Located on the Door County shoreline, Peninsula State Park is one of Wisconsin’s most popular parks and an absolutely gorgeous place to go camping. There are campsites right by the water, lakeside trails upon which to hike, and breathtaking sunsets to enjoy. But just outside the park is one of Door County’s most iconic attractions – the Skyway Drive-In Theatre. One of the last remaining drive-in theaters in Wisconsin, vacationers and residents have been enjoying movies under the stars at the Skyway for decades, and the experience is one of the best ways you can spend a summer night in Door County.
The theater is located on Highway 42 between Fish Creek and Ephraim. It’s across the road from Peninsula State Park.
The first movie aired at the Skyway on July 26, 1950, and the theater has been showing summer movies ever since. It’s the longest-running drive-in movie theater in Wisconsin. While drive-ins were once common in Wisconsin, there are just nine left, including the Skyway. Pictured above is a photo from 1960.
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Thanks to technology, the Skyway no longer needs to employs a full-time projectionist to keep the movie running, but otherwise the theater is largely unchanged since the 1950s.
The first four rows have old-school speakers that you can hang on your window. Remember to remove it before you drive off! You may get better sound by listening to your radio - tune in to FM 100.5 or AM 530 to get the audio.
Many people sit inside their car to watch the movie – sometimes they back in and sit in the back of an SUV or truck. Others bring blankets or chairs and sit outside. If you choose that option. you may want to bring a blanket and radio.
A snack bar sells fresh popcorn, foot-long hot dogs, nachos, Tombstone pizza, ice cream novelties, soda, and more. It really is the classic drive-in movie experience!
Admission to the drive-in includes a double feature. Pay for one movie and enjoy two! You can check out what’s playing and the showtimes here, and learn more about all nine surviving drive-in theaters in Wisconsin here.
There's probably not a more beautiful time of year in Wisconsin than autumn: bright foliage reflected in shimmering lakes; leaves crunching underfoot; crisp air; blue skies; and fans packing football stadiums. Autumn also brings plenty of opportunities for activity and adventure in the Badger State. So, to offer you some seasonal inspiration, we've compiled some of our favorite things to do in Wisconsin in the fall. You're sure to find something that'll make your autumn a little more awesome.
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Wisconsin Fall Foliage: Where To Go In Wisconsin For Fall Foliage
Is there a better autumn activity than enjoying all the amazing fall foliage in Wisconsin? We don't think so. Generally, you can expect peak foliage throughout October, with the more northern counties peaking earliest and the southernmost counties peaking in late October and even into the first week of November. A few places in the north, like Forest and Iron Counties, may seek peak foliage as early as the last week of September. And here are a few of our favorite places to go leaf peeping in Wisconsin.
Need to Know: Door County is a popular destination for autumn leaf peeping, but many businesses in the area are seasonal and may have closed after Labor Day. Be sure to keep this in mind when planning your trip to the area.
Door County, is probably the best-known fall foliage destination in Wisconsin. Tucked onto the peninsula that separates Green Bay from the main part of Lake Michigan, Door County is replete with autumn attractions, including apple orchards, pumpkin farms, and wide swaths of hardwood forest that don mantles of gold, red, and orange when the weather starts to turn cooler. Expect the colors to peak between late September and mid-October in this part of the Badger State.
Need to Know: Admission requires a daily permit ($8 residents/$11 out-of-state) or an annual vehicle pass ($28 residents/$38 out-of-state).
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Devil's Lake State Park is the largest state park in Wisconsin, and it's also awfully popular. In warmer months, folks flock to the park for camping, water-based recreation on its eponymous lake, and rock climbing. The park's hiking and snowshoeing trails are year-round attractions, but there's something even more special about its trails when they're canopied with colorful fall foliage. Look for peak colors around the third week of October, and if you go on a weekend, plan to arrive early. The parking lots can fill up quickly.
Need to Know: Admission requires a daily permit ($8 residents/$11 out-of-state) or an annual vehicle pass ($28 residents/$38 out-of-state).
Perched on the bluffs high above the Mississippi River, Wyalusing State Park is another wonderful spot to enjoy the splendor of the autumn season in the Badger State. With sweeping views of the river valley, whose wooded sides are festooned with fall foliage, this park is one of my favorite places to go during autumn in Wisconsin. Look for colors to peak here around the last week of October.
