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Geneva Lakes Vacations Guest Guide

Fall in Lake Geneva

The complete Fall 2026 guide to apple orchards, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, haunted attractions, Oktoberfests, fall color cruises and Halloween events in and around Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, with 81 places and dates for October.

Verified and updated October 7, 2026

A farm cart piled with heirloom pumpkins in orange, white and blue green at a pumpkin patch near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Fall at a glance

October is the best-kept secret on Geneva Lake. The summer crowds are gone, the water is still, and the oak and maple woods around the lake turn gold and copper from about the second week of October through the end of the month. Within a thirty minute drive of any of our homes you can pick apples, get lost in a corn maze, ride a haunted hayride, drink a stein at two different Oktoberfests, cruise the shoreline under full color, and walk a lakefront lined with scarecrows. Everything below is open in October 2026, with the dates that matter.

  • Peak colorTravel Wisconsin forecasts peak color for the Lake Geneva area in the third and fourth weeks of October 2026. Check the live Travel Wisconsin Fall Color Report before a leaf-peeping drive.
  • The big weekendsDowntown Lake Geneva Oktoberfest is October 10 and 11. Elkhorn Oktoberfest is October 17. Yerkes Candlelight Walk is October 23 and 24. Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, with trick-or-treating in Lake Geneva from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Closest to the lakePearce’s Farm Stand in Walworth (pumpkins and corn maze, about 15 minutes), Hafs Road Orchard in Genoa City (apples, about 12 minutes), and the Apple Barn in Elkhorn (orchard and winery, about 20 minutes).
  • Haunted nightsDan Patch Stables runs haunted hayrides five minutes from downtown every Friday and Saturday in October, and Lake Geneva Ghost Walks leave Seminary Park nightly at 7:30 p.m.
  • What it costsMost orchards and festivals are free to enter and you pay for what you pick. Haunted hayrides run $10 to $25, ghost walks about $34, and the big haunted houses $35 to $55. Several farms and the hayride are cash only.
  • WeatherOctober days on the lake run 50 to 65 degrees with cool nights. Bring layers, closed shoes for the orchards, and a blanket for evening cruises and hayrides.

Jump to a Section

This guide is organized by what you want to do. Every listing has a tappable address for directions, a phone number, a website, and the dates it is open this season.

Where to Start

If you only have one weekend, these are the five fall experiences our team would send you to first.

  • For Apple Picking

    Royal Oak Farm Orchard

    Harvard, Illinois, about 25 minutes. Thirty varieties, a maze planted from apple trees, cider donuts and a sit-down farm lunch. Open daily through October 31.

  • For Pumpkins and a Corn Maze

    Pearce’s Farm Stand

    Walworth, about 15 minutes. The closest pumpkin patch to Geneva Lake, with a 13-acre corn maze, hayrides and weekend cider donuts, open daily through October 31.

  • For a Haunted Night

    Dan Patch Stables Haunted Hayride

    Lake Geneva, five minutes from downtown. Gentle wagons for little ones from 6:00 p.m., full scares after dark, and a bonfire. Fridays and Saturdays through October 31. Cash only.

  • For Oktoberfest

    Downtown Lake Geneva Oktoberfest

    Flat Iron Park, October 10 and 11. Keg tapping, dachshund races, stein hoisting, a craft fair and live brass bands two blocks from the lakefront. Free admission.

  • For Fall Color

    Lake Geneva Cruise Line

    Riviera Docks, through October 31. The shoreline estates under peak maple color from the water, with enclosed heated boats on cool days.

October 2026, Weekend by Weekend

The dated events worth planning a trip around, in order. Multi-weekend attractions such as orchards, hayrides and ghost walks are listed in their own sections below. Tap a title for tickets or details, and confirm times before you go, because fall events shift with the weather.

For everything else happening while you are here, see our Lake Geneva events calendar.

A pumpkin house display with corn stalks, mums and a hay bale under an American flag at a fall farm near Lake Geneva

Apple Orchards Near Lake Geneva

10 Orchards

Ten orchards within about 45 minutes of Geneva Lake, ordered roughly by drive time from downtown Lake Geneva. The closest are small farm stands with pre-picked fruit and cider; the larger pick-your-own farms are across the state line in McHenry County and toward Burlington and Mukwonago. Honeycrisp is mostly done by the second week of October, but Fuji, Cortland, Jonagold, Ida Red and Pink Lady run through the end of the month.

  • Hafs Road Orchard

    12 minutes, pre-picked apples and cider

    About 12 minutes east of downtown and the closest orchard to the lake. Roughly 50 varieties, a regional Honeycrisp pioneer, cider pressed weekly and hand-dipped caramel apples. Pre-picked only, and you are welcome to walk the orchard and the marsh. Leashed dogs welcome. The 2026 crop is smaller than usual, so the season may end early. Call before you drive.

  • Apple Barn Orchard and Winery

    20 minutes, pick your own, winery

    The lake area’s classic fall stop, owned by the same farm since 1848. Pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, apple cider donuts, homemade pie, a tree maze, a country store, and estate fruit wines tasted at an outdoor bar. Every October weekend has a theme with live music and food trucks: Bucket List Weekend October 10 and 11, Pumpkin Fest October 17 and 18, and Country Roads and Apple Loads October 24 and 25. No pets.

  • Quednow’s Heirloom Apple Orchard

    25 minutes, heirloom varieties

    A small creekside orchard north of Elkhorn that grows the varieties the big farms do not: Northern Spy, Esopus Spitzenburg and Pink Pearl, plus an award-winning cider recognized by the Wisconsin Apple Growers Association. Low spray, pre-picked, weekends only. Worth the detour for anyone who cares about apples.

