Boo! Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you. Actually, I did, since we’ve officially entered the “spooky season” of October! That means a “frightening” number of fall events and activities in and around Madison. This October Guide should help you get started on what there is to see and do.
Aw, Freak Out!
Freakfest, the sometimes organized (and sometimes VERY disorganized) event that used to take place on State Street, is just a memory. But there’s plenty more spooky stuff to do in town leading up to Halloween.
But there are still plenty of ways to get into the spirit besides visiting Spirit Halloween. For families, Downtown Madison will host Family Halloween on State Street and all around the Capitol Square on Oct. 30. Trick or treat and local business in the afternoon, take a hayride around the square, and stay for a screening of “Hotel Transylvania” at the top of State Street.
Henry Vilas Zoo will host “Boo at the Zoo 2024” Oct. 27. Kids can dress up and trick-or-treat, get their faces painted and other activities, and see all their favorite animals.
If you’re looking to rock out in your costume, go see the “Armchair Boograss Ball” at the Majestic Theatre, on Oct. 25, or “Emo Halloween” at the Majestic at Oct. 26. Also on Oct. 26 is the annual “Freakin’ Halloweekend” show at the High Noon Saloon, a tradition where local musicians dress up as their favorite bands like ELO and Metallica and play tribute sets.
Horror movies are bigger than ever, and all the big theaters around town like Flix Brewhouse and Marcus Point are playing classic chillers all month long. The Bartell Theatre is getting into the act with its own new film series, including “Hocus Pocus” and the director’s cut of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” on Oct. 26.
Read and Learn!
The Wisconsin Book Festival returns Oct. 17 to Oct. 20, a free four-day festival that brings authors to town, including Rachel Kushner, Neal Stephenson and Jeff Kinney for a celebration of reading.
Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Science Festival takes place from Oct. 14 to 20 with events in Madison and all over Wisconsin. The week is full of fun hands-on demonstrations and lectures to satisfy your curiosity in all sorts of areas, from botany to astronomy to the science of bowling.
The Tastes of Autumn
Of course, autumn is the time to get out and enjoy fall harvest treats, and the farms in Dane County are ready to roll.
Eugster’s Family Farm near Stoughton is almost like a theme park for autumn, with apple and pumpkin picking, wagon rides, and plenty of cider and caramel apples to buy.
And Treinen Farm in DeForest will showcase why its twisty and even artistic corn maze is consistently ranked among the Top 10 in the United States. This year’s labyrinth is a salute to the axolotl, the official salamander of the farm.
Things are busy at The Cider Farm, where on Oct. 6 they’ll host a walking tour of the beautiful orchard in the Driftless Region, including a cider demonstration and a demonstration of the apple press.
