Ellie here. Thank you to everyone for all of the responses for our Locals Love section! I love hearing all of your recommendations. Next Friday is Halloween, so for next week, I want to hear about the best ways you can spend your Halloween in Wisconsin. Whether it’s festivals, restaurants, or anything in between, send in photos and tell me why it’s your favorite!

I also want to feature our readers’ costumes. Send in photos to have them featured all next week! We’ll start with this one, sent in by Kailey-Jo D. from Watertown, titled “Nothing Runs Like a Deere.”

“Nothing Runs Like a Deere” costume from one of our readers! (Courtesy of Kailey-Jo D.)

What a great costume! Tomorrow is trick-or-treat in my neighborhood, and it is always such a fun night. My family is full of traditions, and Halloween is no different.

My uncle has a DeLorean (yes, from “Back to the Future”) and he and my brother make an annual appearance in our town’s Halloween parade. Then, for trick-or-treat, my extended family spends the evening at our house handing out candy to hundreds of kids, and when I say hundreds, I mean hundreds. We get buses of kids dropped off in our neighborhood, and we rarely have any candy left over at the end of the night.

Do you have any fun Halloween traditions? Let me know!

In today’s Locals Love section, readers share their favorite spots to grab a burger, along with other Wisconsin news!

A burger from Lucy’s #7 Burger Bar. (Courtesy of Michael A.)

I asked you all to share your favorite burger spots from around the state, and this is what you said:

🍔 Keg Stand Bar and Grill – Saint Germain

“Fresh hamburgers pounded and cooked behind the bar in front of you.” — Mike S.

🍔 Rachel’s Roadside Bar & Grill – Wittenberger

“Try some of the signature items the Wittenberg restaurant has to offer, including Christmas curds, a variation of cheese curds with an added sweet flavor; a French onion soup with cheese curds added for some extra kick; and the Wittenberger, a half-pound burger with sauteed mushrooms and onions, smokin’ barbecue sauce and melted cheese curds.” — Ellen S.

🍔 Dub’s Pub – Sparta

“[The burgers] are thick, juicy and come in a variety of flavors or made to order.” — Demetria V.

🍔 Lucy’s #7 Burger Bar – Beloit

“A downtown spot with a local charm, also serving cheese curds and Wisconsin beers. Specializes in smash burgers, with options like the ‘Plain Jane’ or inventive monthly specials featuring items like apple-cranberry chutney and maple bacon aioli.” — Michael A.

🍔 Oscar’s Winner’s Circle – Milwaukee

“They have an extensive selection of delicious hamburgers, every one I’ve tried has been excellent. Try it, you’ll like it…probably love it!” — Barbara H.

Don’t forget to share your favorite Wisconsin way to spend Halloween—and tell us why—to be featured next Friday!

Halloween decorations at A&J’s Halloween House at 2943 S. Clement Ave. in Milwaukee on Oct. 21, 2025. (USA Today via Reuters Connect)

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Wisconsin’s special-education funding has not increased in a decade while costs have increased by 60%, according to the Arc of Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Ellie Bourdo with stories from USA Today via Reuters Connect and Public News Service. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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