Fall is officially here in Wisconsin, and there’s no better time to explore our beautiful Capital City, Madison! The greater Madison area is bursting with autumn adventures: from apple orchards & farm markets to pumpkin patches & corn mazes to amazing hiking opportunities and plenty of countryside fall fun. Take a day trip to the Madison area to enjoy all of the fall festivities before this brief season ends!
Table Of Contents
- 1. Visit a Local Apple Orchard
- 2. Get in the Fall Spirit at a Fall Festival
- 3. Pick that Perfect Pumpkin at a Local Patch
- 4. Cash In On Fall’s Bounty At a Farm Market
- 5. Test Your Sense of Direction In a Fall Corn Maze
- 6. Go For an Autumn Hike
- 7. Eat Cozy Fall-inspired Food & Drink
- 8. Visit a Nearby Wisconsin State Park.
- 9. Take a Fall Colors Drive Through the Countryside.
- Bonus! Our Favorite Things to Do in Madison
1. Visit a Local Apple Orchard
The joy of early fall and September certainly begins with the ripening of apples! What better way to spend an early fall day then picking your favorite variety with your family?
- Appleberry Farm, 8079 Mauer Road, Cross Plains, Wisconsin
- Hours:
- Monday through Thursday 9 am – 1 pm
- Friday through Sunday 9 am – 5 pm
- A family farm that focuses on pick-your-own apples (and strawberries in season!). Stop in their farm store for delicious cider, apple cider donuts, caramel apples, hard apple cider, and more!
- Hours:
- Door Creek Orchard, 3252 Vilas Road, Cottage Grove, Wisconsin
- Hours:
- Wednesday through Friday 10 am – 6 pm
- Saturday through Sunday 9 am – 5 pm
- Monday through Tuesday CLOSED
- Sign up ahead for a pick-your-own apple slot or come in for their bagged apples and apple bakery products. They have 89 varieties!
- Hours:
- Eplegaarden, 2227 Fitchburg Road, Fitchburg, Wisconsin
- Hours:
- Tuesday through Thursday 9 am – 1 pm
- Friday through Sunday 9 am – 5 pm
- They offer a variety of autumn favorites such as apple picking, pick your own fall raspberries (including sweet & delicious white raspberries!) wagon rides, and pumpkins all with a Norwegian flare. Stop in their farm store for some fresh apple cider or hard apple cider to enjoy later!
- Hours:
- Sutter’s Ridge Farm, 2074 Sutter Drive, Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
- Hours: Thursday through Saturday (September & October) 10 am – 5 pm
- Admission:
- 2 years and under: FREE
- Corn Maze: $5/person
- Activity Area: $5/person
- Combo Corn Maze & Activity Area: $8/person
- Wagon Ride to the Pumpkin Patch: $5/person
- The ultimate fun stop for fall! Come enjoy pre-picked and PYO apples of all varieties, pre-picked and PYO pumpkins with wagon ride (beginning mid-September), apple slingshot (open Saturdays & Sundays in September), farm animals, corn maze, and farm-themed activity area!
READ MORE: Explore the Greater Madison Area: South Madison Day Trip with Kids
2. Get in the Fall Spirit at a Fall Festival
The greater Madison area is bursting with festivity when it comes to fall! Some of the best of the 65+ Fall Festivals in Wisconsin are community festivals and Oktoberfest celebrations in the Madison area, you’ll find an event that is a perfect fit for your family’s itinerary.
- Grumpy Troll Brew Pub Oktoberfest, Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
- When: Friday, September 16 – Sunday, September 18, 2022
- Kids activities, vendors, live bands, & food carts
- Wauktoberfest, Waunakee, Wisconsin
- When: Friday, September 16 – Sunday, September 18, 2022
- Time:
- Friday 4:30 pm – 11 pm
- Saturday 9 am – 11 pm
- Sunday 11 am – 5 pm
- Children’s Chicken Dance contest, sauerkraut eating contest, brat toss, bake-off, live music, food & beer!
- Fall Fun Fest at Pringle Nature Center, Bristol, Wisconsin
- When: Saturday, September 17, 2022
- Come join in the fun with live music, meeting the animals, local green exhibitors & vendors, tree climbing, and FREE children’s nature books (adult books 50 cents). There are also a few activities available at cost: hayrides, face painting, pumpkin painting & bird craft, food, & dessert.
- New Glarus Oktoberfest, New Glarus, Wisconsin
- When: Thursday, September 22 – Sunday, September 25, 2022
- Admission: FREE
- Wagon rides, chainsaw carving, family fun, food & drink!
