn – eclectic mix of gifts, vintage, furniture and fun.
– Garden Divas – unique gifts, harvest, holiday, garden, fair trade, vintage, local and more.
– Holidays on the Kinni – artists group and antiques, restored, harvest, holiday gifts and more.
– Riverwalk Art and Antiques – antiques, vintage, home, local gifts, edibles and more.
River Falls is in Pierce County, where Highways 29, 35, and 65 meet.
For over 30 years Eau Claire’s International Folk Fair has been one of the largest celebrations of culture and heritage. This celebration includes cultural and educational exhibits, traditional music, dance, clothing, and food from over 40 countries. International students along with community groups participate in the fair. Admission is free. Many groups sell food or cultural items to raise money for their organization.
Tied in with UW-Eau Claire’s Center for International Education, this event will be held Sunday, November 8th from noon-4pm in the Davies Center on Roosevelt. I-94, U.S. 12, U.S. 53, and Highways 37 and 93 all bring you to Eau Claire – and check out the new renovations downtown while you’re at it!
Start:
November 8, 2015 12:00 pm
End:
November 8, 2015 4:00 pm
Venue:
Davies Center, UW-Eau Claire
Phone:
715-836-3727
Address:
100 Roosevelt Avenue, Eau Claire, WI, 54701, United States
Downtown Oshkosh comes alive the first Saturday of each month when art galleries and businesses open their doors to feature artwork of all varieties and genres. Hundreds of art lovers descend downtown to enjoy, mingling with quite a few college students to make it interesting!
Next Gallery Walk is November 7th; after that, December 5th. Officially, it runs 6-9pm but the fun doesn’t stop at 9.
Oshkosh hugs the western shore of Lake Winnebago and is directly reached by U.S. 45 and Highways 21, 44, and 76. Highway 91 gets you close (via 44) and several exits off I-41 bring you downtown, including 9th Street and Highway 44.
Start:
November 7, 2015 6:00 pm
End:
November 7, 2015 9:00 pm
Venue:
Downtown Oshkosh
Phone:
920-303-9200
Address:
445 N. Main Street, Oshkosh, WI, 54901, United States
Harley-Davidson Museum® salutes our veterans and will offer free Museum entry for all active Military, Veterans and their families*. Harley-Davidson has always been on the front line – right next to the troops. The first American to enter Germany after World War I did so on a Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. Learn more about H-D’s military involvement during the Military Gallery Talks at 11am and 2:30pm. MOTOR® Bar & Restaurant offers a 10% discount for service members every day.
There’s FREE entry with valid Military or Veterans ID for 1 additional adult and up to 4 children 18 years old or younger.
The Harley-Davidson Museum is right in the Menomonee Valley, just south of downtown Milwaukee. I-43/94 hovers above nearby; U.S. 18 is just to the north, Highway 32/Milwaukee & 1st Street is just to the east, and Highway 59/Greenfield Avenue is just to the south. Follow Highway 38 north past its terminus or Highway 145 south past its, and you’ll get right there!
Start:
November 7, 2015 10:00 am
End:
November 8, 2015 6:00 pm
Venue:
Harley Davidson Museum
Phone:
877-436-8738
Address:
400 W. Canal Street, Milwaukee, WI, 53201, United States
Noted “Rascal” author Sterling North hailed from Edgerton (he graduated HS there in 1925), so they celebrate him with the annual Sterling North Book and Film Festival! This year’s takes place on Saturday, November 7th at Edgerton High School.
Year by year, Edgerton works to transform their reputation towards being a literary capitol and Wisconsin’s book town. We might be in a small town, but we think big! Each and every year the festival gets a little bigger and a lot better. It celebrates the eternal significance of the written word and works to open the world of literature to children of all ages. Meet a variety of authors and filmmakers, including Jerry Apps, Michael Perry, Kathleen Ernst, Jamie Swenson, John Garofolo, Susan Wehrley, Patty Loew, Rob Gard, and more.
