Don't let these crisp fall temperatures send a chill down your spine. Instead, embrace autumn with Harvest Fair, hosted Sept. 23-25 at Wisconsin State Fair Park.
Coming up on almost 30 years of fall frivolity, the annual Harvest Fair rings in the falling leaves and temperatures with three days of autumnal entertainment – from live music on the grounds' many stages to lumberjack shows, fall-themed games, unique seasonal treats, vendors and even some cream puffs. It's basically a classic Milwaukee summer festival but for the fall – because while the temperatures are dropping, it doesn't mean the festive fun has to as well.
Best of all, no matter when you stop by – Friday from 5-11 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. – admission to Harvest Fair is free.
To help harvest the most fun out of Harvest Fair possible, here's the schedule for the fall festival's live entertainment this weekend:
Friday, Sept. 23
Bank Five Nine Amphitheater
- 5 p.m. – Dirty Boogie
- 8 p.m. – Too Hype Crew
Big Sky Country Bar & Grill
- 6 p.m. – Jim Gaff and the Coyote Posse
Blue Moon Tavern at the Park
- 7 p.m. – The Presidents
Bud Pavilion
- 7 p.m. – Bella Cain
Camp Bar
- 7 p.m. – Outlaw'D Band
Knucklehead
- 6:45 p.m. – Noisy Neighbors
Leadfoots
- 6 p.m. – Bobby (Rambling Man) Maurer
Pistol Pete's
- 6:30 p.m. – Cold Sweat and Brew City Horns
Saz's Miller High Life Pavilion
- 6:30 p.m. – 33 RPM
Saturday, Sept. 24
Bank Five Nine Amphitheater
- Noon – The Hungry Williams
- 4 p.m. – Crossfire
- 8 p.m. – Renegade Wildflower
Big Sky Country Bar & Grill
- 6 p.m. – Preston James
Blue Moon Tavern at the Park
- 7 p.m. – Road Trip
Bud Pavilion
- 11 a.m. – Cream City Blues
- 3 p.m. – The Cheap Shots
- 7 p.m. – The Toys: Revisited
Camp Bar
- 3:30 p.m. – Joe Wray
- 7 p.m. – Outlaw'D Band
Knucklehead
- 2:30 p.m. – D'Lite Duo
- 6:45 p.m. – Lunch Money Bullies
Leadfoots
- Noon – Bobby (Rambling Man) Maurer
- 6 p.m. – Buddy Love
Pistol Pete's
- 2 p.m. – Block Party
- 7 p.m. – Mt. Olive
Saz's Miller High Life Pavilion
- 2 p.m. – Wait for Morning
- 7 p.m. – The Now Band
Sunday, Sept. 25
Bank Five Nine Amphitheater
- 11 a.m. – Larry Lynne's Decades Band
- 2 p.m. – The Playlist
Bud Pavilion
- Noon – Steve Meisner
Camp Bar
- 3:25 p.m. – Packers vs. Buccaneers watch party
Leadfoots
- Noon – Nate Scheurell
In addition to all that live music rocking the leaves off any nearby trees, Harvest Fair will also showcase three days of Paul Bunyan lumberjack shows – hosted at 6 p.m. on Friday; at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 6 p.m on Saturday; and 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday. The three-day event will also feature a number of fall photo ops, a pumpkin-centric garden walk, pumpkin bowling, amusement rides, a labyrinth, a pumpkin patch, the world beef expo and – new this year – the kids cream puff corral filled with family-friendly games and play areas.
Plus, on the final day, since it is a Sunday in Wisconsin, Camp Bar will host a Packers/Buccaneers watch party on its jumbotron beginning at 3:25 p.m.
Of course, it wouldn't be Harvest Fair without the fruits (and the veggies and other foods and many additional products) of the harvest, so the fall festival will feature a number of food stands and vendors throughout its three-day run. Both pumpkin spice and latte flavors of cream puff will be available, along with tasty treats from Elegant Farmer, Kozie's harvest stew and more of your favorite State Fair staples – plus The Micro's many taps and others to help wash all the deliciousness down.
As for vendors, here's the full list of those participating in the Harvest Fair's farmers market and harvest shops:
- A Spice Above/Deli Direct
- Bath Fitter
- BellaBro Designs
- Brew City Pickles
- Carrie's Crispies
- Chiro One Wellness Centers
- Craigland Farms
- Cream City Caramels & Confections
- Cutco Cutlery
- D and D Cards & Gifts
- Elegant Farmer
- El Jefe
- Emmanuel's Mix
- Ernie's Kettle Korn
- Flower Petal Farm
- Green Bay Olive Oil Co.
- Hiawatha WoodWorks
- Hollyville
- Honey Grove Apiaries
- Jim's Cribbage Boards
- Karen's Creations
- Kawsay
- Ketchup Please
- L'Bri Pure 'n Natural Skin Care
- Lilla Rose
- MRM
- Nuts to You!
- PartyLite Gifts
- The Pink Bakery
- Royal Images
- Serenity Soapworks
- Shades of Fun
- Smokin' Ts
- Sports Plus
- Sweetest Peach
- Urbal Tea
- Visette
- Wiki Woolz & Wares
For more information about all of the vendors, entertainment acts and more, visit Harvest Fair's website. And have fun busting our your finest flannel and announcing autumn's arrival in style this weekend at Wisconsin State Fair Park!
As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.
When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.