- Essen Haus Oktoberfest, Madison, Wisconsin
- When: Saturday, September 24, 2022
- Time: 12 pm – 8 pm
- Live music, kids games & activities, food, & bier!
- Deerfield Apple Festival, Deerfield, Wisconsin
- When: Sunday, September, 25, 2022
- This event is held at Bittersweet Blessings Farm. Come enjoy over 200 vendors, live music, a magician, ax throwing, a blacksmith, face paintings, all things apples, and much more!
- Verona Fall Fest, Verona, Wisconsin
- When: Friday, September 30, 2022
- A FREE family event including hay rides, train rides, fall games & crafts, pumpkin painting, food & drink, petting zoo, inflatable obstacle course, and ‘The Goonies’ in their outdoor theater!
- Inclusive Fall Festival, Madison, Wisconsin
- When: Saturday, October 1, 2022
- This event is for AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) users and families to enjoy some accessible fall fun. Come enjoy FREE carnival games, sensory activities, prizes, photo ops, and more!
- Farley Center Fall Festival, Verona, Wisconsin
- When: Sunday, October 2, 2022
- Come join in the apple cider-making process from picking to pressing! You can tour the bees and Natural Path Sanctuary while here, along with food and live music.
- Mount Horeb Fall Village Market, Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
- When: Saturday, October 1 – Sunday, October 2, 2022
- Come enjoy the bounty of fall here in charming Mount Horeb! There will be live music, food trucks, crafters, and all the quaint little shops to explore while you’re here.
- Cambridge Fall Festival, Cambridge, Wisconsin
- When: Saturday, October 8, 2022
- This is a fundraising event for the area school district. Come enjoy many fall-themed events including a run/walk, chili cook-off, live music, food, drinks, and family activities: dance party, face painting, animals, pumpkin painting, animals, etc. Note: bring your own water bottle for water!
- Monona Fall Festival, Monona, Wisconsin
- When: Saturday, October 15, 2022
- The day begins with the Hoot Hoot Hustle, then onto a pie baking & tasting competition, arts & crafts sale, bake sale, family fun activities (at cost $1/ticket), and concessions. There are also a handful of FREE family activities including bouncy pony hop races, a cow milking contest, hay bale mound, etc!
- Sun Prairie Fun Fall Event, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
- When: Saturday, October 15, 2022
- Fall activities, sales, and entertainment all in downtown Sun Prairie.
READ MORE: Join Us On a Day Trip to Sun Prairie: Explore Children’s Museum & The Sassy Cow Creamery
3. Pick that Perfect Pumpkin at a Local Patch
Every child loves to find their prized pumpkin come fall. There are so many great options in the Madison-area and most come with outdoor adventures a-plenty.
- Anderson’s Pleasant Patch Pumpkins, 2313 Koshkonong Road, Cottage Grove, Wisconsin
- Admission: FREE
- Wagon Ride Hours: starting Saturday, September 24, 2022 through the end of October
- Saturday & Sunday 11:00 am through 5:00 pm
- Pick your own pumpkins available on the weekends (otherwise self-service pumpkin purchases throughout the week). They also have wagon rides to the field (on weekends), a haunted house, and hiking trail at no cost!
- Enchanted Valley Acres, 5047 Enchanted Valley Road, Cross Plains, Wisconsin
- Hours: 9 am – 6 pm
- September: Saturdays & Sundays
- October: Friday through Sunday, also Thursdays 10/20 & 10/27
- Admission:
- Age 2 year and under FREE
- September Weekends $12.50/person
- October Weekdays $12.50/person
- October Weekdays $14.50/person
- The ultimate in fall entertainment! Featuring giant slides & giant pumpkin jump pad, 8 acres of corn mazes (including a shorter option for little explorers), concessions, PYO pumpkins, pumpkin carving & painting kits, seasonal flowers, and TONS of outdoor activities & games!
- Hours: 9 am – 6 pm
- Heise Pumpkin Patch, 4950 High Road, Middleton, Wisconsin
- Hours: Daily 8 am – 6:30 pm
- Stop by for a large variety of pumpkins and other fall decorating goodies!
- Kalscheuer’s Pumpkin Patch, 7054 County Road K, Middleton, Wisconsin
- Offering a variety of pumpkins, gourds, hay bales, corn stalks, Indian corn, squash, and more! They also have farm animals to greet you. Note: Admission fees may apply.