If you love the power of words, this event is for you! Variety is the name of the game and there’s a lot to do – and read! A full schedule of events is available on their website.
You can get to Edgerton, in Rock County just south of Dane County, via U.S. 51, I-39/90, and Highway 59.
Start:
November 7, 2015 9:00 am
End:
November 7, 2015 5:00 pm
Venue:
Edgerton High School
Address:
200 Elm High Drive, Edgerton, WI, 53534, United States
Craft vendors and home-based businesses sell handmade jewelry, soaps, lotions, quilts, handcrafted items, home decor, gifts and much more! This craft fair has a tradition of providing quality shows for both vendors and customers. A quality show featuring unique handmade gifts and home decorating ideas. Their website has details!
You can reach Fond du Lac (which literally means “bottom of the lake”, since it’s at the south end of Lake Winnebago) via I-41, U.S. 45, U.S. 151, or Highways 23 or 175.
Start:
November 7, 2015 9:00 am
End:
November 7, 2015 3:00 pm
Venue:
Fond du Lac Fairgrounds
Phone:
920-929-2885
Address:
541 Martin Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935, United States
Held on the campus of UW-Waukesha, this two-day event features national and local authors presenting sessions about their work including children’s and young adult authors; features include book readings and signings, cookbook stage with demonstrations and special programming.
The UW-Waukesha campus is just south and west of the County T/I-94 interchange, near Highways 16, 59, 164 and U.S. 18.
“O-Town” fills with professional artists who set up in local shops downtown to exhibit their talents. The downtown shopping district stays open late to host the artists and in-store specials. Free horse and buggy rides are offered through downtown and you will catch a strolling barbershop quartet along with other fun activities.
Check their web page for more details and lineups.
Oconomowoc is right where Highways 16 and 67 meet, just north of I-94’s Exits 282 & 283. Nestled between Fowler Lake and Lac La Belle, it’s a beautiful town in western Waukesha County!
Start:
November 6, 2015 5:00 pm
End:
November 6, 2015 9:00 pm
Venue:
Downtown Oconomowoc
Phone:
262-567-5755
Address:
133 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Oconomowoc, WI, 53066, United States
Held at the Waukesha Expo Center, this show features over 70 antique dealers from across the country displaying for purchase American and English furniture, accessories, folk art, jewelry, oriental rugs, lighting, clocks and more!
Hours: Fri 5-9pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm.
Dates: Nov. 6-8, 2015; April 29-May 1, 2016; Nov. 4-6, 2016
You can get to the Waukesha Expo Center via I-94 and County T or J; Highways 16 and 164 bring you within a mile and U.S. 18 and Highway 59 are nearby in downtown Waukesha.
Start:
November 6, 2015 5:00 pm
End:
November 8, 2015 4:00 pm
Venue:
Waukesha County Fairgrounds
Phone:
262-896-8490
Address:
1000 Northview Road, Waukesha, WI, 53188, United States
Neenah’s Brewfest offers over 50 microbrews, wines, sodas, and coffees for tasting. Throughout the evening, attendees can enjoy tasting the wide variety of beverages and food along with raffles, 50/50, silent auctions, and live music. I-41 and Highways 47 and 114 bring you to Neenah; the venue is right along Highway 114 by the Fox River.
Lamers Bus Lines provides the Safe Ride program for the event if you don’t want to drive in and out in case you plan to imbibe a lot.
Tickets are available for $35 in advance or $40 at the door. Check their website for details.
Start:
October 23, 2015 6:30 pm
End:
October 23, 2015 10:30 pm
Venue:
Holiday Inn Neenah Riverwalk
Phone:
920-725-4161
Address:
123 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Neenah, WI, 54956, United States
This premier beer-tasting and brew-teaching event bring great beer, breweries, and people from across the Great Lakes Region to the Harley-Davidson Museum® on October 23 & 24th, 2015. There will be three tasting sessions (Friday 4:30-9:00, Saturday 11:00-3:30, and Saturday 4:30-9:00) and eight 50-minute classes (Friday at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 2:00, 3:00 and Saturday at 9:00, and 10:00) taught by brewers Randy Mosher, John Palmer, Stan Hieronymus, and Dr. Brad Smith.
