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Great fall festivals

Here are the best of the fests in 2010.

Fall is made for festivals. It's harvest time, and the fields and orchards are overflowing. Trees turn red and gold. And it's the last time we'll enjoy warm weather until spring.

The many people who heed the urge to get out and about on crisp autumn weekends make it the busiest tourist season of the year. Any town that can hold a fall festival does, and well-established ones, such as Bayfield's Apple Festival (see Big apples), become almost too popular.

"Apple Fest is an anomaly; it's not what Bayfield is like the other 364 days of the year," says Mary Motiff of Bayfield's Chamber of Commerce. "There are two kinds of people: those who love Apple Fest and those who want to avoid it at all costs. "

So the town started the longer Scarecrow Festival, hoping it could get some of the tourists to come in September and later in October instead.

"It's a great time for people to be here, when there aren't the crowds," Motiff said. "We hope that catches on."

Other festivals also attract big crowds — Cranberry Fest in west-central Wisconsin, the Fall Art Tour in southwest Wisconsin — and people who haven't reserved lodgings may not be able to get them.

All Oktoberfest celebrations are popular; for a list, see Toasting Oktoberfest.

But small festivals also attract a lot of people, and leaf-peepers will be out en masse in the north woods and along the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers (see Great fall drives). Many people combine scenic drives with artist tours (see Autumn in the studios). 

So if you want to travel in fall, plan ahead.

Here are just a few of the best festivals in 2010. Always check before you go to verify dates and to make sure you catch the best parts of a festival, especially the parades.

For traditional German celebrations, see Toasting Oktoberfest.

For small-town festivals, see Bash on a bike trail.

For great places to pig out, see A feast of festivals.

For outdoor art fairs, see Art al fresco.

For beer festivals, see Best brew fests.

For events year-round, see the Events Calendar.

Second weekend in September

Defeat of Jesse James Days in Northfield, MN There's a riverfront fine-arts festival, rodeo and Saturday bike tour in this town, a hour south of the Twin Cities, but don't miss the re-enactments of the famous bank raid. Sep. 8–12

Pufferbilly Days in Boone, IA This festival in central Iowa, just west of Ames is named for a steam engine and features a spike-driving contest, parachute jumps, mud volleyball and rides on the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad. A parade is Saturday. Sep. 9–12

Michigan Schooner Festival in Traverse City, MI Yachts, sloops, schooners and Mackinaw boats will converge on this Lake Michigan town for a festival that starts with a grand parade of sail and includes ship-to-ship wine tasting, cannon-shooting, competitions and a progressive dinner. Sep. 10–12

Ethnic Fest in Walker, MN Such performers as alphornists, Irish dancers and Anishinaabe drum and dance corps perform in this town on the shores of Leech Lake. There's also a parade. Sep. 11

Indian Summer Festival in Milwaukee, WI It's in Henry Maier Festival Park and features a powwow, fireworks, lacrosse tournament, fine arts and tribal village. Sep. 11–12

Villa Louis Carriage Classic in Prairie du Chien, WI The Victorian estate on the Mississippi River hosts horses, restored carriages and drivers in period dress for competitive arena and cross-country sport driving, a passion of the frontier aristocrats who built it. Sep. 11–12

Rock Bend Folk Festival in St. Peter, MN This free, easygoing festival in this Minnesota River town's Minnesota Square Park features local favorites The Divers. Sep. 11–12

Viva! Latin Music Festival in Chicago, IL Hear non-stop concerts, all free, in Millennium Park. Sep. 11–12

St. Paul Classic Bike Tour in St. Paul, MN Ride a 15-, 30- or 45-mile route along the Mississippi, lakes Como and Phalen and St. Paul parkways, starting and ending at the University of St. Thomas and punctuated by food and live music. Sep. 12

Third weekend in September

Pumpkin Festival in Morton, IL This town near Peoria, home of the Libby's pumpkin-packing plant, calls itself the Pumpkin Capital of the World and serves pumpkin ice cream, pancakes and fudge at its festival, which features a Saturday parade. Sep. 15–18

