Fall in Madison WI 2026 - Things to Do in Madison This Fall

Your interactive guide to fall in Madison and Dane County, from pumpkin patches and Halloween events to trails, markets, and holiday outings.

Fall in Madison moves fast. One weekend you are picking pumpkins in Cottage Grove, the next you are bundled up in the stands at Camp Randall, and before you know it the Saturday market on the Capitol Square has moved indoors for the holidays. I grew up here, six generations deep, and I still find myself looking up the same questions every October. Which corn mazes are still open? Which haunted houses are worth the drive? When does the farmers market wrap up for the year?

So our team put it all on one map. Every pin below was checked for the 2026 season, and each one has dates, hours and a local tip when you tap it. Use the folders on the left to filter by brewery, coffee, events, haunted houses, farms, trails, markets and fall color.

Halloween and Fall Events in Madison for 2026

Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, so the week leading up to it is packed. Madison's recommended trick-or-treat hours are 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct 31. Here is what is on our map, in date order.

Zoo Halloween Trivia, Saturday, Oct 24: An adults-only (18+) trivia night at Henry Vilas Zoo from 6:30 to 9:30. Register ahead.
Brave the Cave, Saturday, Oct 24: A 21+ Halloween party inside Cave of the Mounds in Blue Mounds, 7 to 9 p.m.
Badgers vs. USC, Saturday, Oct 24: A Big Ten home game at Camp Randall.
Hilldale-O-Ween, Sunday, Oct 25: A free family party at Hilldale from 1 to 3 with gourd decorating at Metcalfe's, a roaming magician and a costume dance party on The Green.
Full Moon and Halloween Luminary Hike, Monday, Oct 26: A luminary-lit evening hike at Badger Prairie County Park in Verona from 5:30 to 7:30. The rain date is Oct 27.
Downtown Madison Family Halloween, Wednesday, Oct 28: Trick-or-treating at shops around the Capitol Square and State Street from 3 to 6, plus $3 hayrides around the Capitol.
Garver Pumpkin Party, Thursday, Oct 29: A free party at Garver Feed Mill from 4 to 8 with live music, a costume contest and pumpkin carving while supplies last.
Spooky Stroll, Thursday, Oct 29: Trick-or-treating through Downtown Middleton shops from 3 to 5, then the Monster Mash Bash at Stone Horse Green from 4 to 6.
Boots in the Barn Monster Bash, Saturday, Oct 31: A Halloween barn dance at Barnwood Events on the far west side, with line dance lessons and costumes encouraged. Tickets are $25 and sold online only.

Haunted Houses Near Madison

If you like a real scare, four haunts made our map this year. Here are the nights left in the 2026 season.

Screamin' Acres, Stoughton: Five haunted attractions on one farm. Oct 23, 24, 30 and 31, from 7 to 11.
Schuster's Haunted Forest, Deerfield: Oct 22 to 24 and Oct 29 to 31, from 6 to 10. Come early for donuts and the corn maze.
Terror at Tyrol, Mount Horeb: The Tyrol Basin ski hill turns into a haunt. Oct 22 to 24 and Oct 29 to 31, from 7 to 10:30.
Forsaken Souls, Edgerton: Oct 23, 24, 30 and 31, with the ticket booth open 6:30 to 11. Make a night of it with a burger at the Anchor Bar and Grill downtown first.

Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes and Apple Orchards

Most Dane County farms wrap up right around Halloween, so this is the last stretch of the season. If you only have one weekend left, check the dates below before you load up the car.

Schuster's Farm, Deerfield: A corn maze, farm animals, donuts and acres of pumpkins. Open through Sunday, Nov 1, and closed Tuesdays.
Treinen Farm, Lodi: The corn maze runs through Sunday, Nov 8, the latest of any farm on our map.
Warm Belly Farm, Cottage Grove: The Full Harvest Festival has a corn maze, pumpkin patch and sunflowers. Remaining dates are Oct 23 to 25, Oct 30 and 31 and Nov 1, with timed entry tickets.
Enchanted Valley Acres, Cross Plains: Open through Sunday, Nov 1.
Eplegaarden, Fitchburg: Open until Halloween, Oct 31.
Sutter's Ridge Farm, Mount Horeb: Wagon rides to the pumpkin patch Thursday through Sunday, 10 to 5. Pick-your-own apples sold out for 2026.
Door Creek Orchard, Cottage Grove: Pick-your-own is finished for the year, but the farm shop is still open for apples.
Eugster's Farm Market, Stoughton: Pumpkins and mums on the same property as Screamin' Acres.

