What’s Happening at The Lake: October 7 to 13, 2026
What’s happening in Lake Geneva October 7 to 13, 2026?
Saturday and Sunday carry the week. Downtown Lake Geneva’s free Oktoberfest fills Flat Iron Park on Saturday, Oct. 10 (11 AM to 8 PM) and Sunday, Oct. 11 (11 AM to 5 PM). Pearce’s Farm Stand in Walworth runs its Pumpkin Fest Weekend on the same 2 days.
Friday is the busy night. The Oktoberfest Beer Crawl runs downtown from 5 to 8 PM, Yerkes Observatory brings a free Astronomy on Tap talk to Duesterbeck’s near Elkhorn at 6 PM, and the Grand Geneva haunted hayride starts 3 nights in a row. Monday, Oct. 12 is a federal holiday and the quietest day of the week on the lake.
Swipe for the full week.
Hey Lake Lovers,
The north shore maples are starting to turn, and a big share of the October calendar lands on this one weekend.
We already went deep on Oktoberfest, Pumpkin Fest and the hayride in Monday’s Oktoberfest, Pumpkin Fest and Halloween week guide, and on every stage in Tuesday’s live music list. This is the whole Wednesday to Tuesday week in one place, with 2 routes that keep you off Highway 50 at the worst hours.
Lake Geneva events this week at a glance
| Event | When | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Geneva Farmers Market | Thu, Oct 8, 8 AM to 1 PM | Horticultural Hall, 330 Broad St., Lake Geneva | Free to browse |
| Oktoberfest Beer Crawl | Fri, Oct 9, 5 to 8 PM | Downtown Lake Geneva | $35, $20 designated driver, 21+ |
| Astronomy on Tap | Fri, Oct 9, 6 PM | Duesterbeck’s Brewing, N5543 County Rd. O, Elkhorn | Free |
| Haunted Hayride | Fri to Sun, Oct 9 to 11, 6 to 11 PM | Dan Patch Stables, 2567 Highway 120, Lake Geneva | $25 ages 11+, $10 ages 4 to 10, cash only |
| Lake Geneva Oktoberfest | Sat, Oct 10, 11 AM to 8 PM; Sun, Oct 11, 11 AM to 5 PM | Flat Iron Park, 201 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva | Free admission |
| Pumpkin Fest Weekend | Sat and Sun, Oct 10 and 11, 9 AM to 5:30 PM | Pearce’s Farm Stand, W5740 N. Walworth Rd., Walworth | Free entry |
| AppleFest, final weekend | Daily through Sun, Oct 11, 10 AM to 6 PM | Royal Oak Farm Orchard, 15908 Hebron Rd., Harvard, Ill. | Check the orchard site |
| Fall foliage cruise | Daily through October | Riviera Docks, Lake Geneva | Ticketed |
Pick your plan
You only get Saturday
Pearce’s at 9 AM before the farm lot fills. Oktoberfest by noon on the free shuttle. Dachshund races at 1, The Biermen at 5:30.
You want Friday without the beer crawl
Astronomy on Tap at 6 PM near Elkhorn, then about 25 minutes south to the hayride once it’s dark.
Pumpkins and gentle scares
The corn maze at Pearce’s, the Oktoberfest kids area Saturday from 11 to 5, and the 6 to 6:45 PM hayrides, when the monsters stay in the woods.
You’d rather skip the crowd
Come Monday. The festival tents are down, the boats are still running and you’ll have long stretches of Shore Path to yourself.
Lake Geneva Oktoberfest 2026
- When
- Sat, Oct 10, 11 AM to 8 PM. Sun, Oct 11, 11 AM to 5 PM.
- Where
- Flat Iron Park, 201 Wrigley Dr., downtown Lake Geneva
- Cost
- Free admission. Food and beer sold on site.
The Downtown Lake Geneva Business Improvement District runs it on the lakefront, and it draws the biggest crowd of the fall. Saturday opens with the 11 AM keg tapping. Dachshunds race at 1 PM and corgis at 3 PM both days, and stein hoisting is at 4. The Biermen close the main stage Saturday from 5:30 to 8 PM.
Sunday is the easier day. Shorter hours, a pie eating contest at noon, the same dog races.
Local move: park at the Park-n-Ride at Sheridan Springs Road and Edwards Boulevard, or at Home Depot (550 N. Edwards Blvd.), and ride the free city shuttle. It runs about every 20 minutes, Saturday 11 AM to 9 PM and Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM, and drops you at Wrigley Drive and Baker Street. Downtown meters are $4 an hour.