Need to Know: Bayfield is another popular destination in the autumn, so if you plan to visit on a fall weekend, be sure to book accommodations well in advance.
The charming town of Bayfield, located on the Lake Superior peninsula of the same name, is best known as the gateway to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. As crowded as it gets in the summer, it is almost as popular in the fall when people come to the area for leaf peeping and the famous Bayfield Apple Festival. The autumn foliage is striking here, rising up the bluffs from the lake shore and scattering islands of color across the lake like paint on a palette. Expect peak foliage around the third week of October.
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Best Pumpkin Patches in Wisconsin
Picking out pumpkins is a perfect autumn pastime in the Badger State. Whether it's quickly sizing up a gorgeous gourd from a roadside stand with an honor-system pay box or visiting a farm with mazes, rides, and food vendors, our state has a wide range of pumpkin picking experience to offer its people. If you're looking for suggestions, here are a handful of our favorite pumpkin patches in Wisconsin.
Need to Know: Pumpkins start at $12 (includes a hayride to the patch on weekends)
Fall season at Meadowbrook Pumpkin Farm and Market is no low-key affair. Oh, you can get pumpkins there, if that's all you're looking for. But there's much more, ranging from scary nighttime cornfield adventures to a daytime petting zoo, and considerably more. You'll find additional information, including detailed event listings, on the Meadowbrook Pumpkin Farm and Market website.
Need to Know: Fall season begins on September 21, 2024
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Schuett Farms is a wonderful pumpkin patch that tends to be a little more low key than some of its competitors. The focus is on the product: pumpkins and gourds. Hold your disappointment, though. If agritainment is what you're looking for, you'll be happy to know that Schuett Farms is home to one of the best corn mazes in Wisconsin. A corn cannon, hayrides, and donuts are available on weekends, as well. You can find additional details on the Schuett Farms website.
Need to Know: The season opens on September 14, 2024. Admission charges apply for the activity area but vary depending on age and day of the week.
Waldvogel's Farm is the largest pumpkin patch in Wisconsin, and with this superlative distinction comes great responsibility. Fortunately, Waldvogel's does not disappoint. In addition to its massive selection of pumpkins, you'll find an enormous array of activities and events that last throughout the season. These include more than 80 attractions spread across 90-plus acres. For more information visit the Waldvogel's Farm website.
Need to Know: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., September 28 through October 27, 2024
Each year, Ebert's Greenhouse Village in Ixonia holds its annual Fall Festival on weekends from late September through the end of October. While the star of the festival is the greenhouses selection of mums, you'll also find a wonderful pumpkin patch and festivities that celebrate the autumn season in Wisconsin. Enjoy hayrides, a corn maze, seasonal treats, and much more. Check out the greenhouse's website for more details and full list of activities.
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Best Fall Festivals in Wisconsin
As fun as it is to pick out pumpkins, my favorite thing about fall is the festivals. Summer and spring festivals are all well and good, but they tend to be less thematic than their autumn counterparts (shoutout to the Jim Falls Sturgeon Fest!). Fall festivals also have a little bit of a "last hurrah" edge - i.e., let's get this one in before the snow flies - that make the celebrations feel more joyous and concerted. If you need some thoughts on subjects, here are a few of my favorite fall festivals in Wisconsin.
Need to Know: The festival takes place September 26 - 29, 2024
Every fall, La Crosse plays host to Oktoberfest U.S.A, which is the longest-running Oktoberfest celebration in the Midwest and one of the largest celebrations in the country. Folks flock to the city for a weekend of beer, music, parades, and even auto racing. Many events are free and open to the public, but a few are adults-only and/or require tickets. Check the festival's website for a full schedule and more information.
Need to Know: This year's festival takes place September 27 - 29
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Although often referred to as America's Dairyland, Wisconsin also happens to the nation's top cranberry-producing state - and that's worth celebrating! So every year, the town of Warrens, which is the heart of Wisconsin cranberry country, does just that with the Warrens Cranberry Festival. This event, three days of everything cranberry, is the largest of its kind in the world - and it's huge. Each year sees hundreds of art, craft, and food vendors, as well as farmer booths. You'll also find all manner of related activities (guided marsh tours, anyone?) over the course of the celebration. Visit the Cranberry Festival website for detailed information.
