What’s Happening This Weekend in Walworth County | Oct. 25-27

1. Spooky City | Downtown Burlington

Burlington’s Spooky City is Saturday from 9:30 am to 2 pm.  Free trick or treating in downtown Burlington with entertainment, movies, hayrides, and more.  Come dressed in your favorite costume – the businesses are handing out treats from 11 to noon – and there is a costume contest!

2. Kid’s Halloween Party | Town Hall | Village of Bloomfield

The Village of Bloomfield is having their Kid’s Halloween Party on Saturday from 11:30 am to 1 pm in the Town Hall.  Loads of Halloween fun with games, treats, pumpkins, costume contest, and more.  And, the police department will be serving lunch!

3. Elkhorn Scare | Jackson Elementary School | Elkhorn

The Elkhorn Scare is Saturday from 2 to 4 pm at Jackson Elementary School.  Enjoy an indoor festival of pumpkin decorating, games, candy, bounce houses, and fun kid activities – and another costume contest.

4. Trick-or-Treating | Multiple Locations

Get your pillow cases ready – trick or treating in the Town of Lyons is Saturday from 3 to 5 pm, and on Sunday – Lake Geneva from noon to 4 pm, the Town of Delavan from noon to 3 pm, the Town of Geneva from 1 to 4 pm, and you can Trick or Treat on the Geneva Lake Museum’s Main Street from 12 to 1 pm.

 

For some Halloween fun for the adults – visit our website at visitwalworthcounty.com – like the Rocky Horror Picture Show on Saturday night!  For a complete list of community Trick or Treat times, go to our website or our Facebook page – Visit Walworth County.

What’s Happening This Weekend in Walworth County | Oct. 11-13

1. Family Fall Festival | Lake Lawn Resort | Delavan

Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan is hosting its annual Family Fall Festival from Friday through Sunday. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the fun. The weekend includes movies, hayrides, pumpkin painting, scarecrow building, pumpkin bowling, live music, and so much more! If you’re looking for a fall getaway, they are also offering packages.

 

2. Lake Geneva Oktoberfest | Broad St. & Flat Iron Park | Lake Geneva

Do you want more fall fun? Lake Geneva’s Oktoberfest is this Saturday and Sunday. The downtown is closed off and filled with bounce houses, pony rides, live music, beer tent, and the FREE pumpkin giveaway. Knockerball will be in Flat Iron Park. Don’t forget about all of the delicious fall food on hand – brats, cider donuts, apples, cider, and more!

 

3. Walk Of Terror | East Troy Municipal Parking Lot | East Troy

For those who love all things spooky, it’s the best time of the year – haunt season! Head to East Troy on Friday or Saturday for their Walk Of Terror.  Located in the Municipal Parking Lot, it runs from 6:30 until 11 pm. A shocking maze of fears and frights that make your hair stand on end. New terrifying surprises wait for you this year. The cost is only $15 per person and combines community service with holiday fright.

 

For more upcoming events in Walworth County, go to www.visitwalworthcounty.com/events

13 Fantastic Fall Festivals in Walworth County

With Labor Day unofficially kicking off fall, there are plenty of fun festivals just around the corner here in Walworth County!

1. Darien Cornfest

Sept. 6 – 8, 7 am – 11 pm | West Park, Darien

The small town of Darien celebrates corn and community in a BIG way. Yes, there is FREE CORN on Saturday & Sunday of this festival, but that’s not all! Enjoy carnival rides, fireworks, a parade, tractor pulls, bingo, tournaments, live music, and more! Did we mention free corn?

2. East Troy Bluegrass Festival

Sept. 7 – 8, 10 am – 5:30 pm | East Troy Village Square

The sweet sounds of bluegrass and banjos will once again fill East Troy’s village square. Something of a musician yourself? Participate in banjo, fiddle, guitar, and mandolin contests! Get a weekend wristband for only $10 and enjoy two full days of bluegrass music, great food, and marketplace vendors.