The hour-by-hour stage schedule and 5 other Oktoberfests nearby are in our complete Lake Geneva Oktoberfest guide.
Oktoberfest Beer Crawl
- When
- Fri, Oct 9, 5 to 8 PM. Check-in 3 to 5 PM.
- Check-in
- Geneva Tap House, 252 Broad St., Lake Geneva
- Cost
- $35, or $20 for designated drivers. 21 and older.
New for 2026. Samples at nearly 20 downtown businesses, a goody bag, then an afterparty at Geneva Tap House from 8 to 11 PM with live music and food trucks. The organizer says it sells out, so buy before you build Friday around it.
Astronomy on Tap with Yerkes Observatory
- When
- Fri, Oct 9, 6 PM. Yerkes lists it at about 90 minutes.
- Where
- Duesterbeck’s Brewing Company, N5543 County Rd. O, Elkhorn
- Cost
- Free. All ages.
Our pick for Friday if you’d rather sit than crawl. The Yerkes team brings an astronomy talk to Duesterbeck’s farm brewery on County Road O, about 20 minutes north of downtown Lake Geneva, and you get a pint and a look at the sky on the drive home if the clouds cooperate.
Want the observatory itself? The Yerkes grounds and arboretum trails in Williams Bay are open sunrise to sunset with no ticket. Getting inside the building takes an advance tour ticket, and those release 2 months out. More in the Williams Bay community guide.
Dan Patch Stables Haunted Hayride at Grand Geneva
- When
- Fri, Oct 9, Sat, Oct 10 and Sun, Oct 11, 6 to 11 PM
- Where
- 2567 Highway 120, Lake Geneva. Pull into the Emagine theater and follow the driveway around back.
- Cost
- $25 ages 11 and up, $10 ages 4 to 10, free 3 and under. Cash only.
Tickets go on sale at the door at 5:45 PM, first come, first served. Rides from about 6 to 6:45 PM are the gentle ones: monsters stay in the woods and the loud noises are cut. Regular rides start around 7 PM, once it’s dark, and last 15 to 20 minutes.
Why this week matters: Sunday, Oct. 11 is the only Sunday on the 2026 schedule. After this weekend it’s Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 31.
Pumpkin Fest Weekend at Pearce’s Farm Stand
- When
- Sat and Sun, Oct 10 and 11. Open daily 9 AM to 5:30 PM through Oct 31.
- Where
- W5740 N. Walworth Rd., Walworth
- Cost
- Free entry. Concessions 11 AM to 5 PM on weekends.
Four generations of the Pearce family work this farm, about 15 minutes west of downtown Lake Geneva. Pumpkin Fest brings out pumpkin items the stand only sells those 2 days, on top of the corn maze, gourds and the weekend donuts.
The farm lot fills by late morning on a nice Saturday. Go at 9, or come any weekday this week. The stand is open every day, Monday included. For more farms within about 35 minutes, see our apple orchards and pumpkin patches guide.
AppleFest at Royal Oak Farm Orchard, final weekend
- When
- Daily through Sun, Oct 11, 10 AM to 6 PM
- Where
- 15908 Hebron Rd., Harvard, Illinois
Just over the state line, and an easy stop if you’re driving up from Chicago on Route 14. Sunday is the last day of AppleFest for 2026, so if it’s on your list, this is the weekend.
Fall foliage cruise on Geneva Lake
- When
- Tours run daily through October
- Where
- Riviera Docks, 812 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva
- Length
- The full lake tour is about 2 hours
Lake Geneva Cruise Line has run tours from downtown since 1873, and October is its last month at the Riviera Docks before the boats move to the winter harbor in Williams Bay. The fall tours circle the shoreline with narration about the estates.
Weekend boats sell out this week. Monday’s holiday is the better bet, and bring a real jacket for any departure after 4 PM, because it’s colder on the water than on shore. Compare every option in our Lake Geneva boat tours guide.
Also Friday night
- Spiritualism in the Victorian Era at Black Point Estate, 7 to 8:30 PM. $75, ages 13 and up, advance registration. Park at Reek School, W4094 South Lake Shore Drive, and staff drive you to the house.
- Trick or Treat Train from the East Troy depot, 2002 Church St. Kids ride to Byrnes Park to trick-or-treat and pick a pumpkin on the way back. Also runs Oct. 16, 23 and 30.
- Take It Easy, an Eagles tribute at Geneva Stage, 244 Broad St. Tickets $25 to $50.
- Wayne Messmer Big Band at The Belfry Music Theatre, 3601 WI-67, Delavan, 7 PM.
