September 2026 Lake Geneva Events and Things To Do

September brings the Lake Geneva and Southern Lakes region from Labor Day weekend into Wisconsin’s fall season. The 177th Walworth County Fair opens the month in Elkhorn. Later weekends bring Darien Corn Fest, the East Troy Bluegrass Festival, Delavan Scarecrow Fest, harvest weekends at area farms, concerts at Alpine Valley, the Geneva Lakes Antique and Classic Boat Show, the Lake Geneva Humanities Festival and early fall programs in the Kettle Moraine State Forest.

This guide covers Lake Geneva, Williams Bay, Fontana, Delavan, Elkhorn, Walworth, East Troy, Whitewater and nearby Southern Lakes destinations. Kim and Joel Reyenga of eXp Realty curate LakeGenevaWeekend.com as a guide to things to do and real estate across the region.

For day-by-day listings, use the Lake Geneva Weekend Events Calendar. Dates and schedules can change, so check the event organizer before leaving home.

September 2026 at a glance

Labor Day week starts with the Walworth County Fair

The 177th Walworth County Fair runs Wednesday, September 2 through Monday, September 7 at the Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court Street in Elkhorn. The 2026 theme is “Glitter and Gold: A Fair to Behold.”

The fair schedule includes agriculture, livestock, exhibits, midway rides, fair food, grounds entertainment and grandstand programs. The current grandstand calendar lists Rice Pro Rodeo with Bella Cain on September 2, truck and tractor pulls on September 3, Russell Dickerson on September 4, Lynyrd Skynyrd on September 5, Ludacris with DJ Bizzon on September 6, and 3 demolition derby sessions on Labor Day.

LakeGenevaWeekend has a separate Walworth County Fair 2026 guide with current schedule and planning details.

Friday nights at Old World Wisconsin

Old World Wisconsin in Eagle has Fish Fry and Octoberfest Nights on September 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 4 to 8 p.m. The program is based at the Clausing Barn and includes a Wisconsin fish fry, drinks and use of the biergarten.

The Wisconsin Historical Society states that a general admission ticket is not required for the September Friday fish fries because the historic site is not open for normal Friday admission during those dates. Visitors should check the event page for meal and beverage prices before traveling.

Eagle is on the eastern side of the Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit. That makes the Friday program easy to pair with an afternoon hike or scenic drive.

Yerkes Observatory has 2 September dates to watch

Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay has an Open House: Deaf Night Out on Tuesday, September 8. Reservations are required.

The observatory’s second annual Cosmic Construction Fall Fundraiser is Saturday, September 12 from 6 to 10 p.m. Parking for the fundraiser is at Williams Bay School, with shuttle service to Yerkes for ticket holders.

Yerkes continues to run public tours and special programs from its historic campus above Geneva Lake. Check the Yerkes schedule before arriving because some programs require reservations and some dates sell out.

Darien Corn Fest returns September 11 to 13

Darien Corn Fest runs Friday, September 11 through Sunday, September 13 at West Park in Darien. The 2026 schedule includes music, carnival rides, sports, fireworks, a parade, tractor events and free sweet corn during scheduled serving periods.

The Sunday parade begins at noon. Darien Corn Fest also lists the WeakEnd Antique Pullers for Sunday, September 13 beginning at 9 a.m.

Darien is west of Delavan on U.S. 14. The festival is one of the larger September community events away from the Geneva Lake shoreline.

Bluegrass and harvest season meet in East Troy

The 32nd Annual East Troy Bluegrass Festival is September 12 and 13 on the East Troy Village Square. The festival has live bluegrass performances and runs rain or shine, with East Troy Bible Church listed as the rain location.

The same weekend begins The Elegant Farmer’s Autumn Harvest Fest. The farm’s 2026 festival runs Saturdays and Sundays from September 12 through October 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission and parking are free. Apple picking and farm activities depend on crop and daily conditions.

The East Troy Railroad also begins its fall train season in September. Harvest Fest trains connect East Troy with The Elegant Farmer, making the railroad and farm a combined fall outing. Train times and ticket rules should be checked before arrival.

Alpine Valley has 2 September concerts

Alpine Valley Music Theatre has 2 September concerts on its current 2026 schedule.

Pitbull, with special guest Lil Jon, plays Saturday, September 12 at 8 p.m. Luke Bryan’s Word On The Street Tour is Saturday, September 26 at 7 p.m., with Drew Baldridge, Lauren Watkins, RaeLynn and DJ Rock listed on the bill.

Parking and gate times are posted closer to each concert. The venue states that general parking is included with the concert ticket and that weather procedures can affect show-day plans.

Delavan Scarecrow Fest runs September 18 and 19

Delavan Scarecrow Fest begins Friday, September 18 at 5 p.m. and continues Saturday, September 19 until 4 p.m. along Walworth Avenue in downtown Delavan.