3. Scarecrow Fest

Sept. 14, 10 am – 4 pm | Downtown Delavan

The 19th annual Scarecrow Fest is a community-wide, family-oriented event that will feature scarecrows on parade and free activities throughout historic downtown Delavan! With pumpkin decorating, a petting zoo, mural tours, food trucks, scarecrow building, live music, and more, there’s a little something for everyone!

4. Wise Fest

Sept. 14, 12 pm – 11 pm | Walworth County Fairgrounds, Elkhorn

If you’re looking to expand your musical horizons, this one is for you! The Wise Fest lineup is carefully curated to include original music, a variety of genres, and incredible talent. Take in the great music of these diamonds in the rough while supporting the biggest county fair in Wisconsin!

5. Geneva Lakes Antique & Classic Boat Show

Sept. 27 – 29 | The Abbey Resort, Fontana

This annual event is returning to the harbor at The Abbey Resort! Over 100 antique and classic boats from all over will be featured along with a boatload of activities, live music, and BBQ.

6. Antique Flea Market

Sept. 29, 7 am – 3 pm | Walworth County Fairgrounds, Elkhorn

Elkhorn’s flea market boasts OVER 500 vendors inside and outside! Don’t miss the last one of the year — these dealers will offer everything from furniture to pottery to dolls to linens and everything else in between. The walkways are paved, the food is delicious, admission is only $5, and the parking is free!

7. Family Fall Festival

Oct. 11 – 13 | Lake Lawn Resort, Delavan

Lake Lawn Resort has a jam-packed weekend of fall fun! Attendees can enjoy events such as unlimited mini golf, pumpkin decorating, doughnut making, hayrides, movie nights, and more. Still hungry for more? Feast on the Fall Harvest Buffet on Sunday or even enter the pie-eating contest! Activities will be open to resort guests and the public.

8. Lake Geneva Oktoberfest

Oct. 12 – 13, 11 am – 5 pm | Downtown Lake Geneva

Lake Geneva’s annual Oktoberfest celebration is back! Enjoy fest classics such as brats, cider doughnuts, pony rides, bounce houses, a craft fair, and Oktoberfest beer tent. Don’t forget the FREE pumpkin giveaway! Stop by Flat Iron Park to play Knockerball which is fun for all ages and hilarious to watch.

9. Elkhorn Oktoberfest

Oct. 19, 9 am – 5 pm | Downtown Elkhorn

There’s fun for all at Elkhorn’s Annual Oktoberfest celebration! Stroll through the square downtown to see over 100 crafters and vendors showcasing handcrafted items, antiques, produce and plants, and more. Stop by the Oktoberfest Car Show at government center or warm up with some chili over at the Chili Cook-Off! There will be plenty of kids activities such as games, pumpkin decorating, slides, and a bounce house. For the adults, there will be a Beer & Wine Tasting at Pocket Park!

10. Delavan Oktoberfest

Oct. 19, 3:30 pm – 9 pm | Community Park, Town of Delavan

Calling all lovers of polka and German food! Delavan’s Oktoberfest kicks off with the Dank Folk Dancers followed by an Alphorn demonstration. Enjoy beer, wine, and traditional German fare all evening. Bring your dancing shoes and polka away with the Steve Meisner Band!

11. Halloween Brew Walk

Oct. 25, 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm | Downtown Delavan

Sip, stroll, and shop through the historic brick streets of Delavan while tasting a variety of craft brews! All attendees will receive a souvenir glass and tasting passport which can be stamped at over a dozen downtown locations. Costumes are welcome and encouraged!

12. Boos & Brews Halloween Bash

Oct. 25 – 26, 5 pm – 11 pm | Lake Lawn Resort, Delavan

Celebrate Halloween with Lake Lawn Resort! Have a smashing good time with live music, spooky spirits, and wicked brews under the large beer tent. Costumes are optional, but encouraged (and necessary to enter their Halloween costume contest)! Enjoy seasonal concessions such as white chicken chili, turkey sliders, stadium nachos, and more!