Each brewery will bring a Taproom-Only Beer and/or a Rare Limited-Release Option for each of the three sessions. There is an extensive list of breweries participating, see their website for the full list!
The Harley-Davidson Museum is just south of downtown Milwaukee in the Menomonee Valley, along 6th Street. Highway 145 begins just blocks to the north and Highway 38 begins just blocks to the south, at Highway 59/National Avenue. I-43/94 and I-794 are nearby, as are U.S. 18 and Highway 32.
Start:
October 23, 2015
End:
October 24, 2015
Venue:
Harley Davidson Museum
Phone:
877-436-8738
Address:
400 W. Canal Street, Milwaukee, WI, 53201, United States
The Wisconsin Book Festival incorporates literature, spoken word, art, and performance. Local literary talents will be featured alongside national voices to create a unique event full of free community programs. Over the course of four days (Oct. 22-25), over 70 festival activities will be hosted at library facilities, particularly the new Central Library, and select other venues. With an anticipated audience of 10,000 people including a wide array of authors, laureates, and luminaries, you should join and be poised for the next chapter!
The Milwaukee Public Market is a gem in the city’s Third Ward, and they celebrate 10 years since their opening on Saturday, October 17th with a bountiful Harvest Fest. Tied in with the Third Ward’s “Gallery Night,” the Market is offering hayrides, live music, pumpkin bowling, and even special offers from plenty of retailers for blocks around!
Here’s a list of everything you’ll be able to do:
• Pumpkin Carving (for the Gallery Night display)
• Apple Cider Pressing – featuring apples from Weston Apple Orchard
• Wood Burning Stove Carmel Apples
• LIVE music under out 88NINE Radio Milwaukee Tent (88.9FM)
• Ping Pong Table
• Pumpkin Bowling
• Build-Your-Own-Scarecrow Station
• Pumpkin Beer Tasting – w/ Lafefront Brewery’s Pumpkin Lager
• Guess the Weight of Giant Pumpkin
• Milwaukee Bucks ticket promo
• Milwaukee Admirals ticket promo
• S’mores – outdoor fire pit
• Food Samples from Public Market vendors
• Savings & specials from neighborhood merchants
• Hay Rides
I-794 and Highway 32 rub right up against the Milwaukee Public Market; U.S. 18/Michigan Street is just two blocks north, and Highways 38, 59, and 145 all bring you close. Check this out!
Start:
October 17, 2015 11:00 am
End:
October 17, 2015 4:00 pm
Venue:
Milwaukee Public Market
Phone:
414-336-1111
Address:
400 N. Water Street, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Sheboygan’s John Michael Kohler Arts Center heats things up with an immersion into the culture of the world’s fifth largest country. Marvel at the talents of Milwaukee’s Capoeira Nagô, practitioners of an art form that fuses the acrobatic and martial arts. Sample traditional foods and Brazil’s national beverage – coffee! And enjoy creating colorful works of art.
The John Michael Kohler Arts Center is in downtown Sheboygan on 6th Street & New York Avenue. Highways 23, 28, and 42 all bring you towards downtown.
Start:
October 17, 2015 11:00 am
End:
October 17, 2015 3:00 pm
Venue:
John Michael Kohler Arts Center
Phone:
920-458-6144
Address:
608 New York Avenue, Sheboygan, WI, 53081, United States
Check out the beautiful fall colors in the St. Croix River valley from vintage train cars powered by a diesel locomotive from the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railroad. It’s a fun and gorgeous ride between Osceola and Marine.
Highway 35 brings you to Osceola in Polk County, right by Highway 243, the shortest state highway in Wisconsin. It’s worth the drive to take the ride!