Need to Know: The Apple Festival will occur September 27 - 29, 2024
Tucked into the Kickapoo River Valley of southwestern Wisconsin, Gays Mills is an unassuming little town for most of the year. But when autumn rolls around, it's one of the epicenters for apple picking in the Badger State. The season culminates with the annual Gays Mills Apple Festival, which is easily one of the biggest annual events in the region. The schedule includes a flea market, kids' carnival, tournaments, and, of course, live music. Check out the festival's website for a complete schedule.
Need to Know: Sister Bay Fall Fest takes place October 18 - 20, 2024.
One of the reasons Door County is such an awesome place to be in the autumn is that it plays host to so many wonderful, seasonal events, like Sister Bay Fall Fest. As with many of the peninsula's off-peak season festivals, Fall Fest is a laid back affair that caters more toward locals than visitors. You can expect arts, crafts, and food vendors, as well as music and events like a soap box derby. Keep an eye on the festival's web page for more details.
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Free & Cheap Wisconsin Fall Activities
One of the best things many fall activities in Wisconsin is that they don't have to put a dent in your wallet for you to enjoy them. Here are a few bonus suggestions for free or cheap things to do in Wisconsin in the fall.
13. Attend Family Free Day at Milwaukee County Zoo.
Need to Know: These events take place on October 5, November 2, and December 7, 2024.
The Milwaukee County Zoo is the largest facility of its kind in Wisconsin. The zoo stretches across 190 acres and provides a home for hundreds of animals of all varieties. A day at the zoo makes for a fabulous family outing any time of year. But three times during the fall, visiting the zoo is even sweeter, because it's free. The Milwaukee County Zoo Family Free Days occur on one day in each of October, November, and December. Visit the zoo online for details and more information about these events.
14. Tree Bathe in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
Need to Know: There is no fee to recreate in most areas of the forest outside of campgrounds, which may charge a fee.
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest protects large swaths of Wisconsin's Northwoods and offers trails, lakes, and scenic byways so we can get the most out of the forest during the peak of its autumn splendor. I recommend a long walk under the brightly-colored leaves, with fallen foliage crunching under foot. Where you go in the forest will largely depend on where you live - and peak foliage times will vary in different parts of the forest. Visit the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest webpage for more information on recreational opportunities in the fall.
Need to Know: Different apple orchards offer different experiences, and some may charge for parking and/or admission. Be sure to check before you go.
Apple picking is a popular fall pastime in the Badger State. And you can make it as low-key or adventurous as you like. Many orchards in Wisconsin will offer all sorts of activities, entertainment, and even food to their visitors. Others may offer a basket and a pay box. The latter can be a wonderful, laid-back autumn experience that you can enjoy for the price of a few hand-picked apples.
We think you'll find at least a few of these ideas for things to do in Wisconsin in the fall worth experiencing. Have you been to any of these places or experienced any of these activities or festivals. Let us know, and don't forget to share your own favorite autumn activities in Wisconsin.
If you want to make summertime even better, think big. In the Wisconsin Dells, a waterpark recently opened a new Wisconsin waterslide that’s almost too big to be true. Mt. Olympus Theme Park & Resort is now home to the Rise of Icarus Tower. It’s an attraction that now claims to be the biggest in the country. How big is that? Read on to find out.
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Mt. Olympus is a water and theme park located in the Wisconsin Dells.
Originally launched as Big Chief Karts and Coasters, it was rebranded as Big Chief's Mt. Olympus Theme Park in 2004. Since then, the park has undergone significant growth and transformation, now sprawling across an extensive area.
Mt. Olympus is celebrated for its extraordinary outdoor attractions, including a variety of exhilarating roller coasters.
In the summer of 2022, the waterpark introduced a unique addition to its lineup: Medusa’s Slidewheel. This innovative ride is the first rotating waterslide in the United States and is part of a new indoor waterpark complex. But the park's evolution didn’t stop there.
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The park recently opened the Rise of Icarus Tower.
Head to the park, spend some time in the sun, and enjoy your own trip down!
Are you ready to visit this theme park and try out this new Wisconsin waterslide? I did some photography at this park once – it’s incredible! Learn more about the Rise of Icarus on the Mt. Olympus Theme Park & Resort website. Be sure to get geared up for the sun – REI has just what you need.