13. Beer & Spirits Festival

Nov. 16, 1 pm – 5 pm | The Ridge Hotel

This one is for lovers of craft beers and spirits! Your ticket to the Beer & Spirits Festival gets you UNLIMITED tastings from over 35 craft breweries and distilleries. The fun continues with a dance party, photo booth, and more! A commemorative tasting glass is included with admission and early admission tickets are available that include three exclusive beer tastings.

 

To discover more events in Walworth County, visit our event calendar at www.visitwalworthcounty.com/events!

 

7 Can’t-Miss Markets in Walworth County

One thing Wisconsinites know well is how to cherish summer while it lasts. Between spending time at the lake, going to the county fair and enjoying concerts in the park, we tend to keep busy! One thing you’ll want to make time for, if you haven’t already, is scooping up some fresh produce and locally-made goods from a farmers market near you. Lucky for us, we have plenty of great markets right here in Walworth County!

1. Whitewater City Market

Located at the historic Train Depot, Whitewater City Market brings together local farmers, artisans, food cards, craft beer and local music every Tuesday from 4 – 7 pm. The market’s goal is to not only create a unique shopping experience, but also celebrate all things local. This marker offer free music, kids’ activities and boasts over 50 vendors!

2. Farmers Market – Lake Geneva

 

Enjoy a huge variety of local produce, beautiful flowers and all sorts of goods from farmers and local vendors every Thursday at Horticultural Hall in downtown Lake Geneva. This market takes place from 8 am – 1 pm and runs May 2 – October 24.

3. Burlington Farmers Market

Farm tables at this market are loaded with the region’s freshest, in-season fruits and vegetables, eggs, honey, ciders, cheeses, pasture-raised meats and poultry, jams, preserves, cut flowers and nursery stock. Local food artisans bring fresh bread, prepared foods and other goodies. Burlington hosts its market every Thursday from 3 pm – 7 pm at Wehmhoff Square.

 

4. Delavan’s Fresh Market

Delavan Fresh Market has fresh produce, local food vendors and artisan craftsmen. The market is located under the trees in downtown and right on Hwy 11. The Fresh Market is open on Thursday afternoons from 3 – 7 pm, June – September.

 

5. East Troy Farmers Market

The East Troy Farmers Market is currently celebrating its 11th year! This market features vendors selling staples like homegrown produce and flowers, but you can also find meats, honey, cheese, crafts and more. Note that the East Troy Farmers Market is held only on the first and third Friday of the month, June 7 – October 4. Click here to view their exciting schedule of events for the remainder of the 2019 season.

 

6. Saturdays on the Square – Elkhorn

Saturdays in Elkhorn are for Saturdays on the Square! Here, you can find a variety of vendors offering everything from handmade products to fresh, local produce. Every week, a different event, organization or activity is featured. Market-goers can attend every Saturday from 9 am – 1 pm at Veterans Park in downtown Elkhorn.

 

7. Whitewater Farmers Market

The Whitewater Farmers Market has been serving up fresh produce in the community for over 25 years! Open 8 am – 12 pm on Saturdays, this market features vendors with locally grown seasonal produce, baked goods, preserves, hand-crafted items and more. This market runs from the first Saturday in May until the first Saturday in November and is located at the Winchester True Value.

 

For more information about events happening in Walworth County, go to www.visitwalworthcounty.com/events

 

 

 

Enjoy Wisconsin’s Premier Golf Destination: The Lake Geneva Area Golf Trail

The Lake Geneva Area is Wisconsin’s premier golf destination. Home to some of the best championship courses in the Midwest, there are over 9 golf clubs with multiple courses cover Walworth County.

The Lake Geneva Area Golf Trail encompasses nine of those golf clubs ranging from family-friendly par-3 to nationally recognized courses. Features offered by the Lake Geneva Area Golf Trail make the trail a golfer’s greatest resource. Both the guide and the website bring together all the information you need to plan your next golf getaway.

