Fall Bucket List: Fun Things to Do in Milwaukee this Fall

This year’s fall bucket list offers 100 ideas of things to do this fall for every budget, interest, and age. Think you’ve done it all in the Milwaukee Area? Think again!

Please note to check each event/business website for the most up to date information.

• Join Milwaukee at the Zoo for Fall Family Free Days – October 1st and November 5th.
• Celebrate Halloween with the animals at Boo at the Zoo. Advance ticket purchase required.
• Head to Apple Harvest Fest in Waukesha on Saturday, September 17th for a day full of hayrides, nature walks, and the star of the show, apples! 
• Go to Harvest Fair at the Wisconsin State Fair Grounds September 23rd – 25th. Admission is free, and you can enjoy live entertainment and fun family activities (some require purchasing activity tickets).
• Run, walk, or tiptoe through a corn maze! Check out our Corn Maze Guide for all the best locations!
• Neighborhood Night at Betty Brinn Museum offers free admission on the third Thursday of every month from 5-8 pm.
• Rake a leaf pile…and jump right in!
• Settle in for a night of pumpkin carving and spooky stories.
• Take a Sunday drive through the fall colors.
• Go trick or treating. Be sure to check your local website for date and times. Many neighborhoods also often have their own times.
• Go apple picking.
• Go for a hayride! 
• Join Briggs & Al’s Run & Walk Family Fun to support Children’s Hospital held on Saturday, September 17th.
• Spend an evening at Kids Night Out with the Wisconsin Humane Society, the second Friday of the month.
• Take a group –  the family, the girls, or a double date – and go to a painting bar.
• Make your own caramel apple, take a train ride, or find your way through the corn maze at The Elegant Farmer for Autumn Harvest Festival.
• Explore an area farm and check out a pumpkin patch.
• Decorate trick-or-treat bags with your ghouls and goblins!
• Send notes to family and friends telling them why you’re thankful for them.
• Set up a Virtual Game Night on the HouseParty app!
• Make a gratitude jar and add a slip of paper each day leading up to Thanksgiving. Read them aloud before dessert!
• “Boo” your neighbor with a random act of kindness and hope it catches on!
• Build a blanket fort on a rainy day and take a family nap inside.
• With three different distances for the whole family, check out the Trick or Trot Run/Walk in Greenfield on October 1st.
• Introduce your kiddo(s) to your favorite childhood Halloween movie or special, whether it’s Hocus Pocus or The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown; chances are that they’ll love it too.
• If you or your child(ren) are into cars, head on over to the Downtown West Allis Classic Car Show on October 2nd.
• Remember to “fall back” on November 6th and curse when your kids wake up anyway.
• Take your family photos outdoors or book a fall mini photo session. Check out our Guide to Local Photographers
• Explore at Old World Wisconsin on weekends.  
• Take the family down to the Oak Creek Fall Festival on October 22nd. It’s an indoor-outdoor event that celebrates “everything autumn.”
• Fun for everyone, learn something new at the Maker Faire, a venue for these “makers” to show hobbies, experiments, projects.

• Run, walk, or tiptoe through a corn maze! Check out our guide for some of our favorites!
• Neighborhood Night at Betty Brinn Museum offers free admission on the third Thursday of every month from 5-8 pm.
• Rake a leaf pile…and jump right in!
• Go trick or treating.
• Go apple picking.
• Go for a hayride.
• Cut open an apple and use it as a stamp to make apple art!
• Grab your little artist(s) and make a handprint turkey.
• Build a blanket fort on a rainy day and take a family nap inside.
• Check out a fall-themed book at your local library or a local free little library!
• Have some fun at Old World Wisconsin on weekends. Collect leaves and help your toddlers turn them into works of art.
• Get one last trip in at your favorite playground…or check out a new one!
• Watch a Family-Friendly Film Series at Marcus Majestic.
• Book a private theater at Silverspot Cinema for a Family Movie Night on the Big Screen! With plenty of room to spread out, you can invite a larger group and enjoy content from your own streaming service in a real theater!

• Settle in for a night of pumpkin carving and spooky stories.
• Put on your brave face and visit a haunted house.
• Bike the Glacial Drumlin Trail.  
• Go to Boo Fest at Six Flags.
• Expect thrills, chills, and frightful fun at Boo at the Zoo at MKE Zoo.
• Bring your big kids along to Doors Open MKE and chat about the history, architecture, and artistry in our city vie Virtual from September 24th-25th.
• “Boo” your neighbor with a random act of kindness and hope it catches on!
• Introduce your kiddo(s) to your favorite childhood Halloween movie or special. Whether it’s Hocus Pocus or The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, chances are that they’ll love it too.
• Escape video games and explore the great outdoors on a hike!

• Make a Halloween costume! 
• Bake an apple pie.
• Sit back and relax at a backyard bonfire.
• Paint a teal pumpkin to make your house allergy-friendly for trick or treaters. Check out these non-candy ideas to hand out!
• Have a contest to see who can make the best tasting s’ mores – via bonfire or candlelight!
• Curl up on the couch on a chilly day with a homemade Hot Toddy.
• Stay indoors at a local playgrounds or play cafes (as it is Wisconsin after all).
• Send notes to family and friends telling them why you’re thankful for them.
• Knit a fall scarf with needles or try your hand at finger knitting.
• Check out fall-themed wreaths on Pinterest and give your favorite a try!
• Break out your favorite cozy sweater. Don’t have one? Check out your favorite thrift store and find a new favorite.

