Quick, think about Wisconsin’s biggest cities for tourism! Maybe you think about Milwaukee or Green Bay, but tourists spent more than $225 million in Kenosha County in 2018 alone. One of the reasons Kenosha, WI attracts visitors is because of all the fun fall family activities to explore!
Looking to go trick-or-treating? Want to take a nature walk and see fall colors? Or are you simply not sure what is happening in the area? Here is a quick guide to kid-friendly fall activities in Kenosha!
Trick-Or-Treating
Trick-or-treating is one of the most popular fall activities around the country! You can trick-or-treat in any area of town and see spooktacular decorations and cool costumes.
Kenosha is a safe town to go trick-or-treating in, as long as you follow these trick-or-treating safety tips. Generally, if you’re worried about safety, you can go trick-or-treating during the day at various places throughout town.
Trick-or-treating on 6th Avenue is an annual tradition that takes place on the weekend before Halloween (this year, Saturday, October 28th). Participating businesses come to life as they offer fun activities and treats for the children!
The city of Kenosha has official trick-or-treating hours. Trick-or-treating on 6th Avenue is between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., while general trick-or-treating is on Tuesday, October 31st, between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. However, you and your children can go trick-or-treating before these hours, as long as you are not bothering anyone.
Trunk-or-Treat
Trunk-or-treat is a fun spin on “trick or treating”, where participants bring their cars to a specified location (usually in a parking lot), and the drivers and their families decorate their cars for Halloween! It is sort of like a Halloween tailgate! You don’t have to be a participating car to join in on the fun; just show up with your family and friends and enjoy collecting candy and toys from vehicle to vehicle.
Kenosha hosts a few different trunk-or-treating events. In Uptown, your little ghosts can collect treats and enjoy free activities in the Super Saturday Trunk-or-Treat on 63rd Street. This is located in the Uptown Brass Center parking lot on Saturday, October 28th, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Costumes are encouraged, as there will be prizes for the best costume!
You can also attend trunk or treat at the Kenosha YMCA from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm or trunk or treat at Bristol School from 4:00 pm to 5:15 pm which features an outdoor movie showing of Hocus Pocus at 5:30 pm! Both of these events are also on Saturday, October 28th (2023).
Fall Into Fun Festival
Don’t miss out on this FREE, fun-for-all-ages festival! The Fall Into Fun Festival hosts a pumpkin decorating contest, costume contest, live music, and more! Winners will receive prizes of Downtown Kenosha gift cards.
Join the fun at Veterans Memorial Park outside City Hall on Saturday, October 14th, 2023 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. So grab your pumpkins, dress up as your favorite characters, and win some prizes!
Fall Foliage
The fall foliage generally peaks during the middle of October. You and your kids can look at the colors, take photographs or make drawings of what you see, and collect leaves for various craft projects.
Petrifying Springs Park, also known as “Pets”, is a great location to see breathtaking fall leaves. You can go on walks along the river and picnic underneath the trees.
Another fun location is Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum, which covers more than 12 acres. You can look at many different trees and wild animals, including migrating birds. The sanctuary is home to events throughout the fall, including guided tours, night hikes, various crafts, and cooking classes.
If you want to get outside of Kenosha, you can visit Bristol Woods Park. This park contains miles of hiking trails, giving you plenty of opportunities to see the trees and get out for a refreshing nature walk.
Additionally, you can also visit the Pringle Nature Center and attend various nature programs. On October 27th, the Pringle Center is running a candlelit Halloween hike, which offers a little spookiness without being overwhelming for the kiddos.
Farms
Farms can offer many types of fall fun in Kenosha. Remember that you may need to drive a few miles outside the city to get to them.
You can plan a day trip to explore parts of Wisconsin you haven’t visited. Look at a few of these tips for traveling with kids so your day trip can go well.
Apple Holler is a popular attraction in Sturtevant, WI which is just north of Kenosha. The farm has a large orchard for apple picking, and you can eat lunch at a country store and restaurant.
If you prefer pumpkin-related fun, you can visit Jerry Smith Pumpkin Farm. You can pick pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns, roast pumpkin seeds, and glance at hand-painted pumpkins. The farm also offers attractions like corn mazes, petting zoos, and hayrides!
There is also Swan’s Pumpkin Farm in Franksville, WI. You can buy many different types of pumpkins, go on hayrides, and walk through a haunted maze. The farm also has a pedal kart track that we recommend getting in line early for, as it is extremely popular!
Haunted Attractions
Please remember that most haunted attractions are intended for adults. Many houses have rules prohibiting young children from going inside. Please be cautious and only allow your older children to visit most attractions.
If your children are looking to get a little spooked but not too intimidated, you can take them on a ghost tour. Several companies offer ghost tours of the downtown Kenosha area. You can go during the day or night, and you can learn about Kenosha’s history and architecture while you’re at it.
The Kemper Center runs a haunted house that is open every Saturday night in October. During the first hour, the lights are on, making it ideal for younger kids. Proceeds from the house go toward the Teen Task Force of Kenosha.
While you are going trick-or-treating, you may come across home haunts. These are small attractions that members of the community create. Most of them are appropriate for kids, so let them enjoy what your neighbors have to offer.
The Best Fall Activities in Kenosha
Fall activities in Kenosha are currently underway. While trick-or-treating takes place toward the end of October, you and your family can enjoy plenty of other fun activities throughout the month!
From nature walks to farm festivities, many attractions are now open to the public and offer opportunities for apple and pumpkin picking. You can also find a few kid-friendly haunted houses, including home haunts, in your community. Check out more events on the Kenosha Fall Events Calendar.
Your kids can also have fall fun at daycare. Corner Stone Academy serves Kenosha-area children, and we run fall activities, crafts, movies, and educational lessons! Contact us today.
