Sharon Community Guide
Quick answer: Sharon is a village of about 1,550 on the Wisconsin-Illinois line in southwest Walworth County, about 10 miles from Fontana on Geneva Lake and 30 minutes from downtown Lake Geneva.
It’s known for Model A Day on the first Sunday in June, the Roun’da Manure Bicycle Tour in August and the 19th-century houses of the Grace and Pearl Historic District. Homes here generally cost far less than on Geneva Lake.
The village was platted in 1856, and the railroad and surrounding dairy farms built its early wealth. Merchants put up the big houses along Grace and Pearl streets that now make up the historic district. Wisconsin Gov. Walter Goodland was born here in 1862.
Sharon is the closest Walworth County village to Metra: Harvard, Illinois, the end of the Union Pacific Northwest line, is about 12 miles south.
Sharon at a glance
| Population | 1,553 (2024 Census estimate) |
|---|---|
| County | Walworth |
| To Geneva Lake | About 10 miles, 15 minutes to Fontana; about 20 miles, 30 minutes to downtown Lake Geneva |
| To downtown Chicago | About 90 miles, 1 hour 45 minutes |
| To Milwaukee | About 70 miles, 1 hour 20 minutes |
| Lake access | None in the village; Geneva Lake public beaches and launches in Fontana and Williams Bay |
| School districts | Sharon Joint School District #11; Big Foot Union High School District |
| Village website | villageofsharon.com · 125 Plain St. · (262) 736-4888 |
What should you do first?
Things to do
1. Model A Day
AnnualCar showFree to browse100+ Ford Model A cars fill downtown, with live music, food and vendors. The village Main Street group runs it with the Rockford A’s club, and it’s been going since the late 1990s.
Tip: Come early for parking and to see the cars roll in. For more car events, see the classic car meetups guide.
2. Roun’da Manure Bicycle Tour
CyclingAnnualOver 100 miles of marked rural routes laid out as cloverleaf loops from downtown, so you pick your distance. The ride started in 1987 as a qualifier for Paris-Brest-Paris and came back in its current form in 2005.
Riders get Moo Bucks for ice cream stops along the way, and a pig roast closes the day downtown.
3. Grace and Pearl Historic District
HistoryArchitecture2 blocks of houses built by Sharon’s merchants and professionals in the second half of the 1800s and early 1900s. Expect Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and Craftsman styles side by side. These are private homes, so enjoy them from the street.
4. Sharon 4th of July
ParadeFireworksA 2-day celebration with a parade, fireworks and food trucks. The Sharon Extravaganza block party, with a village rummage sale and live music, follows in late July.
5. The village library
Books, programs for all ages and local history resources.
Where to eat
More food 15 minutes north: see the Fontana and Walworth guides and the supper club guide.
Nearby things to do
Fontana and the west end of Geneva Lake
The closest Geneva Lake beach, boat launch and Shore Path access to Sharon. See the beaches guide and the Shore Path guide.
Yerkes Observatory
Home of the 40-inch refractor dedicated in 1897. Tickets release 2 months ahead, and the grounds are free from sunrise to sunset.
Season by season
Summer (June to August)
Model A Day opens the season in early June, then July 4, the Extravaganza in late July and the Roun’da Manure ride in mid-August. Myrt’s is open afternoons and evenings.
Fall (September and October)
Harvest on the farms around the village and low-traffic back roads for cycling. See the scenic drive guide.
Winter (December to February)
Few events in town. Geneva Lake’s ice fishing and Winterfest are 30 minutes away; see the winter activities guide.
Spring (March to May)
Myrt’s reopens and riders start training on the Roun’da Manure loops.
