Fall Adventures in the Kettle Moraine
With stories, hikes, and spirits, Whitewater and the surrounding areas offer a whirlwind of autumn adventures for you, a group of friends, or family time. Pick your favorite or try them all for a fall to remember.
Events
Fall Jefferson Auto Swap Meet And Car Show
The Madison Classic’s Fall Jefferson Car Show and Auto Swap Meet is one of the largest car shows in the Midwest! Thousands of car parts and car accessory vendors making it a great place to buy or sell car parts. For those looking to buy or sell cars, the Cars for Sale Corral is full of 100’s of cars of all makes and models. Or simply wander around and check out fun, classic cars!
Cars & Coffee
Take a relaxing Sunday drive through the Kettle Moraine State Forest to our FREE family-friendly car show event. All makes and models welcome.
Enjoy coffee and treats from local vendors. Bring your car to show or simply stop by to hang out with cool cars and delicious treats in the beauty of this area!
Afterward, cruise the Kettle Moraine Scenic Dr. or hike the nearby Ice Age Trail.
Fall Color Festival Bike Tour
Register for a full day of heart-pounding, side-aching, gear-grinding, mountain bike excitement for the entire family. Proceeds go toward building and maintaining fun, sustainable, high-quality, single-track mountain bike trails in the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest.
Ice Age Trail Mammoth Hike Challenge
Hike, walk, run, or backpack 43 miles of the Ice Age Trail during the month of October and visit 3 Trail Communities to earn a hiking certificate and a limited-edition patch. Log your miles over days, weekends, weeks, or one big adventure. You have the entire month of October to do it!
Fall Festival of Color
The Fall Festival of Color is a fun community event for all ages with over 150 vendors selling arts, crafts, local produce, fall flowers, seasonal and home décor. Enjoy food and live music. All events are located in Common Park -the heart of historic downtown Lake Mills.
Whitewater Spirit Tour
The city of Whitewater, known as “Second Salem”, is famous for the “Witches of Whitewater” legends and its rich spiritual history. With stories of witches and ghosts to alleged murders and occult practices, the Spirit Tour is for you. Enjoy a night of lore and unique, behind-the-scenes access to haunted sites throughout Whitewater.
Harvest Fest
Enjoy fall food & drinks, wagon rides, a farmers market and vendor fair! Fall at it's finest in Jefferson!
Haunts
Shockwave Haunts
If you like being scared out of your mind and appreciate haunts made from scratch with real actors instead of automatons, head to Shockwave Haunts this year. Offering haunted houses like no other in the middle of Whitewater’s countryside, you’re guaranteed to look over your shoulder for a day or two after.
Skully’s Terror
If you’re looking for a haunt created by a “diabolical genius”, Skully’s Terror is for you. With scares around every corner, you can “expect to be terrified by the unexpected”.
Fall at Old World Wisconsin
Plates and Pints Beer Dinners
Enjoy a delicious five-course meal and tasty drinks from local breweries in Old World Wisconsin's Brewhouse.
Halloween Legends & Lore
Troves of supernatural tales brought to Wisconsin over the generations come to life at this always spooky, sometimes scary, Halloween event.
Fall Color Drive - 60mi (1.5-2hrs)
This drive takes you along Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive through the gorgeous Kettle Moraine State Forest, backroads through the beautiful rolling countryside and prairie of southern WI, and past a number of waterways in Jefferson County. Stop for lunch or dinner along the way or simply take in the stunning colors of autumn.
Agritourism (Or what we like to call Ag-venture!)
Throughout fall, enjoy apple & pumpkin picking, corn mazes, apple cider donuts, craft brews, fun with farm animals, and checking out area barn quilts!
Apple Barn
Busy Barn Adventure Farms
Barn Quilts of Jefferson County Tour
Duesterbeck’s Brewing Company
Farmers Markets
For those who love to shop small and support local, don’t forget about the autumn bounty at our area farmers markets through October!
Whitewater City Market - Tuesdays 4-7p
Whitewater Farmers Market - Saturdays 8-12p
Fort Farmers Market - Saturdays 8-12p
If you’re planning to stick around the area, book a room at Hamilton House Bed & Breakfast, Victoria on Main, Fairfield Inn & Suites in Whitewater or visit our directory for more options!