The temperature is dropping and the leaves are turning colors, which means fall is in the air! Grab a jacket and enjoy the outdoors, or get cozy indoors with a cup of hot cocoa or apple cider. Here are many events and activities for you to enjoy throughout Racine County this autumn season.
Lost Bearings Fall Frenzy at Bear Paw Beach
Fridays - Sundays, September 10 - October 30 | Bear Paw Beach at Jellystone Park, Caledonia
It's a Fall Frenzy at Bear Paw Beach! Each weekend is packed with a variety of activities for everyone's enjoyment including Ship Wreck'd Island laser tag, pressurized apple cannons, a haunted trail, nighttime drone show, magic pumpkin patch, corn maze, a 200 ft. light tunnel, and so much more. Every Friday and Saturday night, have a blast with Zombie laser tag, a mission-driven laser tag course with more effects, props and dynamic lighting this year!
Also visit the gift shop for unique fall gifts and enjoy all your favorite fall foods at the Eats & Treats Cafe. Ticket prices and times vary. Visit their website for details.
Jack-O'-Lantern Nights at Racine Zoo
Thursdays - Sundays, September 29 - October 30 | 6-10 p.m. | Racine Zoo
Over 1,000 hand-carved jack-o'-lanterns and festive illuminations will light up the night at the Racine Zoo's new Halloween event, Jack-O'-Lantern Nights. Stroll through the Zoo and immerse yourself in dazzling lights and intricately designed masterpieces created by talented professional artists. Warm up with seasonal food and beverages as you take in the delightful sights. Visit their website for details.
Fall Season at Bear Den Zoo & Petting Farm
October 1-30 | Bear Den Zoo & Petting Farm, Waterford
Start a new tradition this year and spend it with at the Bear Den Zoo. Enjoy a scenic hayride through the woods where you can see the beautiful leaves change colors. Then pick your own pumpkin at the plentiful pumpkin patch. In addition, check out the petting area and take the kids to the play area for loads of fun. See a variety of animals while sipping hot apple cider or hot cocoa, and get a caramel apple with all your favorite toppings! Admission is $10 per person age 2 and older; free for children age 1 and younger. Learn more here.
October 22 | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Boo at the Zoo Trick-or-Treat
Wear your costume and trick-or-treat at Bear Den Zoo & Petting Farm.
Chainsaw Carving & Art Forest Festival
October 2 | 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. | River Bend Nature Center, Caledonia | Free Admission
Watch chainsaw artists from across the Midwest create incredible sculptures from logs. Carvings will be available for auction at 3 p.m. This festival features nature-focused handmade works of art for sale, a story trail in the forest, unique beers at the campfire, a nature trivia trail with photo opportunities and family activities, a silent auction, and a food truck. Canoe and kayaks will be available for rent to view the fall colors from the river. Visit their website for details.
3rd Annual Quilts on Barns Adventure
October 8 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Racine County
Racine County is host to one of the first barn quilt projects in Wisconsin. Enjoy the 3rd Annual Quilts on Barns Adventure with a self-guided driving tour to see 28 painted wooden quilt patterns on barns. Use your GPS location map or the Racine Arts Council East/West map card to meander through rustic roads and highways as you find these treasures! Live music will be provided at two barn locations and you can purchase a Lunch-to-Go box when you register at the Real Racine Visitor Center, 14015 Washington Ave., Sturtevant, or Norway Town Hall, 6419 Heg Park Rd., Wind Lake. Learn more here.
Great Pumpkin Chuckin Fest
October 15 | 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. | Racine County Fairgrounds, Union Grove | Free Admission
Don't miss out on this smashing fun time! This event will feature Pumpkin Chuckin competitions where teams will catapult pumpkins as far as the eye can see! Returning this year is The Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-Off with more than 50 teams competing for $7,500 in prize money and the title of "The Best of the Midwest." This event includes costume contests for all ages, stage performances, food and seasonal beers, kids games and activities, carnival and hay rides, and much more! Learn more here.
Candy Crawl
October 22 and 29 | 12-2 p.m. | Downtown Racine
Kids are encouraged to dress in costume and trick-or-treat at over 25 businesses during the annual Candy Crawl in downtown Racine. A scavenger hunt map includes the Candy Crawl giveaway locations. Visit the Downtown Racine Corporation website for details.
Try It Thursdays! Pumpkin Painting at Racine Art Museum
October 27 | 6-8 p.m. | Racine Art Museum
Try something creative that you doesn't require you buying supplies and making a mess at home! Gather a friend or two, and come for a one-night only make it and take it art experience. Liven up your fall decor with a fabulous pumpkin painting! Advanced registration is required. Cost is $30 for RAM members and $36 for non-members. Purchase tickets here.