World Class Golf. World Class Beauty.
All nine courses take great pride in their beautiful scenic landscapes and some even boast lakeside views. Discover the highlights of The Golf Trails’ participating clubs:

Abbey Springs Golf Club
Fontana, WI

Alpine Valley Resort
Elkhorn, WI

Country Club Estates Golf Club
Fontana, WI

Delbrook Golf Club
Delavan, WI

Evergreen Country Club
Elkhorn, WI

Geneva National Resort
Lake Geneva, WI

Grand Geneva Resort
Lake Geneva, WI

Hawk’s View Golf Club
Lake Geneva, WI

Lake Lawn Resort
Delavan, WI

The Lake Geneva Area Golf Trail Guide is the ultimate tool to find out more about each club along The Golf Trail. You will find stats on over 243 holes and the courses that hold them within this guide.

Searching for a great deal on golf this year? LakeGenevaGolfTrail.com is your online guide that will help plan the ultimate golf trip. Not only does it link to the course to schedule tee times, but you can view a full listing of special golf events, lodging, and special packages offered by clubs and local resorts. Or secure your greatest deal with the Lake Geneva Area Golf Trail Passport.

Each Golf Trail member course offers fantastic deals in the Lake Geneva Area Golf Passport. Each passport contains 27 rounds of golf: each club honors two certificates for Complimentary Greens Fees to be used in either the spring or the fall – 18 rounds of golf, as well as one certificate for Buy One Greens Fee, Get One Free to be used during the summer – 9 rounds of golf. Purchase yours today at lakegenevagolftrail.com/passport/ or at the Walworth County Visitors Center, 2375 E. Geneva St., Delavan, WI 53115

 

The Beer Barons of Geneva Lake

You may know of Conrad Seipp and his 1888 summer cottage on Geneva Lake…Black Point Estate and Gardens.  After four generations enjoyed their summers on Geneva Lake, the family donated the property to the State of Wisconsin; it’s open for tours hosted by the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Black Point Estate

The Seipp family is not the only Geneva Lake family that is connected to beer (just the one open for tours!)  To learn more about the “beer legacy” of Geneva Lake, join the Black Point staff for a beer tasting tour of the lake and Black Point Estate on July 20 or August 17th—go to the events page on blackpointestate.org for details.

Seipp was the largest brewer in Chicago for 30 years…and the largest in the U.S. for one year (1873) with many popular brands (Salvator, Columbia, Hollander, Pale Ale, etc.) 

 

Conrad Seipp

The Seipp family was associated with at least three estates on the lake…the Lindens on the south shore is owned by the Madlener side of the family…and related to the Blatz family.

 

A son-in-law, Theis Lefens had an estate on the south shore, too.  He was Secretary and Treasurer of Seipp’s Brewery, and president of the United States Brewers’ Association in 1889-90.

The first establishment connected to Chicago beer was the Pishcotaqua Hotel on the north shore, near Williams Bay and Knollwood. The hotel pre-dated the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island by 7 years, and was of the same luxurious style, built as a temperance hotel…but unsuccessful for the first few years, until John Cook bought it.  He was the owner of the Union Brewing Company in Chicago. The remaining building is now known as Ara Glen.

The complex known as Forest Glen, and Villa Palatina (near Fontana), was owned by two Chicago brewers:  George Weiss sold his estate to Edward Uihlein in 1899. Edward operated the Chicago branch for Schlitz.  Fire destroyed the house in 1922, and the area was subdivided.

The Fairlawn mansion still exists…it was in the Wacker family until 1975.  Charles Wacker and his father were in the malting and brewing business. Known for Wacker Drive, Charles was instrumental in implementing Burnham’s Chicago Plan…which gave us Chicago’s lakefront parks, Soldier Field, Shedd Aquarium, etc.

Conrad Seipp Brewing Company in Chicago, IL

 

Ceylon Court, renamed for the Maytag family when they purchased the property has another beer connection.  Fritz Maytag, often called the father of craft brewing, bought Anchor Steam Brewing in San Francisco in 1965.  His grandfather was the last Maytag to own property on Geneva Lake.

So Seipp was the largest brewer on the lake at one time…but there are connections to Blatz, Schlitz, and Anchor Steam beer as well as connections with Wacker and John Cook.  Join Black Point staff on July 20 or August 17 to learn more of the beer story of Geneva Lake…and sample some great beers while you tour Black Point Estate and Gardens!