How to do Friday and Saturday
Friday: stars, then scares
- 6 PM, near ElkhornAstronomy on Tap at Duesterbeck’s. Eat there.
- About 7:45 PM, Lake GenevaDrive roughly 25 minutes to the hayride at 2567 Highway 120. Bring cash. Regular rides run until 11.
Saturday: farm, festival, then pick your night
- 9 AM, WalworthPearce’s opens. Corn maze and pumpkins before the lot fills.
- 11:30 AM, Edwards BoulevardPark at the Park-n-Ride or Home Depot and take the shuttle downtown.
- 1 PM, Flat Iron ParkDachshund races. Corgis at 3, stein hoisting at 4.
- 5:30 PM, main stageStay for The Biermen. Or leave by 5:30 for the 6 PM gentle hayrides, or for the Boston tribute at The Belfry at 7.
Day by day: October 7 to 13, 2026
Wednesday, October 7
Quiet, and a good night to get a downtown table without a wait.
- 9 AM to 5:30 PMPearce’s Farm Stand, Walworth. Weekday pumpkins, no lines.
- 5:30 PMPier 290, Williams Bay. Fall hours are Wednesday through Sunday.
- 6 to 9 PMLive music at Maxwell Mansion and Lake City Social, downtown Lake Geneva.
- About 9 PMGlenn Davis Blues Jam at Hogs & Kisses, 149 Broad St.
Thursday, October 8
- 8 AM to 1 PMLake Geneva Farmers Market at Horticultural Hall, 330 Broad St. Squash, apples and cider. The season runs through Oct. 29.
- 8 to 11 PMThursday music at Harpoon Willie’s, Williams Bay.
Friday, October 9
- 3 to 5 PMBeer crawl check-in, Geneva Tap House
- 5 to 8 PMOktoberfest Beer Crawl, downtown Lake Geneva
- 5:45 PMHayride ticket window opens, 2567 Highway 120
- 6 PMAstronomy on Tap, Duesterbeck’s, Elkhorn
- 6 to 6:45 PMGentle hayrides
- 7 PMSpiritualism night at Black Point. Wayne Messmer Big Band at The Belfry. Regular hayrides begin around now.
- 8 to 11 PMBeer crawl afterparty, Geneva Tap House
Saturday, October 10
- 9 AMPearce’s Pumpkin Fest Weekend, day 1
- 10 AM to 6 PMRoyal Oak AppleFest, Harvard, Ill.
- 11 AMOktoberfest keg tapping, Flat Iron Park. Shuttle starts. Kids area runs until 5.
- 1 PM and 3 PMDachshund races, then corgis
- 4 PMStein hoisting
- 5:30 to 8 PMThe Biermen, Oktoberfest main stage
- 6 to 11 PMHaunted hayride
- 7 PMDon’t Look Back, a Boston tribute, at The Belfry
Sunday, October 11
- 9 AMPearce’s Pumpkin Fest Weekend, day 2
- 10 AM to 6 PMLast day of Royal Oak AppleFest
- 11 AM to 5 PMOktoberfest, day 2. Pie eating contest at noon, dog races at 1 and 3.
- 6 to 11 PMHaunted hayride, the only Sunday of the season
Monday, October 12
A federal holiday, so post offices and banks are closed. Plenty of weekend visitors stay the extra night, and it’s the calmest day of the week on the water.
- MorningWalk the Geneva Lake Shore Path between Williams Bay and Fontana. Free.
- MiddayFall foliage cruise from the Riviera Docks.
- Sunrise to sunsetYerkes Observatory grounds and arboretum trails, Williams Bay. No ticket.
- 9 AM to 5:30 PMPearce’s, if you missed the weekend.
Tuesday, October 13
- 4 to 7 PMWhitewater City Market at Cravath Lakefront Park, about 35 minutes northwest. It runs Tuesdays through October, so you’ve got 3 left. See the Whitewater community guide.
- EveningLive entertainment by the fireplace at the Grand Geneva Lobby Lounge, daily.
What the fall color looks like this week
It’s building. Around Geneva Lake, peak usually lands in the third week of October, so Oct. 7 to 13 is the run-up: sumac and maples turning, most oaks still green.
The Shore Path between Williams Bay and Fontana and the back roads in our Lake Geneva scenic drive guide will show color first. Check the Travel Wisconsin Fall Color Report the morning you drive up, since a warm week can push peak back several days.
Mistakes to avoid this week
- Showing up to the hayride with only a card. It’s cash only, sold at the door.