• Take a tour of Lakefront Brewery.
• Bake an apple pie.
• Drink a seasonal brew at a local Oktoberfest celebration.
• Have a contest to see who can make the best tasting s’ mores – via bonfire or candlelight!
• Make some fall sangria and invite the girls over for a craft night so you can help each other out.
• Keep the pumpkin seeds when carving and toast them for a healthy snack.
• Make popcorn from a cob.
• Make a fun pumpkin-shaped treat. The options are endless! We’re thinking of pancakes, Rice Krispie treats, pizza or quesadillas.
• Make your own harvest trail mix using popcorn, pretzels, peanuts, and fall favorites like candy corn (if that’s your thing).
• Make an extra loaf or pie for your child’s teacher to thank them for a great school year (so far).
• Have caramel apple sundaes one night for dessert.
• Find a tried and true pumpkin bread recipe, and have a baking day!
• Eat an apple cider doughnut while sipping apple cider (hot or cold, your choice).
• Enjoy your favorite warm breakfast. We recommend this Colectivo Copycat Baked Oatmeal! YUM!
• Break out your favorite stew or soup recipe. Are you looking for something new? Try this one!

• September is the beginning of Packer season! What a perfect time to put up fall decor and wear your green and gold! More into college ball? Jump Around with Bucky!
• Remember that it’s hockey season too, and check out the Milwaukee Admirals Season Opener at the US Cellular Arena.
• Head on over to the Great Pumpkin Run at Swan’s Pumpkin Farm on Saturday, September 24th. You can do the 5K holding a pumpkin (if you want)!
• Try a new workout class! Not sure where to start? Check out the Milwaukee Area Fitness Guide.
• Bike the Glacial Drumlin Trail.

• September is the beginning of Packer season! What a perfect time to put up fall decor and wear your green and gold! More into college ball? Jump Around with Bucky!
• Remember that it’s hockey season too, and check out the Milwaukee Admirals Season Opener at the US Cellular Arena.
•  Head on over to the Great Pumpkin Run at Swan’s Pumpkin Farm on Saturday, September 24th. You can do the 5K holding a pumpkin (if you want)!

• Explore MKE on September 24th-25th with Doors Open Milwaukee via virtual tour: Make it extra exciting and let the kids pick where they want to go!
• Visit the Third Ward for Gallery Night and Day for a date night.
• Donate to and volunteer at a local food pantry.
• Find your favorite fall scent in a candle. Heads up that MKE has some great local candle companies like Big White Yeti.
• Check out the Milwaukee Maker’s Market at one of their upcoming markets.
• Hit up the NARI Home & Remodeling show for some inspiration or daydreaming from October 14th-16th.
• Participate in International Peace Day on September 21st.
• Have some Halloween fun at the Ghosts Under Glass & Dia De Los Muertos celebration at the Milwaukee Domes on October 28th.
• Discover the beauty of sculpture at Sculpture Milwaukee.

• Settle in for a night of pumpkin carving and spooky stories.
• Put on your brave face and visit a haunted house.
• Take a Sunday drive through the fall colors.
• Get a babysitter for the littles and have a date night at the Cedarburg Wine and Harvest Festival because Mom and Dad need a fall celebration too.
• Go to Boo Fest at Six Flags.
• Take a tour of Lakefront Brewery.
• If you or your child(ren) are into cars, head on over to the Downtown West Allis Classic Car Show.
• The China Lights at the Boerner Botanical Gardens are back and would make a great date night.
• Attend Bay View Gallery Night for your next date night on Friday, September 30th
• Grab your Hunny and learn something new at the Maker Faire, a venue for these “makers” to show hobbies, experiments, projects.
• Perhaps one of the most beautiful places in the area, Pieper’s Porch Winery and Vineyard is the perfect spot to toast your love with a glass of wine.

• Head to Apple Harvest Fest in Waukesha on Saturday, September 17th for a day full of hayrides, nature walks, and the star of the show, apples! 
• Go to Harvest Fair at the Wisconsin State Fair Grounds. Admission is free, and you can enjoy live entertainment and fun family activities (some require purchasing activity tickets).
• Go to New Berlin’s Apple Fest on October 1st. Tour the historical museum, ride the barrel train, and square dance in the barn.
• Watch the Milwaukee River Challenge
• Chill out at the 51st Annual Cherry Cherry Fall Fair in Menomonee Falls.
• Check out the Maker Faire Milwaukee at the State Fair Grounds.
• Get a babysitter for the littles and have a date night at the Cedarburg Wine and Harvest Festival because Mom and Dad need a fall celebration.
• Go out with the girls to Milwaukee Oktoberfest.
• Take Fido (or Frida) to the 7th annual Barktoberfest and enjoy a Stein on September 17th.
• Join Historical Downtown Delafield for Halloween in Delafield on Saturday, October 22nd
• Head down to Downtown Historic Cedarburg for a perfect October weekend at Oktoberfest.
• See what’s new in the film world with the Milwaukee Film Festival.
• Check out Bay View Bash on September 17th– with or without the kids!
• Check out dance, drum, and singing competitions honoring Native Americans at the Hunting Moon Pow Wow held in October at the Wisconsin Center.
• Make sure you subscribe to our Newsletter, so you don’t miss out on our upcoming fun!