Find all the cozy vibes at fall festivals and events in the Milwaukee area

Imagine pumpkin spice, crisp fresh air, fresh apples and breathtaking fall colors.

Well, you don’t necessarily need to imagine it anymore; you can experience it. In Milwaukee-area communities, there are a plethora of festivals and events with fall vibes. These include craft fairs, outdoor live music, pumpkin displays, chili cook-offs, s’mores and hot chocolate.

These events below take place in September and October. Pay attention to the dates and check the event Facebook pages and websites for more detailed information.

Admission for these events are free unless otherwise noted.

If we are missing an event or festivity, let us know so we can add it.

Bay View: Bay View Bash, Sept. 20

The Bay View Bash is a festival of food, art, music, crafts, books, and community organizations.

When: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 Where: Between Potter and Clement Avenue on Kinnickinnic Avenue, Bay View

For more information: bayviewbash.org

Cedarburg: 51st annual Wine & Harvest Festival, Sept. 20-21

At Cedarburg’s 51st annual Wine & Harvest Festival, hundreds of artists and vendors will be at along Washington Avenue, Cedarburg’s main street. There will also be live music at a number of stages around the city.

There will be a food court next to Cedarburg Cultural Center, W62 N546 Washington Ave. The Foxtown Brewing Beer Garden will be at City Hall, W63 N645 Washington Ave.

Festival events include the “Mini Pumpkin 500” at 1 and 3 p.m. on both days at Cedar Creek Park (N54 W5900 Portland Road) where people can sponsor mini pumpkins which are put in Cedar Creek to race to the finish line for prizes. At 2 p.m., there is the Great Pumpkin Charity Regatta, where people paddle and navigate floatable pumpkins that are carved earlier that day across the Cedar Creek to win cash for a charity.

At Cedar Creek Park, there will be a variety of family-friendly entertainment that includes bounce houses, a live mermaid, baby kangaroos, bumper boats and a petting zoo. There will be pop-up shops, food trucks and beer and wine.

When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21. Live music will be on the main stage until 9 p.m. on Saturday.

Where: Downtown Cedarburg

For more information: business.cedarburg.org/events/details/wine-harvest-festival-33065

Basse’s Taste of Country will host its annual Pumpkin Fest with dozens of activities families can enjoy. They include a pumpkin patch, corn mazes, a beer barn and a climbing straw mountain.

When: Saturday, Sept. 20 to Wednesday, Oct. 31. Weekend hours (Saturday and Sunday) are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and weekday hours (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. It is closed on Tuesday.

Where: Basse’s Taste of Country, 3190 County Road Q, Colgate

Cost: $14.49 plus tax for weekdays; $17.49 plus tax for weekends in September and $22.99 plus tax for weekends in October. Tickets can be purchased online. The fest is cashless and only mobile pay, debit and credit cards are accepted. Go online to see what is included in the ticket price and what is considered extras.

For more information: bassesfarms.com/events/pumpkin-fest

Grafton: Fall into Grafton, Oct. 11

Fall Into Grafton has many events including children’s activities, mini golf, the annual pumpkin derby and live entertainment.

Where: Paramount Plaza, between Bridge and Beech Street in downtown Grafton

When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 11

For more information: bit.ly/GraftonFallFest

Menomonee Falls: Falls Harvest Fest, Oct. 4

Plans for Harvest Fest in Menomonee Falls is a vendor market for handmade goods, fall decor and other kinds of crafts; food trucks; wagon rides throughout downtown Menomonee Falls; a chili cook-off; and s’mores by a fire. There will be live music.

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. Afterward, there will be a free evening concert by Cream City Hotclub, a Milwaukee-based band that plays a hybrid of traditional music and jazz

Where: Mill Pond Park and Plaza, W164 N9091 Water St. (north of Main Street in downtown Menomonee Falls)

For more information: menomoneefallsdowntown.com/falls-harvest-fest.

Mukwonago: Fall Fest, Sept. 20

At Mukwonago’s Fall Fest there will vendors, food, live music, children’s activities and a chili cook-off. Local businesses will be open for shopping.

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20

Where: Downtown Mukwonago

For more information: mukwonagochamber.org/fall-fest2024

Mukwonago: Autumn Harvest Fest at The Elegant Farmer, through Oct. 26

The Elegant Farmer offers an old-fashioned farm experience at the annual Autumn Harvest Fest, including apple picking, hayrides, a corn maze and pumpkin picking. They offer deli fresh sandwiches, apple cider, pies and apple cider donuts.

When: Now until Sunday, Oct. 26

Where: 1545 Main St., Mukwonago

Cost: Admission and parking is free. Corn maze and hayrides are $7.

For more information: elegantfarmer.com/harvest-festival

Mukwonago: The Hollows at Phantom Lake YMCA, weekends in October

At The Hollows at Phantom Lake YMCA, the camp is transformed to include magical fairy lands, viking ships, mermaids, witches and wizards, and 3,000 hand-carved jack-o-lanterns.

When: 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 3 and 4; Oct. 10 to 12; Oct. 16 to 19 and Oct. 23 to 26

Where: Phantom Lake YMCA, S110 W30240 YMCA Camp Road, Mukwonago

Cost: $21.72 for adults and $13.44 for children 3 to 11. Children 2 and under are free.