Dozinky in New Prague, MN The harvest festival in this Czech town an hour south of the Twin Cities features music, dancing and Czech beer and treats. The Parade of Farm Pride is at noon. Sep. 17–18

Wo-Zha-Wa Days in Wisconsin Dells, WI There's a juried arts and crafts show, street carnival and parade at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Sep. 17–19

Oktoberfest in Chippewa Falls, WI Meet the Narren, enter a sauerkraut-eating contest, listen to polka and zydeco and watch the daily parade. Sep. 17–19

Younger Brothers Capture in Madelia, MN A three-part re-enactment in town and in the countryside shows what happened in a small western Minneota town after Northfield chased off the Jesse James gang. There's also music, dancing and a gunslinger show. Sep. 18

Wife Carrying Championships in Minocqua, WI Macho men carry their wives over a course in Torpy Park with sand, water and log hurdles. People who can't carry a wife can ferry her, and kids compete in pike carrying. Sep. 18

Whooping Crane & Wildlife Festival in Necedah, WI Go on bus tours of Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, listen to music, watch a Little Whooper puppet show and try Whooper brew. Sep. 18

Wine & Harvest Festival in Cedarburg, WI There's a pumpkin regatta — yes, people paddling hollowed-out pumpkins across Cedar Creek — at this year's fest in this historic mill town just north of Milwaukee. There's also a scarecrow contest, grape stomp, hay rides, juried arts fair and lots of food. Sep. 18–19

Fall Gathering at the North West Co. Fur Post in Pine City, MN No one's more fun than a voyageur, and they'll be dancing, boasting and trying to best one another at this family-friendly event an hour north of the Twin Cities. Sep. 18–19

Country Music Festival in Chicago, IL The last of the big free Chicago music festivals,  it features three stages and a dance tent in Millennium Park. Sep. 18–19

Minneapolis Bike Tour in Minneapolis, MN Ride a 14- or 27-mile route on parkways along the Mississippi and the Chain of Lakes. Start and finish is Parade Field, across from the Walker Art Center; there's a party afterward. Sep. 19

Fourth weekend of September

German Fest in Guttenberg, IA There will be music, dancing, children's games and lock and dam tours in this antebellum town on the Mississippi River. Sep. 24–25

Fall Fest in Cable, WI In the colorful northwest woods, there'll be hay rides, corn maze, a chili cook-off, fish boil, arts and crafts and fireworks. Sep. 24–25

Kalona Fall Festival in Kalona, IA This Mennonite community just southwest of Iowa City, famous for its quilts, will offer pony rides, a pumpkin-carving contest, demonstrations of Old World artisanry, music and homemade potato chips, apple fritters, ice cream and chicken, biscuits and gravy. Sep. 24–25

Cornish Festival in Mineral Point, WI In the old lead-mining district in southwest Wisconsin, play shove ha'penny in the Kiddleywink Pub, eat figgyhobbin and pasties, listen to tommyknocker tales and tour Cornish miners' cottages. Sep. 24–26

Unplugged VII: The Northern Harvest in Grand Marais, MN The harbor-side North House Folk School celebrates with storytelling, traditional workshops, a fish boil and concerts by songwriter/musicians. Sep. 24–26

Cranberry Festival in Warrens, WI At this huge festival in west-central Wisconsin, there'll be marsh tours, contests and more than 1,300 booths selling antiques, produce and arts and crafts. The big parade is at noon Sunday. Sep. 24–26

World Music Festival in Chicago, IL There will be more than 50 events and live radio broadcasts in museums, parks, cultural centers, theaters, music stores and clubs across the city, some free and some ticketed. Sep. 24–30

Oktoberfest in La Crosse, WI This big festival includes nine days of non-stop partying. There's food, music and carnival rides, plus the Maple Leaf Parade, the Laff Olympics, Craft Beer and Heritage Night and the Torchlight Parade. Sep. 24–Oct. 2