One note if you have been to Appleberry Farm in Cross Plains before: it is closed for the 2026 season after a late spring frost.

Fall on Tap: Breweries and Cideries

A few favorites changed this year, so it is worth a look before you head out.

The Cider Farm at Orchard, Verona: The Cider Farm moved its tasting room from Watts Road to Orchard at 881 W Verona Ave. Open Tuesday to Saturday 11 to 9 and Sunday 10 to 4.
New Glarus Brewing: The Hilltop brewery is closed to visitors during its expansion. Head to the Riverside brewery on Hoesly Drive for the gift shop, tasting room and a free self-guided tour, Tuesday to Saturday 10 to 5.
Capital Brewery, Middleton: The outdoor Bier Garten closes for the year at the end of October, and the party moves inside to the Bier Stube.
Great Dane Downtown: The Hilldale location closed in November 2025, but the original pub a block off the Capitol Square is still pouring.
Also on the map: Working Draft Beer Company on the near east side, Vintage Brewing Capitol East, The Lone Girl in Waunakee and the Biergarten at Olbrich Park. The Biergarten is seasonal, so call ahead late in the fall.

Pumpkin Spice Up Your Life: Coffee and Chocolate

For a warm cup between stops, our map includes Michelangelo's on State Street, Barriques in Fitchburg, Colectivo on Monroe Street, Forward Craft and Coffee on Atwood Avenue and Madison Chocolate Company on Odana Road.

Last Call for Fall Farmers' Markets

Outdoor market season ends in waves. Here are the final dates for 2026.

Northside Farmers' Market: Sunday, Oct 25
Eastside Farmers' Market at McPike Park: Tuesday, Oct 27
Fitchburg Farmers' Market: Thursday, Oct 29
Sun Prairie Farmers Market at Cannery Square: Saturday, Oct 31
Westside Community Market: Saturday, Nov 7
Dane County Farmers' Market: The Wednesday market ends Nov 4 and the Saturday market on the Capitol Square runs through Nov 14. The Holiday Market moves indoors to Monona Terrace on Nov 21 and Dec 5, 12 and 19.

Where to See Fall Color in Madison

You do not have to leave town for good color. Our map pins the UW Arboretum, Picnic Point, Pheasant Branch Conservancy in Middleton, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Cherokee Marsh, Governor Nelson State Park and Indian Lake County Park, plus Devil's Lake for a day trip. If you would rather see it from a bike, the Capital City Trail, Military Ridge State Trail, Badger State Trail, Glacial Drumlin Trail and the Lake Monona loop are all on the map too.

Into the Holidays

Once the costumes are put away, Madison heads straight into the holiday season. Mark these on your calendar.

Badgers vs. Rutgers, Saturday, Nov 7: Home game at Camp Randall.
Brew Lights, Saturday, Nov 14: A 21+ night of beer tastings among the lights at Henry Vilas Zoo.
Light the Green, Saturday, Nov 21: Middleton's tree lighting at Stone Horse Green, with a Holiday Makers Market on Nov 21 and 22.
Badgers vs. Minnesota, Friday, Nov 27: The Black Friday rivalry game at 6:30.
Christmas in Paoli, opens Friday, Nov 27: Four weekends of holiday shopping and winter fun in Paoli, through Dec 20.
Sun Prairie Fire and Lights Parade, Saturday, Nov 28: Lit fire trucks down Main Street from 5:30 to 7:30, followed by the tree lighting.
Cave of Lights, starting Saturday, Nov 28: Holiday lights inside Cave of the Mounds, daily through Jan 31, 2027.

Thinking About Calling Madison Home?

A map can show you where the corn mazes are. It cannot tell you which neighborhood puts you ten minutes from the Arboretum, or which suburb's downtown fills up for its own Halloween stroll. You don't know what you don't know, and that is where our team comes in. We live here, and we spend every season learning what makes each corner of Dane County feel like home.

If you are relocating or getting ready to move up, start with our Madison neighborhood guides and our guide to relocating to the Madison area. You can also take a look around on our YouTube channel, where we tour neighborhoods and homes across the area. When you are ready to talk through your plans, grab 15 minutes on my calendar and we will figure out the first step together.

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