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Great fall festivals

Here are the best of the fests in 2012.

Bayfield Apple Fest royalty wave from a giant float.

The local homecoming king and queen ride a giant apple in Bayfield's big Apple Fest parade.

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. "

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 2012. Always check before you go to verify dates and to make sure you catch the best parts of a festival, especially the parades.

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

For art tours, see Autumn in the studios.

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. Sept. 5–9.

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. Sept. 6–9.

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. Sept. 7–9.

Paw Paw Wine & Harvest Festival in Paw Paw, MI This big festival in southwest Michigan wine country features music on three stages, Friday fireworks, an art fair, motorcycle and bicycle tours, grape stomps and a Sunday parade. Sept. 7–9.

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. Sept. 8.

James J. Hill Days in Wayzata, MN The festival in this western suburb of Minneapolis is best known for its dachshund races, in which more than 100 dogs compete in the hurdles, sprints and sofa jump, followed by a costume contest and smart pet tricks. They're at 1 p.m. Saturday at Wayzata West Middle School. There's also an arts and crafts fair, kids' carnival and parade at 1 p.m. Sunday on Lake Street. Sept. 8–9.

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. Sept. 8–9.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Days in Pepin, WI The famous author was born in the bluffs above this Mississippi River town, which celebrates with guided bus tours to the birth site, kids' pioneer games, traditional music and crafts and a Pepin Laura contest that tests knowledge of the "Little House'' books. Sept. 8–9.

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. Sept. 9.

Laura look-alikes compete during Laura Ingalls Wilder Days in Pepin, Wis.

Third weekend in September

Unplugged: 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. Sept. 13–16.

Wo-Zha-Wa Days in Wisconsin Dells, WI There's a juried arts and crafts show, street carnival and parade Sunday. Sept. 14–16.

Cheese Days in Monroe, WI This festival is held every other year in the capital of cheese country, the home of Swiss Colony and the last Limburger factory. It's one of the biggest and oldest food festivals, a tradition since 1914. Sept. 14–16.

Rock the Green in Milwaukee, WI This "near-zero waste'' music festival in Veterans Park features six bands. Sept. 15.

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. Sept. 15–16.

Vintage Illinois Wine Festival in Matthiessen State Park, IL This festival in northwest Illinois features live music and wine-tasting from 25 Illinois vineyards. Sept. 15–16.

Minneapolis Bike Tour in Minneapolis, MN Ride a 14- or 36-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. Sept. 16.

Fourth weekend of September

Oktoberfest in Chippewa Falls, WI Meet the Narren, enter a sauerkraut-eating contest, listen to polka and zydeco and watch the daily parade. Sept. 21–23.

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. Sept. 21–23.

Oktoberfest in Galena, IL The Lions Club puts on this riverfront festival, which includes wiener-dog races, polka lessons, hammerschlagen, pumpkin-decorating and a beanbag tournament. Sept. 22.

Fall Festival in Hayward, WI There's an arts and crafts fair, children's games, contests and live music downtown. Sept. 22.

Spirit of the St. Croix Days in Hudson, WI Music, food and a juried art show along the St. Croix River, in Lakefront Park. Sept. 22–23.

World War II Days in Rockford, IL Midway Village Museum hosts the largest World War II battle re-enactment in the nation, with more than 800 uniformed re-enactors and more than 70 vintage tanks and other armored vehicles. Sept. 22–23.

Dachshund races are held at Oktoberfest in Minneapolis and many other fall festivals.

Fifth weekend in September

Boats and Bluegrass in Winona, MN This family-oriented festival in Prairie Island Park, on the Mississippi River, features disc golf, paddling and airplane rides as well as music. A weekend pass includes camping and canoeing, and kids under 16 are free with an adult ticket. Sept. 26–29.

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. Sept. 28–29.

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. Sept. 28–29.

Chain O' Lakes Blues Festival in Waupaca, WI At this new festival, hear the blues at the historic Indian Crossing Casino. Sept. 28–29.

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. Sept. 28–30.

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 Sept. 28–30.

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. Sept. 28–Oct. 6.

Civil War Weekend in Greenbush, WI This festival at the Wade House historic site near Sheboygan includes the biggest and best battle re-enactments in the Upper Midwest. There's also a traveling medicine show, court martials, a sutler's row, period concerts and appearances by Abraham Lincoln. Sept. 29–30.

Apple Festival in Gays Mills, WI There'll be arts and crafts, music and a canoe race Sunday in this southwest Wisconsin village. The big parade is Sunday. Sept. 29–30.

Tour of Historic Galena Homes in Galena, IL Tour five private homes and the History Museum in this picturesque town in northwest Illinois. Sept. 29–30.

Hyde Park Jazz Festival in Chicago, IL Listen to non-stop music during this free festival at Midway Plaisance, near the Museum of Science and Industry and Lake Michigan. Sept. 29–30.