Uff-da Fest in Spring Grove, MN This friendly Norwegian village in southeast Minnesota holds a bluff run, fall-foliage car cruise, Pinewood Derby, kids' archery instruction and music and food in Viking Park. Sep. 25

Civil War Weekend in Wade House (Greenbush), WI This festival near Sheboygan includes the biggest and best battle re-enactments in the Upper Midwest, held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day. There's also a traveling medicine show, court martials, a sutler's row, period concerts and appearances by Abraham Lincoln. Sep. 25–26

Apple Festival in Gays Mills, WI It's the 50th annual festival in this southwest Wisconsin village, hit hard by the June floods. There'll be arts and crafts, music and a canoe race Sunday. The big parade is at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Sep. 25–26

Tour of Historic Galena Homes in Galena, IL Tour five private homes and the History Museum in this picturesque town in northwest Illinois. Sep. 25–26

Spirit of the St. Croix Days in Hudson, WI Music, food and a juried art show along the St. Croix River, in Lakefront Park. Sep. 25–26

Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival in Custer State Park, SD There's fine arts, Western and American Indian entertainment and a chili cookoff next to the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center. On Monday, 1,500 bison are herded into corrals to be sorted, branded and vaccinated. Sep. 25–27

First weekend in October

World Music Festival in Chicago, IL There will be more than 50 events and live radio broadcasts in museums, parks, cultural centers, theaters, music stores and clubs across the city, some free and some ticketed. Sep. 24–30

Oktoberfest in La Crosse, WI This big festival includes nine days of non-stop partying. There's food, music and carnival rides, plus the Maple Leaf Parade, the Laff Olympics, Craft Beer and Heritage Night and the Torchlight Parade. Sep. 24–Oct. 2

Audubon Days in Mayville, WI The festival in this town next to big Horicon Marsh features bed races, a bike tour, DockDogs competition, rubber-duck race and parade at noon Sunday. Sep. 30–Oct. 3

Apple Festival in Bayfield, WI This festival swamps the little village on Lake Superior, but it's still fun. Highlights include Big Top Chautauqua concerts, Pipes & Drums from Thunder Bay, the lighted Venetian boat parade and the grand parade at 2 p.m. Sunday. Oct. 1–3

Oktoberfest in Amana, IA There's German music and food at this Amana Colonies village, plus contests that include the Eisenmann, or Iron Man, competition: Teams roll kegs, walk a balance beam with full steins of beer and saw logs. The parade is at 10 a.m. Saturday Oct. 1–3

Northeast Iowa Artists' Studio Tour in Decorah area, IA Drive through bluff country to see 56 artists at 43 sites around Decorah, Burr Oak, St. Lucas, Waukon, West Union, Cresco, New Albin, Lansing, Elgin and Clermont. Oct. 1–3

Apple Affair in Galesville, WI In the bluffs above Trempealeau, this festival features a 10-foot apple pie, a hunt for a Silver Apple, a race of floating wooden apples and a bicycle tour with a 20-mile route through apple orchards and hillier 35- and 60-mile routes. Oct. 2

Big Island Rendezvous and Festival in Albert Lea, MN This southern Minnesota festival is great for families, with more than 1,200 re-enactors dancing, demonstrating, competing and pulling visitors back into the fur-trade era. Oct. 2–3

Giant Pumpkin Fest in Nekoosa, WI This town near Wisconsin Rapids calls itself the Giant Pumpkin Capital of Wisconsin and features a pumpkin-boat regatta on the Wisconsin River. There's also a lumberjack show, carnival, craft show and pumpkin and scarecrow decorating contests. Oct. 2–3

Second weekend of October

Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival in Alpena, MI Five Lake Huron lighthouses, at Tawas Point, Sturgeon Point, Forty Mile Point and Presque Isle, will be open for tours, and visitors can take boats or helicopters to see the lights on Middle Island and Thunder Bay Island. Oct. 7–10