For more information: thehollowsphantomlake.org

New Berlin: Ultimate Fall Craft & Vendor Fair at New Berlin Ale House, Sept. 28

At the Ultimate Fall Craft & Vendor Fair in New Berlin, there will be a coffee truck, baked goods, jewelry and other various vendors. This fair includes live music.

When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28

Where: New Berlin Ale House, 16000 W Cleveland Ave., New Berlin

For more information: bit.ly/NEWBerlinFallCrafts

North Prairie: Harvest Fest at Veteran’s Park, Sept. 12-14

At North Prairie’s Harvest Fest, there will be a craft and vendor area, a kid area, rides, make-your-own s’mores (Friday at 7 p.m.), live music, a beer tent, live music all days and a cornhole tournament 1 p.m. on Saturday. There will be fireworks on Saturday at 9 p.m.

When: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14

Where: Veteran’s Park, 130 N. Harrison St. (off of Highway 59), North Prairie.

For more information: northprairie.net/custom/98431

Oak Creek: Fall Festival at Drexel Town Square, Oct. 25

At Oak Creek’s Fall Festival, there will be family-friendly activities to celebrate everything autumn. Oak Creek’s final farmers market will be held during the festival.

When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 25

Where: Drexel Town Square, 410 West Town Square Way, Oak Creek

For more information: oakcreekwi.gov/visitor/events/fall-festival

Oconomowoc: The Fall Palooza Craft and Vendor Fair at Okauchee Park, Oct. 4

At Oconomowoc’s Fall Palooza Craft and Vendor Fair, there will be a variety of arts and craft vendors. The first 40 shoppers get a swag bag with goodies.

When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4.

Where: Okauchee Lions Park, N50 W34770 Wisconsin Ave.

For more information: bit.ly/FallPalooza

Richfield: Thresheree & Harvest Fest Event at the Richfield Nature/Historical Park, Sept. 20-21

At this historical Thresheree & Harvest Fest, there will be demonstrations including steam engine threshing, log sawing, plowing and draft horses. There will be a children’s play area and vintage games. There will be live music and food to purchase.

When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 and Sunday, Sept. 21

Where: Richfield Nature/Historical Park, 1896 State Road 164, Richfield

Cost: $6 for adults, children 12 and under are free

For more information: richfieldhistoricalsociety.org/2025_thresheree_announce.html

South Milwaukee: Divine Mercy Parish’s Fall Festival, Sept. 13

At this Divine Mercy Parish’s Fall Festival, there will be live music, a free children’s area, raffle baskets, food truck, face-painting and a bounce house.

Where: 695 College Ave., South Milwaukee

When: 1 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 13

For more information: divinemercysm.org/fall-festival-2025

Waukesha: Apple Harvest Festival at Retzer Nature Center, Sept. 20

At Apple Harvest Festival, there will be many activities include an apple market, a beer garden, arts & craft vendors, a scarecrow lane with a scavenger hunt, self-guided children’s activities, planetarium shows and live music.

When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20

Where: Retzer Nature Center, S14 W28167 Madison St., Waukesha

Cost: $10 per carload (cash only)

For more information: visitwaukesha.org/event/apple-harvest-festival-25/

West Allis: Harvest Fair at Wisconsin State Fair Park, Sept. 26-28

At this annual Harvest Fair, there will be free live entertainment on several stages, artists, rides, family-friendly activities and lumberjack shows.

When: 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28

Where: Wisconsin State Fair Park, 640 S 84th St., West Allis

Cost: $5 admission for attendees 12 and over. Participants can pay $20 for a 20-ticket activity and ride voucher that can be redeemed for amusement rides, the giant slide, kiddie bumper boats, make your own scarecrow, a pig slide, pony rides and pumpkin bowling.

For more information: wistatefair.com/harvestfair

West Bend: Schmidt Century Farm’s Open House, Oct. 5

Schmidt Century Farm’s Open House in West Bend offers a plethora of activities such as a bounce house, petting zoo with baby animals, wagon rides, vendors, music and demonstrations. Food, pumpkins and mums are for sale.

When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5

Where: Schmidt Century Farm, 5485 Saint Anthony Road, West Bend

For more information: schmidtcenturyfarm.com/events

West Bend: 25th Annual Fall Fair to Remember, Oct. 24-25

At Washington County’s Fall Fair to Remember, there will be 200 local crafters, face painting and balloon sculpting.

When: 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday Oct. 24 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25

Where: Washington County Fair Park & Conference Center, Ziegler Family Exposition Center, West Bend Insurance Pavilion, 3000 Highway PV, West Bend

Cost: $4 admission

For more information: wcfairpark.com

Whitefish Bay: Great Pumpkin Festival at Old School House Park, Oct. 22-25

At the Great Pumpkin Festival, people can carve pumpkins at home and bring them to Old School House Park before Wednesday, Oct. 22. During the event days, there will be a community display of pumpkins, live music, a food tent and beer, wine and soda.

When: 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22 through Saturday Oct. 25

Where: Old School House Park (across from the library), 5240 N. Marlborough Drive, Whitefish Bay

For more information: wfbcivicfoundation.org/communityevents

Editor’s note, 9/10/2025: This story has been updated to provide correct information for the Autumn Harvest Fest at The Elegant Farmer.

Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or [email protected]. Follow her on X at @kozlowicz_cathy.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Find all the cozy vibes at fall festivals and events in the Milwaukee area

Reporting by Cathy Kozlowicz, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

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