Schools
Sharon has 2 school districts: one for the younger grades and a union high school district shared with neighboring communities. Confirm the district for any address outside the village.
| District | School | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Sharon Joint School District #11 | Sharon Community School, through 8th grade | 104 E. School St., Sharon |
| Big Foot Union High School District | Big Foot High School, serving Walworth, Sharon, Fontana, Linn and Delavan townships | 401 Devils Ln., Walworth |
Commute and getting here
| Destination | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fontana (Geneva Lake) | About 10 miles | 15 min |
| Walworth | About 8 miles | 12 min |
| Metra, Harvard IL (UP Northwest line) | About 12 miles | 20 min |
| Downtown Lake Geneva | About 20 miles | 30 min |
| Beloit | About 20 miles | 30 min |
| Rockford | About 30 miles | 40 min |
| Milwaukee | About 70 miles | 1 hour 20 min |
| Downtown Chicago | About 90 miles | 1 hour 45 min |
Housing types
Sharon’s standout is its 19th-century housing, at prices well below Geneva Lake, with the west-end beaches 15 minutes away.
Historic district homes
Queen Anne, Italianate, Craftsman and Colonial Revival houses on Grace and Pearl streets and nearby blocks, many with original woodwork and porches.
Mid-century ranches
Single-level homes on village lots, mostly from the 1950s through 1970s.
Newer construction
Recent builds on the edges of the village.
Farms and acreage
Farmhouses and open land in the Town of Sharon and across the state line.
Comparing towns? See the Walworth, Fontana and Darien guides.
Best by category
| Category | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best event | Model A Day | 100+ Model A Fords downtown |
| Best active | Roun’da Manure Bicycle Tour | 100+ miles of loops and ice cream stops |
| Best dinner | Pat’s Brew & ‘Que | BBQ and Friday fish fry |
| Best breakfast | Coffee Cup Cafe | Swedish pancakes |
| Best treat | Myrt’s Ice Cream Shoppe | Rolled ice cream |
| Best history | Grace and Pearl Historic District | 19th-century houses side by side |
Frequently asked questions
What is Sharon, Wisconsin known for?
Model A Day on the first Sunday in June, the Roun’da Manure Bicycle Tour in August, and the 19th-century houses of the Grace and Pearl Historic District.
When is Model A Day in Sharon, WI?
The first Sunday in June, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., in downtown Sharon. Expect 100+ Ford Model A cars, live music, food and vendors.
When is the Roun’da Manure Bicycle Tour?
A Saturday in mid-August, starting in downtown Sharon. Riders choose from over 100 miles of marked loops, get Moo Bucks for ice cream stops, and finish with a pig roast downtown.
How far is Sharon, Wisconsin from Lake Geneva?
About 20 miles, roughly 30 minutes to downtown Lake Geneva. Fontana, on the west end of Geneva Lake, is about 10 miles and 15 minutes north.
How far is Sharon, Wisconsin from Chicago?
About 90 miles, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to downtown Chicago. The Metra station in Harvard, Illinois is about 12 miles south.
What restaurants are in Sharon, Wisconsin?
Pat’s Brew & ‘Que (BBQ and Friday fish fry at 124 North St.), the Coffee Cup Cafe (breakfast and Swedish pancakes), Finn & Louie’s Pizzeria, and Myrt’s Ice Cream Shoppe (215 Baldwin St.).
What school district is Sharon, Wisconsin in?
Sharon Joint School District #11 runs Sharon Community School. High school students are in the Big Foot Union High School District, which runs Big Foot High School in Walworth.
What are homes like in Sharon, Wisconsin?
19th-century Queen Anne, Italianate, Craftsman and Colonial Revival houses in and around the Grace and Pearl Historic District, plus mid-century ranches, newer construction and farm properties, at prices well below Geneva Lake.
Considering a historic home near Geneva Lake?
Kim and Joel Reyenga with eXp Realty cover Sharon and the west end of Geneva Lake, from Victorian houses on Grace and Pearl streets to ranches on village lots and farm parcels near the state line.
Search Sharon properties Equal Housing Opportunity. Reyenga Team, eXp Realty.