Corn mazes, haunted houses, pumpkins, apples and more: Where to find fall fun in central Wisconsin.
Crisp air, colored leaves and pumpkin spice, apple and maple flavors gracing menus everywhere can only mean one thing: The return of autumn and fall activities.
There are all kinds of activities to enjoy during the season, and several places to find what you’re looking for throughout central Wisconsin. Looking to plan a fun day of seasonal activities? Check out a few ideas to get you started.
Get lost in a corn maze
If you have a few hours to spare, corn mazes are a classic Midwestern way to spend your day. Some offer activities in their mazes like treasure hunts, challenges and some farms even offer haunted corn mazes.
Here are some options in central Wisconsin:
Arnold's Strawberries Fall Harvest Weekend: 343 Wood County PP in Rudolph
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 30 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct 1
Feltz’s Dairy Store Corn Maze: 5796 Porter Drive in Stevens Point
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, through Oct. 28
Flyte Family Farm: W13450 Cottonville Ave. in Coloma
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday (open until 8 p.m. Saturdays in October) and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, through Oct. 29
Grace & Sophie's Pumpkin Patch: N785 Range Line Road in Merrill
3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Schairer’s Autumn Acres: 194 Western Ave. in Birnamwood
Noon to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, through Oct. 31. By appointment only Monday through Thursday
Seehafer Farm Creamery: 202600 State 97 in Marshfield
11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 3:30 p.m. Sundays, through October
Wilke’s Dairy Farm & Wilke’s Extra Sweet Acres: 239403 Marathon County W in Wausau
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, through October
Willow Springs Gardens: 5480 Hillcrest Drive in Wausau
9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23 through Oct. 22
Search for the 'Great Pumpkin'
You don’t need to follow Peanuts lore or spend the night in a pumpkin patch to find a great pumpkins or other gourds for carving, cooking or for decorating your home. Several local farms offer corn mazes, pumpkin patches and other fall activities.
Check out some options in central Wisconsin:
Arnold's Strawberries Fall Harvest Weekend: 343 Wood County PP in Rudolph
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 30 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct 1
Flyte Family Farm: W13450 Cottonville Ave. in Coloma
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday (open until 8 p.m. Saturdays in October) and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, through Oct. 29
Grace & Sophie's Pumpkin Patch: N785 Range Line Road in Merrill
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily
Helene's Hilltop Orchard: N1189 Quarter Road in Merrill
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21 through October
Pumpkin Hollow: 230222 Marathon County H in Edgar
Sunrise through sunset daily, through October
Reinkes Down on the Farm: 1011 48th St. S. in Wisconsin Rapids
Sept. 20 through Oct. 31
The Pumpkin Shed: 6920 Deer Road in Wisconsin Rapids
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, through October
Schairer’s Autumn Acres: 194 Western Ave. in Birnamwood
Noon to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, through Oct. 31. By appointment only Monday through Thursday
Seehafer Farm Creamery: 202600 State 97 in Marshfield
11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 3:30 p.m. Sundays, through October
Wilke’s Dairy Farm & Wilke’s Extra Sweet Acres: 239403 Marathon County W in Wausau
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, through October
Plan for a bushel of fun
Picking apples is a classic fall activity, and one that will likely lead to searching for recipes for applesauce, pies, crisps, ciders and anything else you can add apples to for the rest of the season.
Berryland Farm: 6702 W. Old U.S. 10 in Auburndale
Noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday
Casey's Orchard: 2829 Burbank Road in Stevens Point
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, or call 715-344-6814
Helene's Hilltop Orchard: N1189 Quarter Road in Merrill
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, through October
Rock Ridge Orchard: 128752 State 153 in Edgar
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Take in the scenery
Probably the most iconic image of fall is when the green landscape turns to variations of red, orange and yellow. Plan some time to take in the scenery this season in central Wisconsin.
While weather impacts the peak times for the colors, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel recently reported the fall colors will peak in far northern Wisconsin around Oct. 9, throughout the northern two-thirds of the state around Oct. 16 and through the southern portions of the state around Oct. 23.
Travel Wisconsin's Fall Color Report estimates the colors to peak in the first three weeks of October in central Wisconsin. It estimates the Iola-Scandinavia area to peak the first week of October, the Wausau and Stevens Point areas to peak the following week, and the Wisconsin Rapids area to peak in the third week of October.
You can take in the fall colors and scenery anywhere you want, although Granite Peak will open for Fall Scene Rides starting Sept. 22 at 227200 Snowbird Ave. in Wausau.
(Pumpkin) spice it up
While the flavor tends to cause division, it is the season for pumpkin spice. Enjoy the fall flavors while they’re out. If pumpkin isn’t your thing, there are often other fall flavors gracing menus throughout central Wisconsin, including apple and maple. Get your fall flavor fix this fall at your favorite local coffee shops and restaurants.
Get your heart racing
If you’re looking for thrills and scares to get your blood pumping as we approach Halloween, check out these haunted houses and trails in central Wisconsin. Many of the corn mazes also offer special haunted events during the season.
Creepy Hollow haunted trail: N11818 Cedar Road in Birnamwood
7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 27 and 28
Feltz’s Dairy Store Corn Maze: 5796 Porter Drive in Stevens Point
Haunted Corn Maze runs Oct. 20, 21, 27 and 28
Haunted Sawmill: 700 Hendricks St. in Merrill
Shows scheduled Sept. 28 and Oct. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28, 29
Children's matinee Oct. 28
Perdition Pines Haunted Event: N1385 Langlade County D in Antigo
7 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, throughout October
Wilke’s Dairy Farm & Wilke’s Extra Sweet Acres: 239403 Marathon County W in Wausau
Haunted Weekends: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 21, 22, 28, 29
Spooky trick-or-treat hayride for children: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 29
Willow Springs Gardens: 5480 Hillcrest Drive in Wausau
7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct 26 and 27 and 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 28
More news: The Ice Age Trail's Mammoth Hike Challenge offers more than a chance to get outside in fall
This article originally appeared on Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune: Corn mazes, haunted houses, pumpkins and apples in central Wisconsin