Wisconsin October Farm Activities

October signifies the peak of fall in Wisconsin, and numerous farms offer seasonal activities for youths and adults. October brings changing colors, the final harvests of the year and Halloween. Farms serve their communities by offering entertainment and celebrations before the onset of the long Wisconsin winter. Many of the activities are free, while some do require a fee to support the farm and the event.

  1. Pumpkin Patch

    • The pumpkin patch is a popular fall activity in Wisconsin. Several farms offer a pumpkin patch where people can pick out a pumpkin for carving. Some of the farms also provide tables, patterns and carving tools to help parents and children prepare for Halloween.

    Corn Maize

    • The corn maize is a traditional fall farm activity because it coincides with the October-November harvest season. The farmers cut a pattern in the cornfield and they decorate the interior of the maize. The maize contains wrong turns, dead ends and a start and finish area. The corn maize is tall and you are completely contained inside until you reach the finish line.

    Haunted House

    • The haunted house is often provided by the farm in an effort to create a diverse number of activities in one venue. October is the prime month for the haunted house with the majority of the traffic coming the week of Halloween. The haunted house is a network of hallways with scary surprises that are designed to scare kids. Attendees typically wear their costume to the haunted house and walk through the halls in small groups.

    Petting Zoo

    • Many of the Wisconsin farms provide a petting zoo as a part of the activities in October. The visitors are allowed to pet and feed animals like ducks, chickens, llamas and in some instances, exotic pets like camels and buffalo. The Glacier Ridge Farm in Van Dyne, Wisconsin, is one of the few that provides exotic animals at a petting zoo. The petting zoo is seasonal with the fall activities on some farms and it is available year-round on others.

    Hay Rides

    • Hay rides are fun tours around the farm with hay bales for seats. The bales are often arranged in a wagon and the visitors are pulled by a team of horses. The hay rides are bumpy, but frequent stops and an experienced driver introduce the visitor to the different aspects of farm life. The hay ride is a fun event in October because the farm is bustling with activity and the fall colors create a scenic setting.