- Schuster’s Farm, 1326 US-12, Deerfield, Wisconsin
- Hours:
- Monday through Friday 9 am – 6 pm
- Saturday through Sunday 10 am – 6 pm
- Admission:
- Age 2 and under: FREE
- Age 60+ $11 (Weekend)
- Farm Fun Pass
- Weekday: $9
- Weekend $13.98
- Corn Maze Only $7
- There is SOOO much to do here! By day, come ride the wagon to the pumpkin patch, corn maze, fun activities on the weekends including barrel train, pig races, cannons, and more! At nighttime you can participate in their spooky PG-13 adventures in the woods (at cost), or even rent space for a bonfire (at cost)!
- Hours:
- Sutter’s Ridge Farm, 2074 Sutter Drive, Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
- Hours: Thursday through Saturday (September & October) 10 am – 5 pm
- Admission:
- 2 years and under: FREE
- Corn Maze: $5/person
- Activity Area: $5/person
- Combo Corn Maze & Activity Area: $8/person
- Wagon Ride to the Pumpkin Patch: $5/person
- The ultimate fun stop for fall! Come enjoy pre-picked and PYO apples of all varieties, pre-picked and PYO pumpkins with wagon ride (beginning mid-September), apple slingshot (open Saturdays & Sundays in September), farm animals, corn maze, and farm-themed activity area!
4. Cash In On Fall’s Bounty At a Farm Market
Fall is the culmination of the growing season in Wisconsin. There are so many locally grown goodies to enjoy! These farm markets bring much more than just produce, however. Expect to find loads of fall fun to occupy your family for hours, too.
- Dane County Farmers Market Saturday Market on the Square, 2 E Main St, Downtown Madison Capitol Square, Wisconsin
- Hours: Saturdays April through November 6:15 am – 1:45 pm
- Admission: FREE
- Bring: Cash, although many vendors accept cards, too. They also accept FoodShare/EBT.
- Come enjoy the bounty of autumn harvest right on the Capitol Square! The Saturday Market on the Square is one of Madison’s most beloved traditions. This farmer’s market is the BIG ONE. We love the fall flower bouquets and Stella’s Hot & Spicy Cheesebread, also a Madison staple.
- Eugster’s Farm Market, W865 WI-138, Stoughton, Wisconsin
- Hours:
- Wednesday through Monday 10 am – 5 pm.
- Closed Tuesday
- Stop by their farm market for seasonal produce, such as pumpkins, gourds, apples, mums, fresh baked goods, and more!
- Dates and Admission: See website for current information. Schedule varies by day. Tickets need to be pre-purchased online.
- Orchard Days: ‘Enjoy Eugster’s 15-acre Petting Farm, U-pick Apple Orchard, 2-acre kid corn maze, 8-acre big corn maze, and The Milk House Bakery with fall treats.’
- Fall Festival Days: ‘Enjoy our 15-acre Petting Farm, U-pick Apples, Wagon Ride, Corn Mazes, 3D Haunted House, and much more!’
- Hours:
- Peck’s Farm Market East, 6445 US Hwy 14, Arena, Wisconsin
- Hours: Daily 8 am – 8 pm through October (then to winter hours)
- The ultimate produce store and so worth the drive! Pumpkins, apples, gourds, apple cider, autumn raspberries, maple syrup, Wisconsin cheese, Amish candy, and other foods, crafts, & gifts! They also have a FREE deer farm, play area, and haunted house. There is so much here to enjoy in every season.
- Horse-drawn wagon & train rides on the weekends (call for pricing: 608-588-7177)
READ MORE: Explore & Wonder Together at the Madison Children’s Museum
5. Test Your Sense of Direction In a Fall Corn Maze
Corn mazes are great fun and good for your brain, too! These farms have so much to offer, including plenty of other fall fun right on site. There are even some haunted corn maze options for thrill-seekers out there.
- Creek Bed Country Farmacy, N2767 Mountford Rd, Poynette, Wisconsin
- Hours:
- Friday through Sunday 11 am – 6 pm
- 2$ off per person on Fridays
- Admission:
- Children 2 years and under FREE
- Fridays:
- Children 3 – 12 years $9/person
- Adults 13+ years $11/person
- Saturdays & Sundays:
- Children 3 – 12 years $11/person
- Adults 13+ years $13/person
- Largest Corn Maze in Wisconsin, 18 acres and more than 6 miles of paths. Admission includes other fun fall activities at the farm!