Check their website, which is part of the Minnesota Transportation Museum, for full schedules and details. Fall rides run the weekends of Oct 3-4 and 10-11, 2015.
Family fun amidst the beautiful fall colors in Egg Harbor are the order of the day for the Pumpkin Patch Festival along Highway 42 in Door County. Entertainment, arts and crafts, rides, live music and lots of treats to eat help top it off, with restaurant all open and street vendors offer brats, roasted corn, caramel apple sundaes, chili, turkey legs and more. And yes, pumpkins will be everywhere!
Check out the beautiful fall colors in the St. Croix River valley from vintage train cars powered by a diesel locomotive from the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railroad. It’s a fun and gorgeous ride between Osceola and Marine.
Highway 35 brings you to Osceola in Polk County, right by Highway 243, the shortest state highway in Wisconsin. It’s worth the drive to take the ride!
Check their website, which is part of the Minnesota Transportation Museum, for full schedules and details. Fall rides run the weekends of Oct 3-4 and 10-11, 2015.
No, not the Apple computers. We’re talking one of our favorite foods and fruits! Galesville’s Apple Affair is a major event in Trempealeau County. It all started in 1983 as part of Wisconsin’s effort to promote the state’s apple orchards; today, Apple Affair draws people from throughout the state and nearby Minnesota.
This family event is held on the Square in downtown Galesville Saturday, October 3rd. Kicking off the annual event is breakfast which is served in the Big Tent on the Square. The scrambled egg omelet is cooked in one of the biggest skillets you will ever see! It took 1,250 eggs, 30 pounds of ham, 10 cups of onions, 9 pounds of butter, 630 squares of coffee cake, 22 gallons of apple juice, 21 loaves of bread and 1,200 cups of coffee to feed the 630 people who attended the first event. Since then, attendance numbers in the thousands.
As the day continues, the aroma wafting through the Square changes to the smell of bratwurst and hot dogs cooking on the outdoor grills.
In another tent, Galesville’s famous 10-foot apple pie tempts the taste buds as it bakes.
Orchards from the area set up stands where visitors can purchase apples and apple treats served by local growers. Apple pie, apple slices, caramel apples, Queen’s Apple, apple cider, apple juice — if it’s apple, you will find it here.
In the parking lot across from the Square, artisans and crafters attract shoppers with everything from dollhouse miniatures to crocheted doilies to braided rugs to woodworking crafts and so much more.
Throughout the day, music from the big tent permeates the air. Provided by area performers, the music is enjoyed by young and old alike.
The Apple Affair Bike Tour is a popular activity for the day. Hundreds of bicyclists spend most of the day touring the Galesville apple orchards and surrounding area. The scenery of this “Garden of Eden” is spectacular and the event is a perfect family affair. The first Apple Affair attracted 42 bicyclists who rode the 28.7 mile loop from downtown Galesville through the orchards. The bike tour has grown in popularity and some years, depending on the weather, more than 200 bicyclists have participated. To find out more about this year’s ride go to www.appleaffairbiketour.com.
Other activities that day include the Trempealeau County Color Cruise and Open Houses at A.A.Arnold House (aka Eastside Farmstead) and at Old Main.
Free shuttle buses leave the downtown area regularly to take tour groups to the A.A.Arnold House and Old Main.
Galesville is just north of La Crosse in Trempealeau County, at the junction of Highways 35, 54, and 93.
Start:
October 3, 2015 7:00 am
End:
October 3, 2015 5:00 pm
Venue:
Downtown Galesville
Phone:
608-582-2868
Address:
Jct Highways 35 & 93, Galesville, WI, 54630, United States
Billing itself as “the greatest free one-day festival in Wisconsin,” this 85th annual event features carnival rides and food, horse show and pulls, truck and tractor pulls, huge raffle, music, a parade, arts and craft show, and more. Free admission!
Viola is the heart of the GORGEOUS Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin, where Highways 56 and 131 meet. U.S. 14 is nearby, too.