  • Royal Oak Farm Orchard

    25 minutes, pick your own, kids’ rides

    The most popular apple-picking day trip from Lake Geneva. More than 17,000 trees and 30 varieties, wagon rides out to pick on weekends, the Amaze ‘N Apples maze planted from apple trees, cider donuts, a petting zoo, a big playground, mini golf and a sit-down lunch in the Country Kitchen. Apple picking is $12 per person ages 4 and up and includes a quarter-peck bag. No pets.

  • Munster Orchard

    25 minutes, pick your own, no admission

    The budget pick-your-own. About 1,500 dwarf trees and more than 75 varieties, from Honeycrisp and Fireside to Cox Orange Pippin and Liberty, plus two pumpkin patches. No gate fee, no crowds, and apples are $1.75 a pound. Cards accepted.

  • Harvest Time Orchards

    25 minutes, pick your own, donuts

    Thirteen varieties on 12 acres on the state line, fresh-made donuts from 8:30 a.m. until they sell out, caramel apples, pick-your-own pumpkins including Atlantic Giants, and the Red Barn bar and grill. The farm’s posted schedule had not been updated for 2026 when we checked, so call before you go.

  • Brightonwoods Orchard

    30 minutes, heirloom apples, cidery

    More than 150 apple varieties including rare antique types, award-winning fresh cider, cider donuts on weekends, a two-story treehouse and walking trails, and AeppelTreow Winery’s hard cider, perry and spirits made on the farm. Pre-picked only. Featured on Wisconsin Foodie.

  • The Elegant Farmer

    35 minutes, pick your own, train rides

    Home of the Apple Pie Baked in a Paper Bag and the only orchard a vintage electric train pulls up to. Autumn Harvest Fest runs every weekend through October 25 with pick-your-own apples, hayrides to the pumpkin patch, a corn maze, pony rides and the Smilin’ Barn cafe. U-pick apples run $15 a half peck to $45 a half bushel; hayrides $7; corn maze $7.

  • All Seasons Orchard

    40 minutes, pick your own, corn maze

    Sixteen thousand apple trees, a Dolly Parton tribute corn maze for 2026, a sunflower trail, apple cannon, ropes course, pony rides and an apple train. Barnyard admission is $9 and includes the maze; apple picking is $12 with a quarter-peck bag, hayride and orchard entry; the combo is $19. Online code ALLSEASONS26 saves $2.

  • Apple Holler

    45 minutes, pick your own, restaurant

    The largest pick-your-own orchard in the region: 78 acres, 30,000 dwarf trees and 30 varieties, with the Red Barn Restaurant, a bakery, corn maze, hayrides, farm animals, a weekend Biergarten and live music. Admission is the apple bag, from $26 for a quarter peck, and includes a tractor-drawn orchard tour and all-day park access. The fun park alone is $10. No pets.

Staying in Elkhorn? See our Elkhorn vacation rentals.

Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes Near Lake Geneva

12 Farms

Twelve pumpkin farms and corn mazes, from the closest farm stand ten minutes outside Fontana to the full-day adventure farms in McHenry and Kenosha counties. Several are cash only, most close by 6:00 p.m., and the night mazes need a flashlight.

  • Pearce’s Farm Stand

    15 minutes, corn maze, hayrides

    The closest pumpkin patch to Geneva Lake and a Walworth County tradition for more than 60 years. A 13-acre corn maze, straw bale maze, hayrides to the patch, a look-out tower, a real John Deere combine to climb, pumpkins from minis to 300-pound Atlantic Giants and a homemade bakery. Pumpkin Fest Weekend is October 10 and 11 with live music and pumpkin donuts.

  • Von Bergen’s Country Market

    20 minutes, corn maze, animals

    A lower-key alternative to the big Illinois farms, just over the state line. Corn maze, giant straw bale maze, barnyard animals, a bubble barn, butterfly house, pumpkin house, tire tower, weekend haywagon rides and a market full of homegrown pumpkins. General admission for ages 3 and up, sold online.

  • Richardson Adventure Farm

    30 minutes, giant corn maze, night maze

    The marquee fall attraction in the region and the self-described World’s Largest Corn Maze: 28 acres and nearly ten miles of trail in a 2026 America250 design, with a 50-foot observation tower, zip lines, pig races, giant slides, pedal karts and campfires. Night mazes by flashlight on Fridays and Saturdays. Best for teens, groups and anyone who wants a full evening. Tickets sold online by date.

  • Green Meadows Petting Farm

    30 minutes, petting farm, little ones

    A hands-on animal farm built for younger kids: goats, sheep, bunnies, a kitten barn, tortoise feedings, pony rides and hayrides to the pumpkin patch, plus a 10-acre corn maze. Day pass $15.75. Arrive before 2:00 p.m., when the last admission and the final hayrides go out.

  • Squire’s Pumpkin Patch

    30 minutes, free corn maze

    A former strawberry farm turned simple, uncrowded pumpkin patch with a free corn maze, gourds, cornstalks, caramel apples and a tiny seasonal shop. A quick, no-admission stop on the way to Burlington. The website is not kept current, so call ahead.

  • Thompson Farm Fall Festival

    35 minutes, pumpkins by the carload

    The only farm around that sells pumpkins by the carload: $110 fills a sedan trunk, which makes it the bargain for a group decorating a rental. Jungle maze, a new corn maze for 2026, farm animals, live entertainment, cider and donuts. Festival admission $14.95 online, $19 at the gate; weekday pumpkin picking Wednesday to Friday 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. is free to enter.