- Driving to the old hayride spot. For 2026 the entrance is behind the Emagine theater at 2567 Highway 120.
- Counting on the shuttle after dinner. It stops at 9 PM Saturday and 6 PM Sunday, and it only runs between the Edwards Boulevard lots and downtown.
- Waiting on Friday tickets. The beer crawl and the Black Point evening both need advance registration.
- Saving AppleFest for next weekend. Royal Oak’s AppleFest ends Sunday.
Coming up, October 14 to 20
Poe at the Point, Oct. 15 to 17. Edgar Allan Poe by candlelight in the Black Point parlor, 5:30 to 8:30 PM, with a cruise there and back. Ages 13 and up. Book through Lake Geneva Cruise Line.
Elkhorn Oktoberfest, Saturday, Oct. 17. Free, 9 AM to 5 PM around Veterans Park, with a 5K, a car show and a beer and wine walk through downtown shops. See the Elkhorn community guide.
Pumpkin Drop and Fall Festival, Saturday, Oct. 17. Drop a pumpkin from the zip line at Lake Geneva Ziplines on County Road H. Later in the month, the Yerkes Candlelight Walk lights 2,000 candles on Oct. 23 and 24.
The whole month is in our October 2026 Lake Geneva events guide, and Halloween times are in Lake Geneva trick-or-treat times and Halloween events.
Staying through Monday and doing the math?
A holiday weekend in October is when a lot of Chicago-area visitors stay the extra night and start pricing out a place of their own. Fall is a practical time to look. Showings are easier to book than in July, and with the leaves coming down you can see how a house sits on its lot and what the lake view looks like in the off-season.
Kim and Joel Reyenga with eXp Realty work the towns around Geneva Lake year-round, from downtown Lake Geneva and Williams Bay out to Walworth and Elkhorn.
Kim and Joel Reyenga, eXp Realty. About Kim and Joel. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Frequently asked questions
What’s happening in Lake Geneva this weekend, October 9 to 11, 2026?
Downtown Lake Geneva’s free Oktoberfest runs Oct. 10 and 11 at Flat Iron Park, with a ticketed beer crawl Friday, Oct. 9. Pearce’s Farm Stand in Walworth holds Pumpkin Fest Weekend Oct. 10 and 11, the Grand Geneva haunted hayride runs Oct. 9 to 11 from 6 to 11 PM, and Yerkes Observatory hosts a free Astronomy on Tap in Elkhorn on Oct. 9 at 6 PM.
Is Lake Geneva Oktoberfest 2026 free?
Yes. Admission to Downtown Lake Geneva Oktoberfest at Flat Iron Park is free on Saturday, Oct. 10, 11 AM to 8 PM and Sunday, Oct. 11, 11 AM to 5 PM. The Friday beer crawl is $35, or $20 for designated drivers, and is 21 and older.
Where do you park for Lake Geneva Oktoberfest?
Use the free city shuttle from the Park-n-Ride at Sheridan Springs Road and Edwards Boulevard or from Home Depot at 550 N. Edwards Blvd. It runs about every 20 minutes, Saturday 11 AM to 9 PM and Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM, and drops off at Wrigley Drive and Baker Street. Downtown meters are $4 an hour.
Is Astronomy on Tap at Duesterbeck’s free?
Yes. Yerkes Observatory’s Astronomy on Tap is free and open to all ages. It starts at 6 PM on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026 at Duesterbeck’s Brewing Company, N5543 County Rd. O, Elkhorn, and Yerkes lists it at about 90 minutes.
Does the Grand Geneva haunted hayride take cards?
No. The Dan Patch Stables Haunted Hayride is cash only. Tickets are $25 for ages 11 and up and $10 for ages 4 to 10, sold at the door starting at 5:45 PM, with no reservations. For 2026 the entrance is behind the Emagine theater at 2567 Highway 120.
Are the fall colors peaking in Lake Geneva the week of October 7?
Not yet, in most years. Peak color around Geneva Lake usually arrives in the third week of October, so Oct. 7 to 13 brings turning sumac and maples while most oaks stay green. Check the Travel Wisconsin Fall Color Report before you drive up.
What can you do in Lake Geneva on Monday, October 12?
Monday, Oct. 12 is a federal holiday, so post offices and banks are closed. Pearce’s Farm Stand is open 9 AM to 5:30 PM, Lake Geneva Cruise Line runs daily through October, and the Geneva Lake Shore Path and the Yerkes Observatory grounds are free to visit.
Pack a jacket for the boat.
See you at the lake.
