Get Out Your Puffy Vests: Here’s Your Fall Fun Bucket List For Southern Wisconsin

Whether you love the spookiness of the season or are more into the fright-free fun associated with fall, there’s so much to do this autumn in southern Wisconsin. 

This curated list of activities at 18 farms in the southern half of the state includes everything from haunted hayrides and tricky corn mazes to freshly pressed apple cider and caramel apples. So pick a few near you and get ready for your most fun fall yet.  

Apple Barn Orchard and Winery, Elkhorn

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Apple Barn Orchard & Winery opened back in 1848 and has remained in the family ever since. These days, you can head there in the fall for festival weekends, which include live music to go with the pick-your-own apples and pumpkins.

Instead of hard cider, try their Apple Barn Blush, made from apples, pears, and strawberries grown onsite. If you’re under 21, enjoy some fresh apple cider, which is just as tasty.

One local Google reviewer wrote, “I love it here! The atmosphere is very warm and the food is superb! The apple fest is a family tradition and it’s one of my favorite times of the year!”

Jacobson Orchards, Waterford

Photo courtesy of Jacobson Orchards via Facebook

There’s nothing quite like a freshly baked apple cider doughnut in the fall, especially when it’s made from apples grown nearby. Jacobson Orchards in Waterford is the place to quench that craving, especially if you want to roam through an orchard or pumpkin patch after your treat. 

Brightonwoods Orchard, Burlington

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Although you can’t pick your own apples at this orchard, there is free admission for those who wish to roam the gorgeous grounds, which include a two-story treehouse and plenty of picnic tables. Plus, there are pumpkins, apple cider, and cider doughnuts.

Barthel Fruit Farm, Mequon

Photo courtesy of Barthel Fruit Farm via Facebook

Barthel Fruit Farm has been growing fruit since 1840 and in the since become a staple in southern Wisconsin. Open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., the farm offers U-Pick fruits (including apples), a corn maze, a bakery, and a beer garden. It will also host an Oktoberfest celebration on Sept. 23-24 that you won’t want to miss. 

The Cider Farm, Mineral Point

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One would likely expect to get next-level apple cider at a place called The Cider Farm, and one wouldn’t be disappointed. In addition to delightful hard cider, it also produces the country’s only apple brandy. You can try them both at the tasting room, which pairs beverages with locally grown organic bites. Check the Events page for upcoming live music, too. 

The Elegant Farmer, Mukwonago

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Have you ever heard of a pie in a bag? One of The Elegant Farmer’s specialties is its famous apple pie baked in a paper bag—but beware, buying one often means getting on a waitlist (it’s just that good). Another fan-fave is the cider-baked ham that, like the pie in a bag, is available for purchase online. 

But online shopping isn’t in the true spirit of fall, so head there in person to get lost in the corn maze (open on weekends) and pick your own apples. 

Schuster’s Farm & Haunted Forest, Deerfield

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Schuster’s Farm categorizes its seasonal festivities into Fall Days and Fall Nights. During the former, you and the little ones can enjoy the corn maze, pumpkin patch, and weekend attractions like the kid zip line and apple/pumpkin cannons. 

Fall Nights, on the other hand, involve the haunted forest, flashlight maze, bonfire rentals, and warm food and drinks. Take your pick—or do both. 

Glacier Rock Farms, Lebanon

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Nestled in the Kettle Moraine area between Milwaukee and Madison, Glacier Rock Farms is a blast in the fall. They’ve pretty much got it all, from hayrides through the forest to pony rides, a corn maze, and The Dark Side—a haunted experience with quite a backstory. 

Waldvogel’s Pumpkin Farm, Juneau

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With more than 80 attractions on 90 acres, we’re not joking when we say there’s a lot to do at Waldvogel’s Pumpkin Farm. It also happens to be Wisconsin’s largest pumpkin farm, FYI. Included in your ticket—which you can get at a discounted price online—is mini-golf, a corn maze, hayrides, the haunted granary, live shows, and dozens of other activities. 

Eplegaarden, Fitchburg

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Eplegaarden is the place to be this fall, offering U-Pick (or as the Norwegians say, “selvplukk”) apples, a pumpkin patch, hot cider, famous cider brats, fresh doughnuts, and caramel apples. Is your mouth watering yet?

Skelly’s Farm Market, Janesville

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From Labor Day to Halloween, Skelly’s Farm Market has fall fun for the whole family. There are two corn mazes, a pumpkin patch, wagon rides, apple cannons, baked goods, and more. Activities are priced separately, or you can get a combo pass and try them all. 

Camp Oh-Da-Ko-Ta’s Haunted Hayride & Walk, Oconomowoc

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Mark your calendars on Oct. 20, 21, 27, and 28, because on those days from 7-9 p.m., Camp Oh-Da-Ko-Ta is holding its annual Haunted Hayride & Walk. The event begins and ends with a hayride through haunted woods, with a snack and a spooky walk-around in between. 

Eugster’s Farm Market, Stoughton

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Conveniently, Eugster’s Farm Market is just a 15-minute drive south of Madison, making it the perfect place to escape the city for some fun in the countryside. Its annual Fall Festival includes a petting farm, U-Pick apples, wagon rides, a corn maze, a 3D haunted house, and more. 

Please note that, due to high demand, tickets must be purchased online in advance. 

Enchanted Valley Acres, Cross Plains

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From Sept. 9 through Oct. 29, Enchanted Valley Farms becomes a fall oasis featuring a corn maze, concessions, a pumpkin patch, a play area, two famous giant slides, and more. There are also breathtaking views from the deck of the big red barn. 

Halloween at Schumacher Farm, Waunakee

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The historic Schumacher Farm Park becomes extra spooky on Oct. 21 from 4-8 p.m. during its annual Halloween at the Farm event. Among other activities, you can expect interactive characters, marshmallow roasting, hayrides, fortune telling, tours through a witch’s house, a fiddle band, a magic show, and face painting. 

Northwoods Orchard & Farm Market, Mauston

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For a unique fall experience, head to Northwood Orchards from Oct. 5-8 for Rendezvous at the Farm. Reminiscent of the Wisconsin territory’s fur trade era, the event includes historical reenactors and tons of themed vendors. On other autumn days, you can head to the orchard for pumpkins, flowers, doughnuts, and more. 

Country Bumpkin Farm, Wisconsin Dells

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There are tons of pumpkin varieties to choose from at the Country Bumpkin Farm, including giant ones that weigh a whopping 200+ pounds. There are also plenty of homegrown and homemade fall decor items available, so your house will be looking like a Pinterest page in no time. The farm offers a fall special that includes animal feeding, a hayride, and a corn maze. 

Creek Bed Country Farmacy, Poynette

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With 6 miles of paths across 18 acres, the corn maze at Creek Bed Farmacy is the biggest in the state. Open Friday through Sunday, the farm also has a pumpkin patch, hayrides, the Hay Bale Theater, a pumpkin slingshot, and more.