  • Stade’s Farm and Market

    35 minutes, adventure farm

    The biggest everything park south of the border: more than 50 attractions in the Farmtractions park including a corn maze, zipline, giant slides, a pumpkin cannon, petting zoo and hayrides, next to a 30-acre pick-your-own pumpkin patch and Stade’s well-known produce market. Admission varies by date and is sold online.

  • Bear Den Zoo and Petting Farm

    35 minutes, petting zoo, cash only

    A small, old-fashioned outing: a hayride through the woods to the pumpkin patch, exotic and farm animals to feed, caramel apples and cider. $13 per person ages 2 and up covers the zoo, petting areas and hayride; pumpkins from $5. Cash or check only.

  • Jerry Smith Pumpkin Farm

    40 minutes, pumpkin displays, haunted house

    Known for hundreds of hand-painted pumpkin character displays and a giant pumpkin tower, both free to see, plus a 6-acre corn maze, bounce pads, hayrides, petting zoo, camel rides and more than 40 pumpkin and gourd varieties. Activity area admission $10.95 weekdays and $17.49 weekends online. Dr. Destruction’s Haunted Manor runs on the farm after dark.

  • Schuett Farms

    40 minutes, flashlight night maze

    A 12-acre corn maze with more than four miles of paths that Travel Wisconsin lists among the state’s best, plus the region’s best-known flashlight night maze, pick-your-own pumpkins, weekend hayrides and hot mini donuts. Day maze $10, night maze $15, free admission otherwise.

  • Cody’s Farm and Orchard

    40 minutes, free admission, $9 pumpkins

    One of the cheapest full-feature pumpkin days around: free admission and parking, any-size pick-your-own pumpkin for $9 with a free hayride to the patch, a $7 all-day play wristband for the 5-acre corn maze, duck races and pedal tractors, plus cider donuts, caramel apples and barbecue. Apples in the market.

  • Swan’s Pumpkin Farm

    45 minutes, 50th season, kids’ spook house

    A Racine County tradition in its 50th season. Free to walk in and shop for pumpkins; a $15 adventure wristband covers the Witch Hollow maze, barrel train, big green slide, jump pillow, pedal carts and a hayride. The 9-acre Corn City corn maze is $7, and Wanda’s gentle Spook House and the pumpkin-head displays are built for little ones.

Staying in Fontana? See our Fontana vacation rentals.

Lake Geneva Oktoberfest 2026 and Fall Festivals

11 Festivals

Two Oktoberfests, a farm festival on the Delavan lakefront, a pumpkin drop from a zipline, a trolley ride to an orchard, a walking food festival and a lakefront scarecrow walk, all happening in October 2026.

  • Downtown Lake Geneva Oktoberfest

    October 10 and 11, free

    The lake’s signature fall weekend. Keg tapping at 11:00 a.m. Saturday with accordion music, dachshund races at 1:00 p.m. and corgi races at 3:00 p.m. both days, brat toss and stein hoisting at 4:00 p.m., German dancers, a pie auction, The Biermen on Saturday evening and Ed Wagner’s Brass Band on Sunday. A craft and vendor fair, autumn sidewalk sales and a kids’ area with bounce houses and free pumpkins. A free shuttle runs from the Park-n-Ride at Sheridan Springs Road and from Home Depot.

  • Elkhorn Oktoberfest

    October 17, free

    The 21st annual, and it fills the whole downtown square: a classic car show from 8:00 a.m., a 5K, live music from 11:00 a.m. with the Stateline Playboys, German food vendors along Wisconsin Street, stein hoisting, more than 100 artisan vendors and an all-around-town beer and wine tasting. Rain or shine.

  • Oktoberfest at Turtle Lake Tap and Grill

    October 10

    A one-day lakeside Oktoberfest on Turtle Lake outside Delavan: live music from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., German dance instruction, a stein-holding contest, lederhosen and dirndls encouraged, and food and drink specials all weekend.

  • Fall Festival at Lake Lawn Resort

    October 10 and 11, free

    A resort-wide fall weekend open to the public on the Delavan Lake lawn: pumpkin painting, a hay bale maze, sack races, cornhole, pumpkin bowling and ladder ball, seasonal food and drink, live music on Sunday, a Pumpkin House in the courtyard and Lake Lawn Queen fall color cruises from the marina.

  • Fall Festival and Pumpkin Drop at Lake Geneva Ziplines

    October 17 and 24

    Soar down the 1,221-foot Dual Racing Zipline and drop a pumpkin onto a target below, then send ages 4 to 10 on the app-powered Pumpkin Expedition scavenger hike through the woods. Live music on the patio, hot dogs and s’mores on the fire, and lawn games. The 35-foot climbing tower and high ropes course run Thursday to Sunday. The full canopy tour is closed this fall for rebuilding after July storm damage.

  • East Troy Electric Railroad Harvest Fest Trains

    weekends through October 25

    Ride a restored electric trolley seven miles through wooded countryside from the East Troy depot to The Elegant Farmer’s Harvest Fest, pick apples and buy the pie baked in a paper bag, and ride back whenever you like. Day passes are good on every train. The first train leaves East Troy at 10:00 a.m. and the last leaves the farm at 4:00 p.m. Themed dinner trains run October 10, 17 and 31.

  • Boo in the Bay and the Williams Bay Scarecrow Walk

    all month, free

    Williams Bay celebrates all month. Local businesses and neighbors build scarecrows along the lakefront path from October 5 through 31 and you vote for a favorite. The series also includes Trunk-O-Treat at the school lot on October 17 from noon to 2:00 p.m., FrankenToys at Barrett Memorial Library, a Halloween movie night at the high school on October 30, and village trick-or-treating October 31 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

  • Taste of Broad Street

    October 18

    The third annual walking food festival on Broad Street, benefiting Side by Side of Lake Geneva. Ticket holders sample food and drinks block by block from Geneva Tap House, O2 Lounge, Scrappy’s, Simple Bakery, Something Sweet, Thumbs Up, Topsy Turvy Brewery, Tuscan Tavern and Zaab Corner, with raffle prizes for visiting every stop.

