Autumn days in Green Lake get cooler and the lush green foliage of the trees begins to change to vivid oranges and brilliant yellows. Green Lake comes alive with color exploding around every corner and reflecting on the lake in a magnificent display. The cool, crisp air provides the perfect weather for hiking or biking and long afternoon drives. The farmers market is bountiful with overflowing baskets of apples and pumpkins and the festivals are bustling with the tastes of the season.
Fall harvest time is a great time to visit Vines & Rushes Winery where you can see a grape harvest demonstration or visit the tasting room and listen to live music. If beer is more your style, head to Knuth’s Brewing Company for a sampling of one of their five handcrafted artisan beers.
Area festivals are in full-swing in the Fall months. You won’t want to miss the Wisconsin State Chili Cookoff in September. The event entices chili cooks from throughout the Midwest to compete for their spot to cook at the World Championship. Green Lake’s signature Fall event is Harvest Fest. This two-day celebration is a time when people fill the streets to indulge in all that is autumn–restaurants selling signature dishes on the street, local farmers selling their abundant produce, live entertainment, hundreds of classic cars on display, artisans and crafters selling their wares, and even more family activities.
Fall is the perfect time to spend the day exploring the quaint shops in Green Lake. Grab a cup of coffee or your favorite latte and find a unique gift to take home from one of Green Lake’s unique specialty shops. Take a short drive to Princeton for some antiquing and visit their famous Flea Market (Saturdays only) or do some more shopping at the Shops of Water Street.
Get outdoors in the Fall with a round of golf at one of the four area golf courses or spend the day birdwatching as resident and migrant birds make their way through our area. Birders will not want to miss the Whooping Crane Festival, held annually in Princeton. The festival celebrates the return of the Whooping Cranes during this fun weekend near the summer home of Operation Migrations Whooping Cranes.
For one last glimpse of Fall color, catch a birds-eye view of the foliage by climbing the 121 stairs up Judson Town in the Green Lake Conference Center or step aboard a hot-air balloon, to see the vivid autumn color from the peaceful quiet hundreds of feet above the treetops. Leaf peepers can also climb aboard the J.Lawson, Pierless Boat Rentals 50-foot down-east style boat built for the Navy converted for sightseeing to view the colors.