See their website for full details, and informational video, and more.
Calendar of Events
Calendar of Events
November 20, 2015 – November 22, 2015
Holiday Art Fair, Madison
The annual Holiday Art Fair in Madison is an excellent showcase of contemporary fine art and craft during the gift-giving season. This juried show includes over 85 artists exhibiting ceramics, fiber art, glass, jewelry, paintings, prints, photographs, and more. The festive event will also feature performances by local arts organizations throughout the weekend, holiday refreshments, Rediscovered Arts & Treasures Sale, silent auction, and the popular Gourmet Gallery filled with treats for every taste.
The Holiday Art Fair is held at the MMoCA, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. It’s right on State Street downtown, close to U.S. 151/Washington Avenue. Of course, I-39, 90, and 94, U.S. 12, 14, 18, 51, and Highways 30 and 113 all bring you into Madison!
Admission to the Holiday Art Fair is $6, with children under 12 admitted free. Their website has all the details and the full lineup!
November 20, 2015 – November 22, 2015
Falls Finds and Barn Tour
The River Falls area comes alive when you take part in the Fall Finds and Barn Tour! Enjoy a leisurely tour of the beautiful Wisconsin countryside while you experience a diverse mix of shopping in rustic barns and downtown shops in and around River Falls. Find eclectic & handmade items, fine art, unique gifts, antiques, functional wares, local harvest and preserves, furniture, festive holiday, garden art & so much more, including:
– 125 on Main
– Over 30 artists and eclectic mix of holiday, harvest, repurposed, vintage and more.
– Holidays at Blue Ridge – over 20 artists’ original artwork, jewelry, edibles and more.
– Our Neighbor’s Old Barn – eclectic mix of gifts, vintage, furniture and fun.
– Garden Divas – unique gifts, harvest, holiday, garden, fair trade, vintage, local and more.
– Holidays on the Kinni – artists group and antiques, restored, harvest, holiday gifts and more.
– Riverwalk Art and Antiques – antiques, vintage, home, local gifts, edibles and more.
River Falls is in Pierce County, where Highways 29, 35, and 65 meet.
Check their event website for more details!
November 8, 2015
International Folk Fair
For over 30 years Eau Claire’s International Folk Fair has been one of the largest celebrations of culture and heritage. This celebration includes cultural and educational exhibits, traditional music, dance, clothing, and food from over 40 countries. International students along with community groups participate in the fair. Admission is free. Many groups sell food or cultural items to raise money for their organization.
See their web page for all the details.
Tied in with UW-Eau Claire’s Center for International Education, this event will be held Sunday, November 8th from noon-4pm in the Davies Center on Roosevelt. I-94, U.S. 12, U.S. 53, and Highways 37 and 93 all bring you to Eau Claire – and check out the new renovations downtown while you’re at it!
November 7, 2015
Oshkosh Gallery Walk
Downtown Oshkosh comes alive the first Saturday of each month when art galleries and businesses open their doors to feature artwork of all varieties and genres. Hundreds of art lovers descend downtown to enjoy, mingling with quite a few college students to make it interesting!
Next Gallery Walk is November 7th; after that, December 5th. Officially, it runs 6-9pm but the fun doesn’t stop at 9.
Oshkosh hugs the western shore of Lake Winnebago and is directly reached by U.S. 45 and Highways 21, 44, and 76. Highway 91 gets you close (via 44) and several exits off I-41 bring you downtown, including 9th Street and Highway 44.
November 7, 2015 – November 8, 2015
Veterans Day Appreciation at the H-D Museum
Harley-Davidson Museum® salutes our veterans and will offer free Museum entry for all active Military, Veterans and their families*. Harley-Davidson has always been on the front line – right next to the troops. The first American to enter Germany after World War I did so on a Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. Learn more about H-D’s military involvement during the Military Gallery Talks at 11am and 2:30pm. MOTOR® Bar & Restaurant offers a 10% discount for service members every day.