WhistleStop Marathon, Half Marathon & Brews and Blues Festival in Ashland, WI A beautiful fall-colors run on the limestone Tri-County Corridor rail trail between Iron River and Chequamegon Bay. There are also 5K and 10K runs and a toddler run at the Bay Area Civic Center, plus evening sampling of 50 microbrews and blues music all night in a heated festival tent. Oct. 8–9

World Food Festival in Des Moines, IA In downtown's East Village, eat at 30 cultural cafes for $5 or less (or taste for $1), shop at the world marketplace or listen to musicians strolling the streets or on stage. Oct. 8–10

Scarecrow Festival in St. Charles, IL There's a big scarecrow contest plus a carnival and the Autumn on the Fox arts show in this town west of Chicago. Oct. 8–10

Harvest Day in Preston, MN At Historic Forestville, a living-history site frozen in 1899, visitors will see horse-drawn corn harvesting, watch a quilting bee and help make an apple pie. Oct. 9

Harvest Moon in Lanesboro, MN This low-key event includes a cookie walk, trolley tours and art festival. Oct. 9

Madison County Covered Bridge Festival in Winterset, IA John Wayne was born there, George Washington Carver lived there and the famous covered bridges still are there. The festival in this town southwest of Des Moines features guided bus tours to the bridges, free horse-drawn wagon rides to Wayne's house, appearances by Carver and other historical figures, spelling bees, a belt-buckle auction, live music and an antique vehicles parade at 2 p.m. Sunday. Oct. 9–10

Civil War Heritage Weekend at Norskedalen in Coon Valley, WI This pioneer farmstead in the coulees southeast of La Crosse is wonderfully atmospheric, and the crackerjack re-enactors of the Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry's Company B give the region's most affecting portrayal of war. Battles are at 1 p.m. both days. Oct. 9–10

Historic Downtown La Crosse Day in La Crosse, WI This river town is offering  trolley and carriage rides, guided architectural walking tours, children's games, street music and dancing, a geocaching seminar in Riverside Park, 1860s shoeshines and caricatures, and everything is free. Oct. 9–10

Galena Country Fair in Galena, IL There's a fine arts/arts and crafts fair, bake shop, farmers market, classic rock bands and Irish dancing. Oct. 9–10

Scenic Drive Festival in Van Buren County, IA In the southeast corner of Iowa, 11 villages feature quilt shows, scarecrow contests, bake sales, tours of historic sites, wine tasting and street fairs. Oct. 9–10

Third weekend of October

Moose Madness Festival in Grand Marais, MN This Lake Superior town offers all things moose: a medallion hunt, moose-sighting expeditions, contests, scavenger hunts and appearances by Murray the Moose. Oct. 15–17

Fall Fest in Sister Bay, WI This Door County festival features a fish boil and children's cake walk Friday and a dog show and 11 a.m. parade Saturday, plus games, helicopter rides and arts and crafts. Oct. 15–17

Southwest Wisconsin Fall Art Tour in , WI This popular studio tour includes artists at 40 studios between Mineral Point, Spring Green, Dodgeville and Baraboo. Oct. 15–17

All-State Barn Tour in Iowa in Across the state, IA It's the Iowa Barn Foundation's annual free, self-guided tour of restored historic barns. Oct. 16–17

Autumn Harvest Fest in Wisconsin Dells, WI Along with hayrides, pony rides, music and arts and crafts, there will be pumpkin decorating and a scarecrow-stuffing contest Saturday; that afternoon, chat with brewmasters and sample beer from Wisconsin breweries at Wisconsin Dells on Tap. On Sunday, there's a straw dig and a pie contest. Oct. 16–17

Fourth weekend of October

Halloween in Anoka, MN This town, just north of Minneapolis, calls itself the Halloween Capital of the World. Festivities start with an orange-tie ball Oct. 22, Light up the Night parade Oct. 23 and medallion hunt Oct. 24. There's a house-decoration contest , block party and costume contest, a carnival, a Parade of Little People at 1:15 p.m. Oct. 29 and a 1 p.m. Grand Day Parade Oct. 30. Oct. 22–30

Chicagoween in Chicago, IL Daley Plaza in the Loop turns into Franken Plaza for this festival, which features daily performances of the Midnight Circus, performances of Pyrotechniq, a costume contest, trick-or-treating and mask-making demonstrations. Oct. 22–31

Boo Bash in St. Paul, MN On Grand Avenue, the shops are hosting trick or treating for kids, a petting zoo, moon jumps, free pony rides, face painting, a children's costume contest, food tastings and music from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 24

Fifth weekend of October

This weekend, anything that can be haunted — zoos, airplane hangars, corn mazes, nature centers, historic houses, cemeteries, trolleys and trains — will be haunted. For more, see Horror around the corner.