By Michael Rehberg

 

Walworth County: Food Festival Heaven

What’s a summer in Wisconsin without meat on the grill, corn on the cob, and a cold beer in hand? It’s no secret that food has the power to bring people together whether it be a backyard BBQ or the Largest BBQ Festival in the state of Wisconsin. Walworth County is home to several summertime food festivals that will fulfill your foodie fantasies.

 

Elkhorn Ribfest | Elkhorn, WI | Thursday, July 11 – Sunday, July 14, 2019

Part competition and part festival, Elkhorn Ribfest is a 4 day long barbecue lover’s dream. The Walworth County Fairgrounds hosts this enormous event that features world renowned BBQ professionals. These ribbers are competing for the title of Grand Champion and festival-goers even have the opportunity to cast a vote for their favorite! Once you’ve had your fill of mouth watering ribs, there’s still plenty of festival left to enjoy! You can take a stroll around artisan village and enjoy carnival rides. Not to mention, there’s no shortage of live entertainment. The festival features artists such as Bella Cain, Too White Crew, Cherry Pie, Hairbanger’s Ball and more. Free admission and free parking make this a fun, affordable event for all!

Steak Cookout | Elkhorn, WI | Wednesday, July 17, 2019

If you’re still hungry for more after Elkhorn Ribfest, the annual Steak Cookout at the Walworth County Fairgrounds shortly follows. Stop by for a delicious steak or burger hot off the grill from 4-7 pm and don’t forget to check out the bake sale! This event supports the Walworth County Junior Beef Members.

Big Foot Lions Club Lobster Boil & Steak Fry | Fontana, WI | Saturday, July 27, 2019

Indulge at the biggest social event in Fontana! The fun begins at noon in Reid Park with live music and lighter fare such as hamburgers and hot dogs. Lobster and steak dinners will be served from 2-9 pm and all meals include boiled red potatoes, peas, boiled onions, buttered rolls and a dessert! Yum! There will be a children’s area set up and live entertainment from Al’s Blues Band, Mr. Myers Band and The Eddie Butts Band. Lobster dinner tickets are $38 in advance/$40 at the door and steak dinner tickets are $24 in advance/$26 at the door. All proceeds from the fundraiser go back to the public through contributions from the Lions Club. 

Corn & Brat Days | Elkhorn, WI | Friday, August 2 – Saturday, August 3, 2019

Formerly known as Festival of Summer, this event kicks off a big month for corn and brats in Walworth County. Downtown Elkhorn will host artisans, vendors, bounce houses, and performances from local groups. Some of this year’s performers include the martial arts group Elkhorn Flying Dragons, Walworth County Cloggers, Toe to Toe Ballet and live music by The Amazing Farm Boys.

Corn and Bratwurst Festival | Walworth, WI | Saturday, August 3, 2019

Join the Geneva Lake West Rotary Club for their 58th Annual Corn and Bratwurst festival! Held in Heyer Park, the fest will feature delicious roasted corn on the cob and beer brats from 11 am to 9 pm. Enjoy live entertainment all day and try your luck at the dunk tank for a chance to soak local celebrities! Tickets are $9 in advance or $13 day of.

Corn & Brat Fest | Williams Bay, WI | Friday, August 9 – Sunday, August 11, 2019

Sweet corn and Wisconsin brats…a match made in heaven. The Williams Bay Lions Club is hosting this massive, 3 day event at Edgewater Park. There will be multiple raffles and live music from The Andrew Gelles Band, Rebel Grace, Katie Mack, and the Big Al Wetzel Band. Don’t miss the fireworks show on Saturday night!

Darien Cornfest | Darien, WI | Friday, September 6 – Sunday, September 8, 2019

We hope you’re still hungry for corn because these ears are FREE! The 59th Annual Darien Cornfest returns this September with live entertainment, carnival rides, a craft fair, tournaments, tractor pulls, fireworks, a parade, and more corn than you could ever dream of. This festival has it all and you won’t want to miss it. Enjoy free corn from 11 am to 3 pm on Saturday & Sunday of the event!