  • SMILES Fall Festival

    October 17

    A Saturday morning at the equine therapy farm in Darien: pancakes in the barn next to the program horses, a costume trick-or-treat trail, games, costume contests, raffles and horse bingo. Every dollar supports riders with special needs.

  • Lake Geneva Farmers Market

    Thursdays through October 29

    The final Thursdays of the season at Horticultural Hall, two blocks from the lake: more than 30 vendors with squash, apples, cider, honey, baked goods and late-season flowers. A good first stop to stock the rental for the weekend.

  • Downtown Lake Geneva Fall Wine Walk

    November 1, 21+

    A self-paced tasting stroll through 23 downtown shops and restaurants that doubles as a fall shopping afternoon, with a logo wine glass, snacks along the way and a $10 gift card in the swag bag. Proceeds light downtown for the holidays. It usually sells out in October.

Staying in Lake Geneva? See our Lake Geneva vacation rentals.

Haunted Houses, Haunted Hayrides and Ghost Tours Near Lake Geneva

15 Attractions

Fifteen haunts, from a gentle storytelling walk through downtown to the most intense professional haunted houses in southeast Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Each listing carries a scare level and age guidance. The three in Lake Geneva itself are within a few minutes of downtown.

  • Dan Patch Stables Haunted Hayride

    5 minutes. Gentle before 7:00 p.m., moderate after dark

    Grand Geneva’s annual tractor-pulled hayride through the dark woods, now at a new entrance behind the Emagine movie theater on Highway 120. Two 30-person wagons run 15-minute rides all night, with a bonfire and food before and after. Gentle wagons for little ones run roughly 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with the monsters kept at a distance; full scares start once it is dark. $25 ages 11 and up, $10 ages 4 to 10, free 3 and under. Cash only, no reservations, tickets at the gate from 5:45 p.m.

  • Lake Geneva Ghost Walks

    Downtown. Mild, storytelling, ages 13+

    A 90-minute guided evening walk through downtown and the lakefront from American Ghost Walks, covering the Maxwell Mansion, the Baker House, the haunted movie theater, the Geneva Lake monster and the Woman in Black. Guests can try ghost-hunting equipment. Easy walking and wheelchair accessible. $33.57 per person; ages 13 and up.

  • The Baker House Haunted Basement Tour

    Downtown. Mild to moderate, ages 13+

    Down the staircase into the basement of the 1885 lakefront mansion for the real history of the house and its Lady in White. No actors chasing you, just the building, its stories and a few unexpected moments. Rated PG by the house; recommended ages 13 and up. $20, limited tickets on Tock.

  • Poe at the Point

    Downtown. Mild, literary, ages 13+

    A sunset cruise across Geneva Lake with Lake Geneva Cruise Line to the 1888 Black Point Estate, then live readings of The Tell-Tale Heart and The Raven in the parlor and an after-dark walk of the first floor. About three hours and roughly 100 stairs up from the pier. $85 adults, $49 ages 13 to 17; free cancellation up to 48 hours ahead.

  • Spiritualism in the Victorian Era at Black Point Estate

    15 minutes. Mild, ages 13+

    An evening in the dining room of Conrad Seipp’s Queen Anne mansion on the Fox sisters, the American spiritualist movement and Whitewater’s Morris Pratt Institute, with a cordial and an after-dark tour of the house. Check in at Reek School on the south shore and ride to the estate. $75; ages 13 and up.

  • Haunted History Cruise on the Lake Lawn Queen

    15 minutes. Mild, storytelling

    A 90-minute storytelling cruise on Delavan Lake with American Ghost Walks: the resort’s own ghosts, circus-era history, shoreline legends and unexplained accounts as darkness settles over the water. A storytelling cruise, not a jump-scare experience.

  • Whitewater Spirit Tour

    30 minutes. Mild, history, adults 18+

    Whitewater calls itself Second Salem, and this guided tour covers why: the Witches’ Tower in Starin Park, Mary Worth’s crypt at Hillside Cemetery, the Morris Pratt spiritualist school and the legends in between. Walking and bus versions; adults 18 and up. A free self-guided version is available year-round from Discover Whitewater.

  • Camp Oh-Da-Ko-Ta Haunted Hayride and Walk

    25 minutes. Moderate at night, gentle Saturday afternoon

    A Scout-run fundraiser one weekend only: a wagon ride through the haunted woods with a stop at the Witch’s Kitchen, and the option to walk the trail on foot. Scouts are the scare actors and proceeds improve the camp. The Saturday afternoon session is the gentle one for younger kids. $12 in advance, $15 at the door, free ages 3 and under.

  • Terror at the Fair

    25 minutes. Intense

    Kenosha County’s main haunt and the closest big haunted house to Lake Geneva. Enter through the red barn at the fairgrounds into Soul Reapers, The Dwelling, Twisted Chaos, Carni Gore and the Midway of Terror. Evil carnies and clowns; built for teens and adults. Nightly hours and prices are on the ticket page; all sales final.

  • Dr. Destruction’s Haunted Manor at Jerry Smith Farm

    40 minutes. Moderate

    A haunted manor in its 34th year in the middle of a working pumpkin farm. Do the hayride, corn maze and pumpkin displays by day, then the haunt after dark. $15, cash only. Call for exact haunt hours.