Drivers in vintage clothes race carriages during the Carriage Classic at Villa Louis.

First weekend in October

Harbor Country Harvest Days in Harbor Country, MI The Lake Michigan towns just north of the Indiana border, including New Buffalo, Union Pier, Three Oaks and Sawyer, celebrate Columbus Day weekend with wine tasting, hay rides, pumpkin-carving contests, live music and fine arts. Oct. 5–7.

Apple Festival in Bayfield, WI It's the 51st anniversary of this big festival on Lake Superior. 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. 5–7.

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. 6.

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. 6–7.

Giant Pumpkin Fest in Nekoosa, WI This town near Wisconsin Rapids calls itself the Giant Pumpkin Capital of Wisconsin and features a pumpkin-pie eating contest, pumpkin rolling for kids, a carnival and craft show. Oct. 6–7.

Pumpkin Patch Festival in Egg Harbor, WI There'll be music, children's games and arts and crafts in this Door County village. Oct. 6–7.

Oktoberfest in Lake Geneva, WI There will be wagon rides, music, magic, free pumpkins and crafts on downtown streets. Oct. 6–7.

Burgoo Festival in Utica, IL The street party in this northern Illinois town, gateway to Starved Rock State Park, features vats of "pioneer'' stew, a crafts fair and music. Oct. 7.

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. 11–14.

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. 12–13.

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. 12–14.

Fall Festival in Sister Bay, WI This Door County festival features a fish boil and children's cake walk Friday and a dog show , hat contest and parade Saturday, plus games and an arts and crafts show. Oct. 12–14.

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. 13–14.

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. 13–14.

German Festival in Cedarburg, WI This festival just north of Milwaukee features music and food plus goofy contests: outhouse-racing, wife-carrying, sauerkraut-eating and a German spelling bee. Oct. 13–14.

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. 13–14.

Fall Festival of the Arts in Red Wing, MN There's a juried show of more than 90 artists downtown, plus music and food. Oct. 13–14.

OktoberFest in Long Grove, IL There will be carriage rides and pumpkin decorating in addition to food and music in this northern suburb of Chicago. Oct. 13–14.

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. 19–21.

Southwest Wisconsin Fall Art Tour in , WI This popular studio tour includes artists at studios between Mineral Point, Spring Green, Dodgeville and Baraboo. Oct. 19–21.

Fourth weekend of October

Over Halloween, 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 other towns. For more, see Ghosts on the prowl.

Chicagoween in Chicago, IL Daley Plaza in the Loop turns into Franken Plaza for this festival, which features daily performances of the Midnight Circus, a costume contest, hay rides and trick-or-treating. Oct. 26–28.

Jack O'Lantern Days in Fish Creek, WI Face painting, trolley ghost tours, trick or treating and a Halloween parade at 2 p.m. Saturday. Oct. 26–28.

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 barn. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 27.

UFO Day in Belleville, WI There's a craft fair, kids' games and a Forbidden Forest, but the 1 p.m. parade is the main event in this riverside village just south of Madison, where residents reported more than a dozen UFO sightings in the winter of 1987. Oct. 27.

Boo Bash in St. Paul, MN On Grand Avenue, the shops are hosting trick or treating for kids, a petting zoo, moon jumps, pony rides, face painting, a children's costume contest, food tastings and music from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 28.

First weekend in November

Holiday Market in Madison, WI A shopping extravaganza in Alliant Energy Center. Nov. 2–4.

Second weekend in November

Beacon lighting at Split Rock Lighthouse in Beaver Bay, 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.

Veterans Day Parade in Milwaukee, WI It's at 11 a.m. downtown. Nov. 10.

Third weekend in November

Holiday Lights Festival in Milwaukee, WI The season-long lights festival begins with music, tree-lighting and hot chocolate in Red Arrow Park, then moves across the river to Pere Marquette Park for a family fashion show, variety show, fireworks and free tours on the Jingle Bus. Nov. 15.

Winterer's Gathering in Grand Marais, MN There's a tent encampment, winter skills seminars, Arctic film festival and chili feed at the North House Folk School. Nov. 15–18.

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 camping, backpacking and other year-round adventures. Nov. 16–18.

Holiday Art Fair in Madison, WI This event at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Overture Center features fine art, music, treats and the Rediscovered Art & Treasures Sale. Nov. 16–18.

Holiday Parade in Milwaukee, WI It'll have floats, giant helium balloon figures, 20 bands and a live Nativity scene with animals. 9:30 a.m. Nov. 17.

Magnificent Mile Lights Festival & Parade in Chicago, IL There will be music and family activities all day on Michigan Avenue, with a lighted parade from Oak Street to Wacker Drive, where fireworks over the Chicago River will follow. Nov. 17.

Holiday Parade in Green Bay, WI It's downtown around the courthouse, starting at 10 a.m. Nov. 17.

For more, see Great holiday festivals.

Last updated on January 6, 2012

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