By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published Sep 22, 2021 at 2:01 PM

This content written in partnership with Harvest Fair

One of the most cherished aspects of living in Wisconsin is our gorgeous-yet-fleeting autumn. Thus, now’s the time to get out and savor it while the leaves are blazing with color and the sun is still high in the sky.

This weekend’s Harvest Fair is one way to do that.

The free, family-friendly festival – in its 28th year – runs Friday, Sept. 24 through Sunday, Sept. 26 at the Wisconsin State Fair Park and will feature an abundance of fall-flavored activities.

Eating and drinking

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More than 30 vendors will be on site, slinging their harvest-themed delights along with classic Fair foods. Here are a few of the items to indulge in this weekend:

  • Pumpkin spice or latte cream puffs. Love it or hate it, it’s pumpkin spice season, folks, so let's embrace it. These seasonal-flavored pastries are available on the Fair grounds or via drive thru. Order ahead here.
  • Elegant Farmer pies. These award-winning, baked-right-in-the bag pies are available at the Fair this weekend. Available in apple or pumpkin, whole or by the slice.
  • Harvest stew. Grab a cup of Kozie’s hearty homemade harvest stew, which can be served in a commemorative Harvest Fair bowl.
  • Cheese. This is a Wisconsin Fair, so of course there will be plenty of cheese. 
  • Craft beer and wine. The Micro will serve up more than 60 different craft beers and, if that’s not your poison, Wineberry offers red or white wines and wine slushies.

For a full list of the Fair’s eats and drinks, go here.

Shopping

Walk away with something fall-themed for your home or yard after shopping at the Fair’s Farmers Market and vendor booths sprinkled throughout the grounds. 

For all the shoppin' options go here.

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Rocking

Free, lively entertainment is rocking stages all weekend long, including performances by the 5 Card Studs, Too Hype Crew, Rhythm Kings, The Toys and more will be on the Bank Five Nine Amphitheater with nightly entertainment presented by Bud Light. Plus, multiple Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Shows, presented by WaterStone Bank, are also on deck.

For the full entertainment line-up, go here.

Pumpkin patching

It’s not a Harvest Fair without a pumpkin patch, and this one won’t disappoint with orange orbs and gourds in all shapes and sizes.

Garden walking

The “Abso-Blooming-Lutely Garden Walk – Pumpkin Edition” is a combination garden walk and scavenger hunt that provides families a unique way to explore the Fair and win prizes. Find out the full dealio here.

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Crafting, bowling, sliding and riding

Guests of all ages are invited to make a scarecrow, bowl with pumpkins (!), hop on a pony or amusement ride, and cruise down a pig-shaped slide among other active opportunities.

For all of the fab Harvest Fair activities, click here.

Harvest Fair runs Friday, Sept. 24 from 5 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 26 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

 


Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.

Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.