  • Abandoned Haunted House Complex

    40 minutes. Intense

    One of southeast Wisconsin’s largest professional haunts: three full houses (Ambush in the dark, Hysteria interactive, Stalker outdoors) at 15 to 20 minutes each, an opening show at 6:45 p.m., the Inner Fear immersive add-on and axe throwing. Three houses $45; everything package $50; quick pass $65. Teens and adults.

  • Six Flags Great America Fright Fest

    45 minutes. Intense after dark, all ages by day

    The park’s 50th season turns scary at dusk with five haunted mazes for 2026, including the new Blair Witch: No Signal and Nightmares, plus The Conjuring Universe, SAW and The Estate at Wretched Meadows, with scare zones, shows and coasters in the dark. Daytime Tricks and Treats on weekends is for all ages. Park admission required; mazes from $35; not recommended under 13 after dark; no full-face masks for guests 12 and up.

  • Dungeon of Doom

    45 minutes. Very intense, mature audiences

    Chicagoland’s legendary indoor haunt celebrates 30 years in 2026 with nearly an hour of Hollywood-quality sets and actors and no safe zones. The most intense option on this list, built for mature audiences. General admission $34.99 online; fast pass $49.99; VIP $59.99.

  • The Hill Has Eyes

    55 minutes. Intense; gentle Sunday version

    Milwaukee’s big outdoor haunt winds up and down a 45-acre ski hill through four themed haunts, Failed Escape, Hunger Hollow, CARNIvore and Dead End, about an hour on foot, with a midway and party pit. $40 to $54 by entry window; minors need a waiver. The Not So Scary Halloween Party on Sunday afternoons lets kids see the sets with the lights on and trick-or-treat along the way for $9.

  • Stadium of Screams at ABC Supply Stadium

    55 minutes. Moderate to intense, ages 12+

    New for 2026: an immersive haunted house built inside the Beloit Sky Carp ballpark by the Fear Fest team, with themed scenes and jump scares. $20; recommended ages 12 and up. A club level with food and drinks stays open for parents waiting on teens.

Staying in Lake Geneva? See our Lake Geneva vacation rentals.

Halloween Events in Lake Geneva for Kids and All Ages

11 Events

The no-scare Halloween calendar: trick-or-treat trains, trunk or treats, a candlelit observatory, a pumpkin-lit trail, a lantern-lit historic village and a Halloween ball downtown. Municipal trick-or-treat hours are listed by town further down the page.

  • East Troy Trick or Treat Trains

    30 minutes. No scares

    Costumed kids ride the historic electric railway 25 minutes to Jim Byrnes Memorial Park for trick-or-treating, games and the playground, collect candy from costumed characters on board, and pick out a pumpkin back at the depot. About 1 hour 20 minutes. $32.50 adults, $29 ages 3 to 14, $12 under 3. Advance reservations required; no trains in thunderstorms.

  • Halloween Legends and Lore at Old World Wisconsin

    40 minutes. Mild, all ages

    The lantern-lit historic village after dark: costumed interpreters tell immigrant ghost stories, a sorghum maze, a Victorian seance, the Beast of Bray Road trial, a bonfire telling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, hot food and warm drinks. About $26 adults, $18 ages 5 to 12, under 5 free. Advance tickets required and nights sell out.

  • The Hollows at Phantom Lake YMCA

    40 minutes. No scares

    A trail hike through the oldest YMCA camp in North America lit by thousands of hand-carved pumpkins and light displays, from Fairy Land to Gnome Village. A no-scare evening built for little ones, and a fundraiser for camp scholarships.

  • Williams Bay Trunk-O-Treat

    15 minutes. Free

    Part of Boo in the Bay. Costumed kids go trunk to trunk for treats in the school lot, with decorated vehicles, pumpkin carving and decorating on site. Free.

  • Yerkes Candlelight Walk

    15 minutes. No scares

    Two thousand candles light the 50-acre Olmsted arboretum around the historic observatory for a self-guided evening stroll, with education stations on the trails and a candlelit dome you can step inside. $15 adults, $10 ages 18 and under. Rain or shine; tickets transfer between the two nights. Park at Williams Bay High School and take the free shuttle.

  • Elkhorn Beast Fest

    15 minutes. Folklore, all ages

    A festival built on the Beast of Bray Road werewolf legend: Bray Road Beast Games, a Build-A-Beast team competition, Beastly Ballads at the bandshell, a scavenger hunt raffle and the Holton Band’s Halloween Spooktacular concert. A Find Franz scavenger hunt runs around town October 12 to 16.

  • Lake Geneva Jaycees Trunk or Treat

    Downtown. Free

    The downtown trunk or treat: local businesses and neighbors decorate their trunks and hand out candy, with music, games, pumpkin decorating and business booths in the Lake City Social lot by the lakefront. Free.

  • Burlington Spooky City and Coffin Races

    30 minutes. Free

    One of southeast Wisconsin’s largest free Halloween days. Costumed four-person teams race handmade coffins down Pine Street at noon, more than 60 downtown businesses hand out candy, and there are hayrides, street performers, face painting and an adults-only Spirit Walk in the afternoon. City trick-or-treating follows from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

  • Capes and Crowns Halloween Ball at The Cove

    Downtown. All ages

    Come as your favorite character for a Halloween night with a DJ, dancing, treats and games in the heart of downtown. $15 for a group of two, $25 for three or more, children 3 and under free.

  • Halloween Party and Resort-Wide Trick-or-Treating at Lake Lawn

    15 minutes. Free

    A free, parent-accompanied Halloween afternoon open to the public: a costume parade and contests, music and games with a DJ and roaming magic in the Geneva Ballroom, then trick-or-treating along a mapped route through the resort with candy and non-food treats at every station.

