Cedarburg Creek Farm pumpkin patchCedarburg
daily 10 to 6 starting September 19
Thousands of pumpkins to pick, a corn maze, a petting zoo and a barrel train.
Fall in Milwaukee2 things
The ones people drive in from other counties for. Most of them run the whole season, so you don't have to pick a weekend yet.
Basse's Pumpkin FestColgate
September 18 to November 1, weekdays noon to 6, weekends 10 to 6
Dozens of things to do, from duck races and slides to the old school arcade in the barn.
The little stuff, by town1 things
The city Halloween parties and the trunk or treats and the free stuff. Cities post their 2026 dates late, so anything marked "check the date" gets fixed the second it's announced.
Fall in Franklin
Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Farm
Fridays to Sundays, September 25 to November 1
A pedal car track, pumpkin bowling and giant Jenga, and you can bring the dog on October 31 and November 1.
For the rest of your list
These don't need an address, tap them and they go on your list with everything else.
Christmas in Milwaukee2 things
Most of these post their 2026 dates in the fall, so these show last year's windows. It's cold by then, so bundle the kids up for Wild Lights.
Milwaukee Holiday Lights FestivalMilwaukee
kickoff with fireworks the week before Thanksgiving, lights through New Year's (last year Nov 20) · check the date
Kicks off with a show and fireworks, then downtown stays lit for six weeks.
Wild Lights at the Milwaukee County ZooMilwaukee
evenings 5:30 to 9 from late November through December (last year from Nov 21) · check the date
A mile of animal light displays, some drive through nights, and Santa hands out a little stuffed animal.
Town Christmas stuff
The town stuff, and I'll add the tree lightings as the cities post them in November.
Christmas in Caledonia
Christmas Carnival of Lights
late November to New Year's Day · check the date
A drive through light show around the campground, plus a ride on Santa's giant sleigh.
For the rest of your Christmas list
This is the at-home stuff, tap them and they go on your list with the lights and the train.
put it on the wall
Turn your Christmas picks into a real bucket list
Tap the lights and the trains and the town stuff you want and pick the Christmas design you like, and I'll hold onto your picks. The Christmas lists are coming soon, and the second they're up your picks drop straight into the slots.
Good any weekend0 things
The stuff that doesn't need a date, for the Saturday when nothing's going on.
Milwaukee fall and Christmas questions
When is Basse's Pumpkin Fest in 2026?
September 18 to November 1, 2026 in Colgate, noon to 6 on weekdays and 10 to 6 on weekends.
When does the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival start?
It usually kicks off with fireworks the Thursday before Thanksgiving. Last year it was November 20.
who's writing this
Hi, I'm Amy.
We roadschool six kids out of a van. I'm just a mom with a Ford Transit and a lot of opinions about corn mazes, so if something on here is wrong, or your town's party is missing, email me at hello@bellebucket.com and I'll fix it.
put it on the wall
Turn your picks into a real bucket list
Tap the ones you want and I'll drop them onto whichever fall design you pick, then you add your own stuff (birthdays, carving pumpkins, whatever your family does). It prints big, like 24x36 big, and it hangs on the wall all season.