There’s FREE entry with valid Military or Veterans ID for 1 additional adult and up to 4 children 18 years old or younger.
The Harley-Davidson Museum is right in the Menomonee Valley, just south of downtown Milwaukee. I-43/94 hovers above nearby; U.S. 18 is just to the north, Highway 32/Milwaukee & 1st Street is just to the east, and Highway 59/Greenfield Avenue is just to the south. Follow Highway 38 north past its terminus or Highway 145 south past its, and you’ll get right there!
Edgerton Sterling North Book & Film Festival
Noted “Rascal” author Sterling North hailed from Edgerton (he graduated HS there in 1925), so they celebrate him with the annual Sterling North Book and Film Festival! This year’s takes place on Saturday, November 7th at Edgerton High School.
Year by year, Edgerton works to transform their reputation towards being a literary capitol and Wisconsin’s book town. We might be in a small town, but we think big! Each and every year the festival gets a little bigger and a lot better. It celebrates the eternal significance of the written word and works to open the world of literature to children of all ages. Meet a variety of authors and filmmakers, including Jerry Apps, Michael Perry, Kathleen Ernst, Jamie Swenson, John Garofolo, Susan Wehrley, Patty Loew, Rob Gard, and more.
If you love the power of words, this event is for you! Variety is the name of the game and there’s a lot to do – and read! A full schedule of events is available on their website.
You can get to Edgerton, in Rock County just south of Dane County, via U.S. 51, I-39/90, and Highway 59.
Holiday Wonder Art & Craft Show
Craft vendors and home-based businesses sell handmade jewelry, soaps, lotions, quilts, handcrafted items, home decor, gifts and much more! This craft fair has a tradition of providing quality shows for both vendors and customers. A quality show featuring unique handmade gifts and home decorating ideas. Their website has details!
You can reach Fond du Lac (which literally means “bottom of the lake”, since it’s at the south end of Lake Winnebago) via I-41, U.S. 45, U.S. 151, or Highways 23 or 175.
November 6, 2015 – November 7, 2015
Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books
Held on the campus of UW-Waukesha, this two-day event features national and local authors presenting sessions about their work including children’s and young adult authors; features include book readings and signings, cookbook stage with demonstrations and special programming.
The UW-Waukesha campus is just south and west of the County T/I-94 interchange, near Highways 16, 59, 164 and U.S. 18.
Get the full lineup of authors, events, and more at their website, sewibookfest.com.
Fall Gallery Night
“O-Town” fills with professional artists who set up in local shops downtown to exhibit their talents. The downtown shopping district stays open late to host the artists and in-store specials. Free horse and buggy rides are offered through downtown and you will catch a strolling barbershop quartet along with other fun activities.
Oconomowoc is right where Highways 16 and 67 meet, just north of I-94’s Exits 282 & 283. Nestled between Fowler Lake and Lac La Belle, it’s a beautiful town in western Waukesha County!
November 6, 2015 – November 8, 2015
Lake Country Arts & Antiques Show
Held at the Waukesha Expo Center, this show features over 70 antique dealers from across the country displaying for purchase American and English furniture, accessories, folk art, jewelry, oriental rugs, lighting, clocks and more!
Hours: Fri 5-9pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm.
Dates: Nov. 6-8, 2015; April 29-May 1, 2016; Nov. 4-6, 2016
You can get to the Waukesha Expo Center via I-94 and County T or J; Highways 16 and 164 bring you within a mile and U.S. 18 and Highway 59 are nearby in downtown Waukesha.
October 23, 2015
Brewfest in Neenah
Neenah’s Brewfest offers over 50 microbrews, wines, sodas, and coffees for tasting. Throughout the evening, attendees can enjoy tasting the wide variety of beverages and food along with raffles, 50/50, silent auctions, and live music. I-41 and Highways 47 and 114 bring you to Neenah; the venue is right along Highway 114 by the Fox River.
Lamers Bus Lines provides the Safe Ride program for the event if you don’t want to drive in and out in case you plan to imbibe a lot.