The city tourism listing includes scarecrow displays, a craft and vendor fair, sidewalk sales, children’s take-home crafts and food vendors. Admission and parking are free.

Lake Lawn Resort is also using Scarecrow Fest weekend for fall programming. Its current package information lists transportation between the resort and downtown on Saturday, along with Lake Lawn Queen fall color cruises as a separate ticketed activity.

September 19 has events around the lake and countryside

The 30th Annual Fat Tire Charity Ride takes place Saturday, September 19. The ride is about 21.5 miles on paved roads through Lake Geneva, Fontana and Williams Bay, with stops at participating businesses. The 2026 registration price is listed at $45 per rider, and the ride is held rain or shine.

Pearce’s Farm Stand in Walworth holds its Customer Appreciation Weekend September 19 and 20. The farm lists live music, farm attractions and free cooked sweet corn on Sunday. Pearce’s is open daily through October 31, with pumpkins, produce and its corn maze part of the fall season.

The 52nd Annual Holy Hill Arts and Crafts Fair is also September 19 for travelers continuing farther north through the Kettle Moraine. That event runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For visitors comparing towns during a September trip, YourWiscoHome.com has home search and community information for Lake Geneva and the Southern Lakes region. The real estate coverage includes lake, golf, in-town and country properties.

Lake Geneva Humanities Festival programs begin September 24

The Lake Geneva Humanities Festival has 2026 programs scheduled September 24 through 27.

The current schedule lists author and clean-energy advocate Richard Munson, County Highway, vocalist Louisa Waycott with Tom Stanfield, and a program with Robert Sharoff, William Zbaren and Tim Samuelson. Programs use local venues, including the Lake Geneva Public Library and other community sites.

The festival publishes registration details and locations on its own schedule. Some programs require an RSVP.

September 26 is one of the busiest fall dates

Saturday, September 26 has several major events across the Southern Lakes region.

The Fall Color Festival takes place at the John Muir and Emma Carlin trail system in the Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit. Mountain bike events begin at 9:30 a.m. and include several race distances, a parent and child event and a free children’s ride. Food, music, a beer garden, awards and a raffle are part of the event.

The Wisconsin DNR also has September nature programs in the Southern Unit before the festival. A Summer Wildflower Walk is September 5 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. A Nature Journal Club meets at Paradise Springs September 10 from 10 a.m. to noon. A 1.5-mile night hike at Scuppernong Springs is September 13 from 7 to 9 p.m.

Use the LakeGenevaWeekend Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive guide to plan a longer drive through the Southern Unit.

Antique boats and Oktoberfest meet in Fontana

The Geneva Lakes Antique and Classic Boat Show is September 26 and 27 at The Abbey Marina in Fontana. Boats are on display Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Public viewing is free.

The boat parade is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday.

The Abbey Resort also has an Oktoberfest weekend September 26 and 27. Its calendar lists Oktoberfest from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, with German food, beer and music.

Whitewater closes September with food and outdoor events

Whitewater Food Truck Fest is Saturday, September 26 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Cravath Lakefront Park.

Whitewater also keeps 2 regular market schedules through September. Whitewater City Market runs Tuesdays from 4 to 7 p.m. at the historic depot, and the Whitewater Farmers Market runs Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon through October.

Whitewater sits at the western side of the Kettle Moraine Southern Unit and is an Ice Age Trail Community.

Farmers markets continue across the region

September still has weekly farmers markets in several communities.

The Lake Geneva Farmers Market runs Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Horticultural Hall through October 29. The Williams Bay Farmers Market has its final 2026 date on Friday, September 4 at Edgewater Park.

The Genoa City Farmers Market continues Fridays through September 25. The Geneva Outdoor Market runs Sundays through October 25 at Lake Geneva House of Music.

Market dates can change for weather or special events. Check the organizer before making a long drive.

September is still a lake month

Lake cruises continue in September. Lake Geneva Cruise Line runs tours from the Riviera Docks during the fall season, with narrated, dining and other cruise types on the schedule. Lake Lawn Resort also runs fall color tours on Delavan Lake.

The Geneva Lake Shore Path remains open for walking. The full path is roughly 21 to 26 miles depending on the route, and most visitors walk it in sections from public access points in Lake Geneva, Williams Bay, Fontana or Big Foot Beach State Park.

Trail surfaces change from pavement to grass, gravel, brick and other materials. Walkers should stay on the public path and off private lawns, piers and driveways.

Plan September around Lake Geneva and the Southern Lakes

The September calendar reaches well beyond downtown Lake Geneva. Elkhorn has the county fair. Williams Bay has Yerkes. Fontana has the boat show and Abbey events. Delavan has Scarecrow Fest and lake cruises. East Troy has bluegrass, trains and Alpine Valley. Whitewater connects the calendar to the Kettle Moraine.

Kim and Joel Reyenga, eXp Realty, curate LakeGenevaWeekend.com for regional events and trip planning. For homes, communities and real estate information, visit YourWiscoHome.com.

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