- Hours:
- Enchanted Valley Acres, 5047 Enchanted Valley Road, Cross Plains, Wisconsin
- Hours: 9 am – 6 pm
- September: Saturdays & Sundays
- October: Friday through Sunday, also Thursdays 10/20 & 10/27
- Admission:
- Age 2 year and under FREE
- September Weekends $12.50/person
- October Weekdays $12.50/person
- October Weekdays $14.50/person
- The ultimate in fall entertainment! Featuring giant slides & giant pumpkin jump pad, 8 acres of corn mazes (including a shorter option for little explorers), concessions, PYO pumpkins, pumpkin carving & painting kits, seasonal flowers, and TONS of outdoor activities & games!
- Hours: 9 am – 6 pm
- Schuster’s Farm, 1326 US-12, Deerfield, Wisconsin
- Hours:
- Monday through Friday 9 am – 6 pm
- Saturday through Sunday 10 am – 6 pm
- Admission:
- Age 2 and under: FREE
- Age 60+ $11 (Weekend)
- Farm Fun Pass
- Weekday: $9
- Weekend $13.98
- Corn Maze Only $7
- There is SOOO much to do here! By day, come ride the wagon to the pumpkin patch, corn maze, fun activities on the weekends including barrel train, pig races, cannons, and more! At nighttime you can participate in their spooky PG-13 adventures in the woods (at cost), or even rent space for a bonfire (at cost)!
- Hours:
- Sutter’s Ridge Farm, 2074 Sutter Drive, Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
- Hours: Thursday through Saturday (September & October) 10 am – 5 pm
- Admission:
- 2 years and under: FREE
- Corn Maze: $5/person
- Activity Area: $5/person
- Combo Corn Maze & Activity Area: $8/person
- Wagon Ride to the Pumpkin Patch: $5/person
- An ultimate fun stop for fall! Come enjoy pre-picked and PYO apples of all varieties, pre-picked and PYO pumpkins with wagon ride (beginning mid-September), apple slingshot (open Saturdays & Sundays in September), farm animals, corn maze, and farm-themed activity area!
- Treinen Farm, W12420 WI-60 Trunk, Lodi, Wisconsin
- Hours: Varies by day. See website for daily hours.
- Admission:
- Regular Admission $12.95 (online only)
- October Weekend Admission $14.95 (online only)
- Voted one of the top 10 corn mazes in the US by USA Today! You can also enjoy a PYO pumpkin patch, farm animals, enchanted forest, hiking trails, and fall-themed games & activities for the kids!
6. Go For an Autumn Hike
Autumn is arguably the absolute most breathtaking time for a hike! And, the mosquitos and other busy bugs are already on their way out of the picture. We’ve rounded up some epic, not to miss Madison-area hikes for you.
- Aldo Leopold Nature Center, 330 Femrite Drive, Monona, Wisconsin
- Nestled on Madison’s east side, come enjoy the hiking trails here from dawn until dusk!
- Indian Lake County Park, 8183 WI-19, Cross Plains, Wisconsin
- A beautiful and FREE county park! Enjoy a hike up the hillside for a great view of the surrounding area and the cutest little, handmade chapel you’ve ever seen.
- Owen Conservation Park, 6021 Old Sauk Road, Madison, Wisconsin
- A beautiful and quiet fall walk, more off of the beaten path.
- The Lake Mendota/Lakeshore Path, 2000 University Bay Drive, Madison, Wisconsin
- Hop on the Lake Mendota Path (an extension of the downtown Lakeshore Path) near the University Hospital and Wally Bauman Woods, situated next to the Village of Shorewood Hills. As you hike the path into the woods, you’ll see various campfire rings for first come, first served use that have been a favorite student gathering spot for decades. Once you reach the woods, be sure to continue hiking toward Picnic Point, a peninsula that juts almost a mile into Lake Mendota. It’s a beautiful hike in peak fall colors!
- University of Wisconsin- Madison Arboretum, 1207 Seminole Highway, Madison, Wisconsin
- Immerse yourself in nature and fall colors in the heart of Madison’s downtown Isthmus.
- 11 Other Great Wisconsin Hikes
READ MORE: Essential Downtown Madison: Visiting the Capital City with Children
7. Eat Cozy Fall-inspired Food & Drink
Fall flavors are simply the best! From apple, to pumpkin, to warm, comfort food, we’ve got it covered for you here. These are some of Madison’s favorites.
- Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry, 317 North Frances Street, Madison, Wisconsin
- Visit this iconic Madison ‘World Hamburger Headquarters’ for an amazing selection of burgers!