Tickets are available for $35 in advance or $40 at the door. Check their website for details.
October 23, 2015 – October 24, 2015
Wisconsin Craft Beer Festival
This premier beer-tasting and brew-teaching event bring great beer, breweries, and people from across the Great Lakes Region to the Harley-Davidson Museum® on October 23 & 24th, 2015. There will be three tasting sessions (Friday 4:30-9:00, Saturday 11:00-3:30, and Saturday 4:30-9:00) and eight 50-minute classes (Friday at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 2:00, 3:00 and Saturday at 9:00, and 10:00) taught by brewers Randy Mosher, John Palmer, Stan Hieronymus, and Dr. Brad Smith.
Each brewery will bring a Taproom-Only Beer and/or a Rare Limited-Release Option for each of the three sessions. There is an extensive list of breweries participating, see their website for the full list!
The Harley-Davidson Museum is just south of downtown Milwaukee in the Menomonee Valley, along 6th Street. Highway 145 begins just blocks to the north and Highway 38 begins just blocks to the south, at Highway 59/National Avenue. I-43/94 and I-794 are nearby, as are U.S. 18 and Highway 32.
October 22, 2015 – October 25, 2015
Wisconsin Book Festival
The Wisconsin Book Festival incorporates literature, spoken word, art, and performance. Local literary talents will be featured alongside national voices to create a unique event full of free community programs. Over the course of four days (Oct. 22-25), over 70 festival activities will be hosted at library facilities, particularly the new Central Library, and select other venues. With an anticipated audience of 10,000 people including a wide array of authors, laureates, and luminaries, you should join and be poised for the next chapter!
Their website, wisconsinbookfestival.org has details on the many events and venues around town.
U.S. 12, 14, 18, 51, and 151 and Highways 30 and 113 all bring you to and around Madison!
October 17, 2015
Milwaukee Public Market 10th Anniversary Harvest Festival
Here’s a list of everything you’ll be able to do:
• Pumpkin Carving (for the Gallery Night display)
• Apple Cider Pressing – featuring apples from Weston Apple Orchard
• Wood Burning Stove Carmel Apples
• LIVE music under out 88NINE Radio Milwaukee Tent (88.9FM)
• Ping Pong Table
• Pumpkin Bowling
• Build-Your-Own-Scarecrow Station
• Pumpkin Beer Tasting – w/ Lafefront Brewery’s Pumpkin Lager
• Guess the Weight of Giant Pumpkin
• Milwaukee Bucks ticket promo
• Milwaukee Admirals ticket promo
• S’mores – outdoor fire pit
• Food Samples from Public Market vendors
• Savings & specials from neighborhood merchants
• Hay Rides
I-794 and Highway 32 rub right up against the Milwaukee Public Market; U.S. 18/Michigan Street is just two blocks north, and Highways 38, 59, and 145 all bring you close. Check this out!
Festival Brazil, Sheboygan
Sheboygan’s John Michael Kohler Arts Center heats things up with an immersion into the culture of the world’s fifth largest country. Marvel at the talents of Milwaukee’s Capoeira Nagô, practitioners of an art form that fuses the acrobatic and martial arts. Sample traditional foods and Brazil’s national beverage – coffee! And enjoy creating colorful works of art.
The John Michael Kohler Arts Center is in downtown Sheboygan on 6th Street & New York Avenue. Highways 23, 28, and 42 all bring you towards downtown.
October 10, 2015 – October 11, 2015
Osceola Fall Color Train Rides
Check out the beautiful fall colors in the St. Croix River valley from vintage train cars powered by a diesel locomotive from the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railroad. It’s a fun and gorgeous ride between Osceola and Marine.
Highway 35 brings you to Osceola in Polk County, right by Highway 243, the shortest state highway in Wisconsin. It’s worth the drive to take the ride!
Check their website, which is part of the Minnesota Transportation Museum, for full schedules and details. Fall rides run the weekends of Oct 3-4 and 10-11, 2015.