  • Spooks and S’mores Bonfire at The Abbey Resort

    15 minutes. All ages

    A lakeside bonfire with s’mores on the Fontana harbor every Friday and Saturday night in October, alongside weekly pumpkin decorating on Fridays at 5:30 p.m. and Ghosts in a Jar crafts on Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. Open to resort guests and visitors; check the events page for any fees.

Staying in Williams Bay? See our Williams Bay vacation rentals.

Halloween Nights for Grown-Ups

6 Events

Costume parties, brew walks, a masquerade and a Halloween cruise. Everything in this section is adults only unless noted, and most of it sells out, so buy tickets when you book your stay.

  • Delavan Halloween Brew Walk

    15 minutes. 21+, sells out

    Wristband, tasting passport, glass and map, then sip, stroll and shop through downtown Delavan’s bars, shops and restaurants in costume, with a drawing at every stop. Only 250 tickets. Costumes strongly encouraged. 21+ with photo ID.

  • Halloween Bash at the Baker House

    Downtown. 21+

    The 1885 mansion under new owners throws a Halloween party with a DJ from 9:00 p.m., a costume contest with prizes, complimentary grazing stations, a full cash bar and a Boiler Room afterparty until 1:00 a.m. $25 plus tax and gratuity. 21+.

  • Spirit of the Fire All Hallows Festival at Jennings Holler

    40 minutes. Ticketed

    A full day and night of live music, ceremonial fire, immersive art, oddities, metaphysical vendors and spooky attractions deep in the Kettle Moraine, ending in a late-night party in the saloon. Kids 17 and under are free by day; camping available. The Witches’ Ball, an immersive circus dinner, follows on October 31.

  • Boo-On-The-Bay Halloween Costume Party Cruise

    Downtown. 21+

    Lake Geneva Cruise Line’s two-hour Halloween night cruise with a DJ, dancing, spooky drink specials, Halloween appetizers, a crew-hosted costume contest and one drink included. From $55. 21+ only.

  • The Traitors’ Masquerade at Lake Lawn Resort

    15 minutes. Adults only

    Dress to deceive. DJ Felix in the ballroom, roaming magic and mentalism, tarot readings in the Mystic Parlor, a featured hypnotist show at 9:30 p.m., themed cocktails and a photo moment on the Lake Lawn throne. $40 plus tax and service, includes one specialty drink. Adults only.

  • Halloween Dinner Train

    30 minutes. Ticketed

    Travel from East Troy to Mukwonago and back aboard a restored interurban car with a four-course Halloween menu: cauldron dip, cider-marinated short ribs with cheddar mashed potatoes, and apple cider doughnut cheesecake. Cash bar. Costumes recommended. Advance reservations required; some dinner trains sell out.

Staying in Delavan? See our Delavan vacation rentals.

Lake Geneva Fall Colors: Cruises, Scenic Drives and Hikes

9 Experiences

Where to actually see the color. The maples along the south shore turn first, the oaks in the Kettle Moraine last, and the best seat in the county is on the water. Travel Wisconsin forecasts peak for the Lake Geneva area in the fourth week of October 2026.

  • Lake Geneva Cruise Line Fall Color Cruises

    Downtown. On the water

    Narrated tours past the Gilded Age estates with the shoreline maples at peak, with seasonal hot drinks on board. The Lady of the Lake, Walworth and Grand Belle have enclosed, heated seating for cold days. Best of the Lake (one hour) $43, Full Lake Tour (two hours) $57, Oktoberfest Luncheon Cruise $79, Sunday Brunch $72, Supper Club Dinner Cruise $89. Full refund with 48 hours’ notice.

  • Black Point Estate and Gardens

    15 minutes by road, 45 by boat

    The Wisconsin Historical Society’s 1888 lakeside mansion, reached by boat from the Riviera with 120 steps up from the pier and some of the best color views on the south shore. The tour is about 3.5 hours including a 45-minute cruise each way. Estate Tour $55; Nooks and Crannies $60 with a beer or wine toast. Confirm the final sailing of the season on the calendar.

  • Lake Lawn Queen Fall Colors Tour

    15 minutes. On the water

    A 90-minute guided cruise past the lakeside homes and wooded shoreline of Delavan Lake, the quieter alternative to Geneva Lake. Board 30 minutes early at the Hut Pier. $25 adults, $15 ages 4 to 12, free 3 and under.

  • Snake Road (Rustic Road 29)

    5 minutes. Scenic drive

    A three-mile loop of hairpin bends under a closed canopy of maple and oak, off Highway 50 just west of downtown, and the single most photographed stretch of fall road in Walworth County. Drive it slowly in the late afternoon when the light comes through the leaves. Continue along South Lake Shore Drive through Fontana and Williams Bay for the lake views.

  • Geneva Lake Shore Path

    Downtown. Walking

    The 21-mile public footpath that circles the entire lake through the estate lawns, free and open to all. Walk the stretch from Library Park in downtown Lake Geneva west toward Big Foot Beach for the easiest fall color, or start in Williams Bay for the north shore. Gravel, grass and some hills; restrooms at Big Foot Beach, Edgewater Park and Reid Park. Stay on the path, since the homes beside it are private.

  • Big Foot Beach State Park

    5 minutes. Hiking

    Six and a half miles of easy trails through forest and meadow on the lake’s south shore, with a lagoon and a beach that is empty in October. A Wisconsin state park vehicle sticker is required ($13 a day for Wisconsin plates, $16 out of state).

  • Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy

    15 minutes. Hiking

    A 231-acre preserve at the head of the lake in Williams Bay with more than four miles of trails, a boardwalk through the wetland, a viewing tower and 65 acres of prairie that turns copper in October. Free, dawn to dusk, and rarely busy.

  • Kettle Moraine State Forest, Southern Unit

    30 to 45 minutes. Hiking and scenic drive

    The best fall hiking within an hour: the Whitewater Lake scenic overlook at the start of the Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive on Highway 67, the Scuppernong, Emma Carlin and John Muir trails, and long Ice Age Trail segments through glacial hills of oak and hickory. Pick up a map at the forest headquarters in Eagle. State park sticker required.

  • Richard Bong State Recreation Area

    30 minutes. Hiking

    Open prairie and big-sky color about 30 minutes east, with miles of flat trails around Wolf Lake and a good sunset. Quiet, and dogs are welcome on leash. State park sticker required.

Staying in Lake Como? See our Lake Como vacation rentals.

Fall Food, Wine and Beer Around Geneva Lake

7 Stops

Where to get the cider donuts, the harvest wine dinner, the Oktoberfest beer and the fire pit. The orchards above cover cider and donuts; these are the wineries, breweries and fireside spots worth an evening.

  • Staller Estate Vineyard and Winery

    15 minutes. Winery

    A working vineyard outside Delavan with a tasting room that stays open through the fall. The Harvest Wine and Dine on Sunday, October 11 at noon is a five-course meal paired with estate wines for $65, reservations required, and cocktail classes run on select dates through December.

  • Duesterbeck’s Brewing Company

    20 minutes. Farm brewery

    A fourth-generation farm brewery on a country road outside Elkhorn, which makes the drive there a fall color tour on its own. A barrel-aged Oktoberfest on tap, live music Saturdays at 6:00 p.m. (October 10, 17 and 24), brewery tours Saturdays at 3:30 p.m., trivia Tuesdays and euchre Thursdays. Yerkes astronomers give a free Astronomy on Tap talk Friday, October 9 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

  • Topsy Turvy Brewery

    Downtown. Brewery

    A taproom in a converted 1880s church a few blocks from downtown, with seasonal ambers and pumpkin-leaning specials in October. It hosts the official Oktoberfest afterparty on Saturday, October 10 from 8:00 p.m., live music most weekends and a Literary Flight Night on Wednesday, October 28.

  • Geneva Lake Distilling and Winery

    5 minutes. Winery and distillery

    The former Studio Winery under a new name, with the same wines and house spirits added. Live music Fridays and Saturdays from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and a cozy indoor room for a cold October evening.

  • Lake Geneva Pie Company

    5 minutes. Pie

    The pie shop by Geneva Square that sponsors the Oktoberfest pie-eating contest. Apple, pumpkin, caramel apple crumb and Door County cherry in October, whole or by the slice, and they will box one for the rental.

  • Embers Terrace at Grand Geneva

    5 minutes. Fire pit

    The fire pit landing outside Geneva ChopHouse, open daily from 5:00 p.m. weather permitting, for a drink by the fire before or after the haunted hayride five minutes down the road.

  • Barrique Bistro and Wine Bar

    Downtown. Fire pits on the lake

    Right on the Wrigley Drive lakefront with outdoor fire pit tables overlooking the water, more than eighty wines by the glass and a bistro menu. The most polished fall evening downtown.

Staying in Delavan? See our Delavan vacation rentals.

Trick-or-Treat Hours by Town

Official trick-or-treat hours for the towns where our vacation rental homes are located. These are set by each village or city and are published on the municipal website. If a town you are staying in is not listed, its hours had not been posted when this guide was updated, so check the village website or ask us.

  • City of Lake GenevaSaturday, October 31, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Town of GenevaSaturday, October 31, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • Williams BaySaturday, October 31, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • FontanaSaturday, October 31, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • WalworthSaturday, October 31, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • City of DelavanSaturday, October 31, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., followed by the downtown Goblin Walk
  • Town of DelavanSunday, October 25, noon to 3:00 p.m., then a party at Community Park 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • ElkhornSaturday, October 31, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Genoa CitySaturday, October 31, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Twin LakesNot yet posted for 2026. It was 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on October 31 in 2025; check twinlakeswi.gov.
  • East Troy (village)Saturday, October 31, 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • BurlingtonSaturday, October 31, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., after Spooky City downtown
  • WhitewaterSaturday, October 31, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • DarienSaturday, October 31, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • LyonsSaturday, October 31, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a party and bonfire at Riverview Park after

How to Do Fall Here Properly

A few things worth knowing before you head out, whether this is your first October on Geneva Lake or your tenth.

  • Time the Color

    Walworth County usually peaks between the third and fourth weeks of October, and the maples along the south shore turn first. If color is the point of the trip, the weekends of October 17 and October 24 are the safest bets. Check the Travel Wisconsin report the week you arrive.

  • Go Early, or Go Midweek

    The farms are busiest from noon to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Arrive when the gates open, or go on a Thursday or Friday when most orchards are open and nearly empty. Several petting farms stop hayrides by 2:00 p.m., so check last-entry times.

  • Bring Cash

    The haunted hayride, the Jerry Smith haunted house, Bear Den Zoo and a few of the small farm stands are cash only, and cell service is thin on the country roads. Stop at a bank in town first.

  • Book the Evenings Ahead

    Old World Wisconsin’s Halloween nights, Poe at the Point, the Baker House basement tour, the Delavan Brew Walk and the Fall Wine Walk all sold out last year. Buy tickets online the week you book your stay, not the day of.