- Essen Haus, 514 East Wilson Street, Madison, Wisconsin
- Get in the Oktoberfest spirit! A hearty German meal & bier selection await you here. Try the Apfel Strudel for dessert.
- Hidden Cave Cidery, 2500 Pleasant View Road, Middleton, Wisconsin
- Pick up a bottle of hard cider for after the kids are in bed!
- Hubbard Avenue Diner, 7445 Hubbard Avenue, Middleton, Wisconsin
- Try a tasty slice of a fall-inspired pie! This is a great Middleton neighborhood to explore, too.
- Mickie’s Dairy Bar, 1511 Monroe Street, Madison, Wisconsin
- A Badger football game day essential! The scrambler and pancakes are HUGE! They only accept cash. Pro Tip: Go on a non-game day for a less insane crowd.
- Viking Brew Pub, 211 East Main Street, Stoughton, Wisconsin
- Worth the drive south to Stoughton, the Viking has plenty of Norwegian-inspired hearty dishes and drinks that are perfect for the cool, fall evenings. Try the giant pretzel for starters! And, who doesn’t want to sample an ‘Uff da’ brew?
8. Visit a Nearby Wisconsin State Park.
A fall trip to one of Wisconsin’s beautiful State Parks is simply the best. Trails are speckled with color from canopy to forest floor. Here are a handful that are within an easy drive from Madison.
- Governor Nelson State Park, 5140 County Highway M, Waunakee, Wisconsin
- This park has some excellent hiking paths and gorgeous views of Madison’s Lake Mendota and the Capitol.
- Lake Kegonsa State Park, 2405 Door Creek, Road, Stoughton, Wisconsin
- Beautiful prairie grasses, forests, and abounding wildlife make this an easy favorite for a fall hike. Just a short drive south of Madison.
- New Glarus Woods State Park, W5446 County Highway NN, New Glarus, Wisconsin
- Escape to quaint New Glarus for some Swiss-town fun and a handful of fabulously fall hiking paths. Their playground is simply the best as far as state parks are concerned!
- Devil’s Lake State Park, S5975 Park Road, Baraboo, Wisconsin
- A bit of a drive but SOO worth it! Come visit Wisconsin’s favorite state park. Devil’s Lake is surrounded by bluffs. The views here in the fall are simply unparalleled!
READ MORE: 26 Awesome State Parks That Are Only Two Hours or Less From Appleton
9. Take a Fall Colors Drive Through the Countryside.
Are we the only ones that absolutely LOVE fall drives? There’s so much to see! We’ve got three exquisite and adventurous fall drives beckoning you…
- Head south toward New Glarus & Green County.
- Check out the beautiful Rustic Road 81 while you’re roaming to Madison’s South!
- Keep your eyes peeled for some of the 150 barn quilts installed on historic barns throughout the country roads of Green County.
- Head southwest on Hwy 18 toward Mount Horeb & Blue Mounds.
- Check out the Mount Horeb Trollway. This little town is the troll capital of the world. Stop by Sutter’s Ridge while you’re in town (see above).
- Blue Mound State Park offers breathtaking vistas of the surrounding countryside from one of its two observation towers.
- Cave of the Mounds is a great pit stop for family fun & learning!
- Making a full day trip of it? We got you! Stop by Governor Dodge State Park in Dodgeville, and keep going all the way out to the breathtaking Wyalusing State Park located along the Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien.
- Head northwest on Hwy 14 and surrounding roads toward Spring Green.
- Head northwest from Madison’s west side on Highway 14 for a beautiful drive through Wisconsin’s Driftless Area!
- Pair this with Enchanted Valley Acres on your way (see above).
- Looking for a new pair of shoes? The Shoe Box in Black Earth is a local favorite.
- Stop in at Peck’s Farm Market East for all of your favorite fall goodies (see above).
- Stop at the House on the Rock in Spring Green for a day of exploring.
- If you’re looking for a longer, day adventure, continue all the way to Wildcat Mountain State Park and beyond to beautiful La Crosse, Wisconsin, nestled along the Mississippi River.
Bonus! Our Favorite Things to Do in Madison
- Explore the Greater Madison Area: South Madison Day Trip with Kids
- Essential Downtown Madison: Visiting the Capital City with Children
- Enjoy Madison Capitol Views at Governor Nelson State Park
- Off the Beaten Path: East Madison & Monona with Kids
- Off the Beaten Path: Madison’s Near-West Side with Kids
- Enjoy a Family Day Trip to this FREE Zoo in Madison!
- Explore & Wonder Together at the Madison Children’s Museum