And tours make the rounds of ghost haunts in Chicago, Galena, St. Paul, Wausau and Winnipeg. For more, see Ghosts on the prowl.

Halloween in Anoka, MN This town, just north of Minneapolis, calls itself the Halloween Capital of the World. Festivities start with an orange-tie ball Oct. 22, Light up the Night parade Oct. 23 and medallion hunt Oct. 24. There's a house-decoration contest , block party and costume contest, a carnival, a Parade of Little People at 1:15 p.m. Oct. 29 and a 1 p.m. Grand Day Parade Oct. 30. Oct. 22–30

Chicagoween in Chicago, IL Daley Plaza in the Loop turns into Franken Plaza for this festival, which features daily performances of the Midnight Circus, performances of Pyrotechniq, a costume contest, trick-or-treating and mask-making demonstrations. Oct. 22–31

Balloon Glow and Halloween Parade in Galena, IL The town's annual Balloon Glow along the Galena River is at dusk Friday and the parade along Main Street at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Oct. 29–30

Howl-O-Ween in Forest Lake, MN In this town just north of the Twin Cities, trick-or-treat among owls and wolves and bears at the Wildlife Science Center. There's also a haunted house. Noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 30

Candlelight hikes in Wisconsin state parks, WI Several Wisconsin state parks hold night hikes by torch or candlelight. Oct. 30

First weekend in November

Migration Celebration in Wabasha, MN The National Eagle Center celebrates the beginning of eagle-watching season with guided boat tours, flute music and programs on tundra swans as well as eagles. Nov. 6–7

International Tongue Twister Contest in Burlington, WI Spit out a peck of pickled peppers at this event at the downtown Logic Puzzle Museum. Prizes for winners and door prizes for everyone. Nov. 7

Second weekend in November

Edmund Fitzgerald beacon lighting at Split Rock Lighthouse in Two Harbors, MN This event, which commemorates the 1975 sinking of the ore freighter with 29 men, is the only time the public can see the interior of the light tower when the beacon is lighted. Nov. 10

Migration Celebration in Wabasha, MN The National Eagle Center celebrates the beginning of eagle-watching season with guided boat tours, flute music and programs on tundra swans as well as eagles. Nov. 13–14

Winter Art Festival in Madison, WI Art Fair Off the Square presents its winter edition in Monona Terrace, with 140 fine artists from around Wisconsin. Nov. 13–14

Third weekend in November

Outdoor Adventure Expo in Minneapolis, MN The fall expo at the Midwest Mountaineering store in the West Bank neighborhood near downtown includes dozens of speakers and seminars about skiing, sled-dog racing and ice-climbing as well as backpacking, kayaking, sailing and other summer sports. Nov. 19–21

Outdoor Adventure Expo in Minneapolis, MN The fall expo at the Midwest Mountaineering store on the West Bank includes dozens of speakers and seminars about skiing, sled-dog racing and ice-climbing as well as backpacking, kayaking, sailing and other summer sports. Nov. 19–21

Magnificent Mile Lights Festival & Parade in Chicago, IL There's music and family activities all day on Michigan Avenue, with a lighted parade at 6 p.m. from Wacker Drive to Oak Street. Nov. 20

Migration Celebration in Wabasha, MN The National Eagle Center celebrates the beginning of eagle-watching season with guided boat tours, flute music and programs on tundra swans as well as eagles. Nov. 20–21

For more, see Great holiday festivals.

Last updated on March 3, 2010