  • Know the Scare Level

    Every haunted listing below carries a scare level. For little ones, the hayride’s early wagons, the East Troy Trick or Treat Trains, the Yerkes Candlelight Walk and The Hollows pumpkin trail are the no-scare options. The professional haunted houses are built for teens and adults.

  • Dress for the Lake

    The wind off the water makes an evening cruise or hayride feel ten degrees colder than downtown. Pack a jacket, a hat and a blanket, and wear shoes you do not mind getting muddy at the pumpkin patch.

Fall in Lake Geneva: Common Questions

When is peak fall color in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin?

Fall color around Geneva Lake usually peaks between the third and fourth weeks of October. For 2026, Travel Wisconsin forecasts peak color for the Lake Geneva area in the fourth week of October, with good color from about October 10 onward. The best viewing is from the water on a Lake Geneva Cruise Line tour, from the Geneva Lake Shore Path, and along Snake Road and South Lake Shore Drive.

Where is the closest apple orchard to Lake Geneva?

Hafs Road Orchard in Genoa City is about 12 minutes from downtown Lake Geneva and sells pre-picked apples, fresh cider and caramel apples. The closest pick-your-own orchard is the Apple Barn Orchard and Winery in Elkhorn, about 20 minutes away, with apples, pumpkins, cider donuts and a winery. Royal Oak Farm in Harvard, Illinois, about 25 minutes, is the largest pick-your-own operation nearby.

Where is the closest pumpkin patch and corn maze to Lake Geneva?

Pearce’s Farm Stand on North Walworth Road in Walworth is about 15 minutes from Lake Geneva and 10 minutes from Fontana. It has a 13-acre corn maze, hayrides to the pumpkin patch, a straw bale maze and a bakery, and it is open daily through October 31. Von Bergen’s Country Market in Hebron, Illinois, about 20 minutes, is the next closest.

When is Lake Geneva Oktoberfest 2026?

Downtown Lake Geneva’s Oktoberfest is Saturday, October 10, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Flat Iron Park, with a ticketed Oktoberfest Beer Crawl on Friday, October 9 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Admission to the festival is free. Elkhorn’s Oktoberfest follows on Saturday, October 17.

Are there haunted houses near Lake Geneva?

Yes. In Lake Geneva itself, Dan Patch Stables runs a haunted hayride behind the Emagine theater on Friday and Saturday nights in October, the Baker House offers a haunted basement tour, and Lake Geneva Ghost Walks tours downtown nightly. Within 25 to 45 minutes are Terror at the Fair in Wilmot, the Abandoned Haunted House Complex in Mount Pleasant, Dungeon of Doom in Zion, Six Flags Fright Fest in Gurnee and The Hill Has Eyes in Franklin.

What time is trick-or-treating in Lake Geneva in 2026?

Trick-or-treat hours in the City of Lake Geneva are Saturday, October 31, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Williams Bay and Fontana run 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Delavan 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Elkhorn 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The full list by town is on this page.

Do the Lake Geneva boat tours run in October?

Yes. Lake Geneva Cruise Line runs narrated tours from the Riviera Docks through October 31, with a lighter weekday schedule and full weekends. Black Point Estate tours by boat also run through the end of October, and the Lake Lawn Queen runs fall color tours on Delavan Lake on select October dates.

What is there to do in Lake Geneva in October with kids?

Pick apples at Royal Oak Farm or the Apple Barn, ride the hayride to the pumpkin patch at Pearce’s, take the East Troy Trick or Treat Train, walk the Williams Bay Scarecrow Walk, ride the early no-scare wagon on the Dan Patch haunted hayride, see the Yerkes Candlelight Walk on October 23 or 24, and go to the Jaycees Trunk or Treat on October 25.

What can we do on a rainy fall day in Lake Geneva?

The Lake Geneva Cruise Line’s enclosed boats still sail, the Apple Barn and Royal Oak have indoor bakeries and country stores, Geneva Lake Distilling and Winery and Staller Estate have indoor tastings, Topsy Turvy Brewery is in a converted 1880s church downtown, and the Tristan Crist Magic Theatre runs evening shows. Old World Wisconsin’s Halloween nights and the Yerkes Candlelight Walk run rain or shine.

Is Lake Geneva busy in October?

October is far quieter than summer. Oktoberfest weekend and Halloween weekend draw crowds downtown, and orchards fill on weekend afternoons, but vacation rental rates are lower, restaurants are easy to get into midweek, and the lake is calm. It is the best month of the year for a quiet lakefront stay.

Stay for the Color

Make It a Fall Weekend on the Lake

Geneva Lakes Vacations manages vacation rental homes throughout Lake Geneva, Lake Como, Williams Bay, Fontana, Delavan, Elkhorn, Walworth, Genoa City and Twin Lakes. Lakefront homes with piers and fire pits, downtown condos steps from Oktoberfest, and countryside retreats with room for the whole group. Every orchard, hayride and festival above is a short drive from one of our properties, and October rates are among the best of the year.

We are ranked #44 out of 582 vacation rental management companies in the United States by AirDNA, and we are the only Wisconsin company in the national Top 100. Our team lives here, and we are happy to tell you exactly where to go.

Browse Vacation Rentals Call (262) 248-1735

Dates, hours and pricing were verified in early October 2026 from each attraction’s own website and the Visit Lake Geneva, Walworth County and Travel Wisconsin event calendars. Fall attractions are weather dependent and a few are small family farms that adjust their schedule week to week, so please check the website or call before you drive. If you spot something out of date on this page, let us know and we will fix it.

Geneva Lakes Vacations · 326 Center Street, Lake Geneva, WI 53147 · (262) 248-1735

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