October 10, 2015 – October 11, 2015
Pumpkin Patch Festival
Family fun amidst the beautiful fall colors in Egg Harbor are the order of the day for the Pumpkin Patch Festival along Highway 42 in Door County. Entertainment, arts and crafts, rides, live music and lots of treats to eat help top it off, with restaurant all open and street vendors offer brats, roasted corn, caramel apple sundaes, chili, turkey legs and more. And yes, pumpkins will be everywhere!
Their event website has more updates and details.
October 3, 2015 – October 4, 2015
Osceola Fall Color Train Ride
Check out the beautiful fall colors in the St. Croix River valley from vintage train cars powered by a diesel locomotive from the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railroad. It’s a fun and gorgeous ride between Osceola and Marine.
Highway 35 brings you to Osceola in Polk County, right by Highway 243, the shortest state highway in Wisconsin. It’s worth the drive to take the ride!
Check their website, which is part of the Minnesota Transportation Museum, for full schedules and details. Fall rides run the weekends of Oct 3-4 and 10-11, 2015.
Apple Affair
No, not the Apple computers. We’re talking one of our favorite foods and fruits! Galesville’s Apple Affair is a major event in Trempealeau County. It all started in 1983 as part of Wisconsin’s effort to promote the state’s apple orchards; today, Apple Affair draws people from throughout the state and nearby Minnesota.
This family event is held on the Square in downtown Galesville Saturday, October 3rd. Kicking off the annual event is breakfast which is served in the Big Tent on the Square. The scrambled egg omelet is cooked in one of the biggest skillets you will ever see! It took 1,250 eggs, 30 pounds of ham, 10 cups of onions, 9 pounds of butter, 630 squares of coffee cake, 22 gallons of apple juice, 21 loaves of bread and 1,200 cups of coffee to feed the 630 people who attended the first event. Since then, attendance numbers in the thousands.
As the day continues, the aroma wafting through the Square changes to the smell of bratwurst and hot dogs cooking on the outdoor grills.
In another tent, Galesville’s famous 10-foot apple pie tempts the taste buds as it bakes.
Orchards from the area set up stands where visitors can purchase apples and apple treats served by local growers. Apple pie, apple slices, caramel apples, Queen’s Apple, apple cider, apple juice — if it’s apple, you will find it here.
In the parking lot across from the Square, artisans and crafters attract shoppers with everything from dollhouse miniatures to crocheted doilies to braided rugs to woodworking crafts and so much more.
Throughout the day, music from the big tent permeates the air. Provided by area performers, the music is enjoyed by young and old alike.
The Apple Affair Bike Tour is a popular activity for the day. Hundreds of bicyclists spend most of the day touring the Galesville apple orchards and surrounding area. The scenery of this “Garden of Eden” is spectacular and the event is a perfect family affair. The first Apple Affair attracted 42 bicyclists who rode the 28.7 mile loop from downtown Galesville through the orchards. The bike tour has grown in popularity and some years, depending on the weather, more than 200 bicyclists have participated. To find out more about this year’s ride go to www.appleaffairbiketour.com.
Other activities that day include the Trempealeau County Color Cruise and Open Houses at A.A.Arnold House (aka Eastside Farmstead) and at Old Main.
Free shuttle buses leave the downtown area regularly to take tour groups to the A.A.Arnold House and Old Main.
Galesville is just north of La Crosse in Trempealeau County, at the junction of Highways 35, 54, and 93.
September 25, 2015 – September 26, 2015
Viola Horse and Colt Show
Billing itself as “the greatest free one-day festival in Wisconsin,” this 85th annual event features carnival rides and food, horse show and pulls, truck and tractor pulls, huge raffle, music, a parade, arts and craft show, and more. Free admission!
Viola is the heart of the GORGEOUS Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin, where Highways 56 and 131 meet. U.S. 14 is nearby, too.
See their website for full details, and informational video, and more.