3rd Annual Waterford Stillhouse Pumpkin Contest
October 28 | Waterford Stillhouse, Waterford
Have fun and be creative carving, painting and embellishing pumpkins at the annual Waterford Stillhouse Pumpkin Contest! Prizes will be awarded for 1st place - $50 cash Stillhouse, 2nd place - $30 cash Legacy Reality Group, and 3rd place - $15 cash Artistic Piano.
Display your best pumpkin and enjoy the Downtown Waterford Business Trick-or-Treating from 4-7 p.m. (look for a helium balloon outside participating businesses).
Boo at the Zoo
October 29 | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Racine Zoo
Calling all little ghosts and goblins! Enjoy safe, outdoor trick-or-treating with the animals at the Racine Zoo. On this Halloween-themed fun-filled day, you can trick-or-treat throughout the zoo, get a spooky cookie decorating kit, create a festive Halloween craft, decorate a pumpkin, find and meet the zoo's special creepy, crawly animal ambassadors, and more haunted surprises. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Learn more here.
Borzynski's Maze Adventure
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, September 24 - October 31 | Borzynski's Farm & Floral Market, Mt. Pleasant
With riddles to solve, clues to find, and more than 10,000 feet of paths to navigate, Borzynski's eight-acre corn maze is sure to peak everyone's adventurous side! For a greater challenge, try to navigate your way out of the corn maze at night. Friday and Saturday nights in October are "Flashlight Nights," so bring a friend, your nerve and a flashlight. Fear not as this maze is family friendly and never haunted. Go on a hayride and make your own caramel apple to complete your fall adventure at Borzynski's. Ticket prices and times vary. Visit their website for details.
Find the Apple of Your Eye at our Orchards
Our county is packed full with award-winning orchards where you can pick your own apples in any variety that suits your taste buds.
Apple Holler, Sturtevant (featured in 2022 on Travel Wisconsin and Tasting Table)
Brightonwoods Orchards, Burlington
Ela Orchard, Rochester
Jacobson Orchards, Waterford
The Orchard on Old Homestead, Franksville
For more information, read our blog on apple orchards and pumpkin farms in Racine County.
Take Your Pick of the Patch at our Pumpkin Farms
We take serious pride in our country life here in Racine County, and autumn is definitely one of those seasons to show it off. There are plenty of patches to find your perfect pumpkins! Many of our pumpkin farms kick up the pumpkin-picking experience with corn mazes, holiday-themed shopping, petting zoos, and more.
Bear Den Zoo & Petting Farm, Waterford
Borzynski's Farm & Floral Market, Mt. Pleasant
Land of the Giants, Sturtevant
Squire's Pumpkin Patch, Burlington
Swan's Pumpkin Farm, Franksville
For more information, read our blog on apple orchards and pumpkin farms in Racine County.
Activities for Adults:
Wine Walk
October 8 and 15 | 1-6 p.m. | Downtown Racine
Enjoy the Wine Walk in Downtown Racine by sampling 20 delicious wines along with 10 beer samples poured at 30 participating businesses. Tickets for the event are $40 each and include admission to the Wine Walk's 30 stops, wine sampling glass, a canvas tote bag, and snacks at each location. Must be 21 years or older to participate. Visit the Downtown Racine Corporation website for details.
Downtown Zombie Pub Crawl
October 8 | 7:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. | Downtown Racine
Racine's very own decade strong zombie crawl! Join the undead horde as they visit a diverse selection of downtown bars and pubs. There will be drink specials and a costume contest to show off your creativity at the end of the night. Must be 21 years or older to participate. Visit the Downtown Racine Corporation website for details.
Hallowine at Racine Zoo
October 28 | 6-9 p.m. | Racine Zoo
Prepare your taste buds for a Halloween-themed night of wine tasting from your very own souvenir sampling glass. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and visit with an animal ambassador. Tickets are $40 per person drinking or $30 per person non-drinking. Proceeds benefit the animals and programs of the Racine Zoo. Must be 21 years or older to attend. Purchase tickets here.
Abandoned Haunted House Complex
Fridays and Saturdays, September 24 - November 5 | 6:30-11:30 p.m. | Abandoned Haunted House Complex, Mt. Pleasant
Enter if you dare! Abandoned Haunted House Complex is home to three entirely different haunted houses designed to attack your senses in multiple ways. Attractions include the Ambush Haunted House (intense startle-scares), Hysteria Haunted House (audible and visual scares), and Stalker Haunted House (interactive startle-scare walking experience). You can also test your skills by throwing axes with the Abandoned Axe Throwing. Open Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30-11:30 p.m. (November 4 and 5 from 6:30-10:00 p.m.). Ticket prices vary. Visit their website for details.
Note: Kids under age 12 can go through the haunted house with an adult. Keep in mind, being scared is the fun part, but it's important to understand that you WILL be scared and startled by loud noises, dark areas, characters coming from all angles, strange sounds, cramped places, and many other unnerving situations.
