Apple-picking
Eplegaarden
A Norgwegian-themed apple orchard, where eveything sounds Scandinavian and moves a bit slower. Good old-fashioned “eple plukkin.”
Other activities: Corn maze, pumpkins and hay rides.
When: Open until 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday through October
Where: 2227 Fitchburg Rd., Fitchburg
Door Creek Orchard
A historic orchard less about gimmicks and more about sustainable agriculture. They also have Black Welsh Mountain sheep you can greet or eat.
When: Open until 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, until 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, until the beginning of November
Where: 3252 Vilas Rd., Cottage Grove
Appleberry Farm
A family-owned apple orchard past Madison’s west side where you can pick-your-own.
Other activities: Pumpkin patch and hay rides
When: Open untill 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday untill Halloween
Where: 8079 Maurer Rd., Cross Plains
Corn Mazes and Pumpkin Patches
Schuster's Playtime Farm
For how much you can feel like a child at Schuster’s Playtime Farm, its corn maze is alarmingly age-appropriate for the young twenty-something college-aged person. Their corn maze this year, intricately and deliberately carved into Wisconsin Football Coach Gary Andersen holding a football, will trip up even the best of maze sleuths. After making wrong turn after turn with extreme feelings of disorientation, after some point every choice you make will feel like one of life or death.
They provide you with trivia questions to help you make turns at forks, but only rely on them occasionally, as some of the answers appeared to be quite innacurate. (Example. What’s the minimum age requirement to run for the U.S. Presidency? A: 20 years. B: 30 years. C: 40 years. It’s 35.)
Other activities: Haunted Forest on Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 26. Pumpkin patch, hay rides, barnyard animals
Pricce: $6 for just the maze, $8.50 for farm entry, (including other “farmtivities.”) $15 for Haunted Forest.
When: Open until 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 6 p.m. on Sundays through Oct. 31
Where: 1326 Hwy 12 & 18, Deerfield
Treinen Farm
The Treinen Farm claims the prize of running Wisconsin’s largest corn maze, filling 15 square acres. This year it’s shaped like the Kraken sea monster. If you dream of pumpkins in your sleep, this is the place to indulge. Spend hours wading through their 13-acre pumpkin patch for your perfect pumpkin pick.
Price: $9 for the maze. $9 for “pumpkin patch fun.” $15.75 for the maze and patch
When: Open until 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 6:30 p.m. on Sundays, through Oct. 27
Where: W12420 State Rd. 60, Lodi
Haunted Houses
Horror in the Dark at Olin Park
You will find yourself frightened upon entering this “Haunted Hotel,” filled with poltergeists that perished in some unforseeable tragedy years ago. Each room you enter will create a different sense of fright as hotel guests may tell you stories of their fate.
Price: $8
When: 7 to 10 p.m. on October 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 and 31
Where: 1156 Olin-Turville Ct., Madison
“Scare Factor”: medium
UW Saddle & Sirloin Haunted House
So this is what would happen if the Agriculture campus was taken over by demonic activity. Go after 8 p.m. for the lights off.
Price: $1 or a non-perishable food item
When: 7 to 10 p.m. on October 17 and 18
Where: Old Horse Barn, 520 Elm Dr., Madison
“Scare Factor”: medium
The Haunted Barn
The Haunted Barn is in its last year running, so check it out before it’s gone. The price might be heftier, but worth it if you’d like to be absoluetly scared shitless. No fooling around here.
Price: $18
When: 7 to 11 p.m. on Oct. 11, 12, 18, 19, Nov. 1 and 2, and 7 to 12 a.m. on Oct. 26, 27. 7 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 31
Where: 755 Hwy 51, Stoughton
“Scare Factor”: high
Madison Ghost Walks
Would you prefer to hear ghost stories people really believe in, instead of fabricated ones? Are you a Madison history buff? Then you might enjoy a Madison Ghost Walks tour. It starts at the Capitol building, where you’ll learn about mysterious happenings in the South Wing of the fourth floor, where, since the Capitol’s roof collapsed in the 1880’s, people have heard footsteps down the hall, seen doors close with nobody around and reported feelings of being watched. You’ll make your way to other sites near the square, such as the Frequency, the Great Dane Pub, the American Exchange Building and the Orpheum, to name a few. Mike Huberty, the founder of the tour, said all the stories were compiled after interviews with people that work in each site. “We haven’t made any of these stories up,” Huberty said. “It’s not just entertainment, it’s folklore.”
When: Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 to 9 p.m through Nov. 2. Private tours can be set up with six or more people at other times
Cost: $15
Where: In the Capitol neighborhood
80s vs. 90s Halloween Costume Ball
A retro dance party with DJs Nice Nice and Mike Carlson. Come in costume, if that wasn’t obvious. Must be 21 and up.
Price: $5
When: Doors open at 9 p.m., Oct. 26
Where: The Majestic Theatre
