Send summer out in style this Labor Day weekend. Make every moment count by experiencing the sights, sounds and flavors of the season. Here’s to a memorable close to summer.
Send out summer in festival style
Discover unique festivals to end summer with a bang throughout Labor Day weekend.
Experience true Midwest charm at the Walworth County Fair. This is one of the oldest and largest fairs, and you’ll discover hallmarks of a county fair like ag displays, fried food, fun games and rides, and entertainment, including big-name acts like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Ludacris. The Walworth County Fair runs from Wednesday, September 2, through Monday, September 7.
See Scottish heritage and traditions on display at the Wisconsin Highland Games. This annual event draws culture- and fun-seeking travelers to the Waukesha County Expo from Friday, September 4, to Sunday, September 6. Marvel at incredible feats of skill and strength in games like the haggis hurl and battle axe throwing. Soak in cultural performances like highland dancing, sheepherding and traditional pipe and drum music.
Get out on a Wisconsin waterway
Soak in those summer rays from the water. Wisconsin is made for water-filled fun, between two Great Lakes, 15,000 inland lakes and 84,000 miles of rivers and streams. Wherever you head in Wisconsin, you’ll find a watery playground for Labor Day weekend.
Cast a line and catch a fish that’ll become a story you tell for life. Choose from a variety of adventures, whether it’s the thrill of charter fishing the Great Lakes or angling with the family for panfish. Consider the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage, which is a reservoir formed 100 years ago and now renowned among anglers. You’ll discover 14,000 acres of water, undisturbed and wooded shorelines, remote islands and plenty of fishing hot spots.
Slow things down by paddling placid rivers and streams. The Kickapoo River in the Driftless is known for crooked bends and towering sandstone cliffs. In northwest Wisconsin, wildlife watchers flock to the Namekagon River to spot animals on the shore and birds up in the sky.
Explore the outdoors with the Wisconsin Trail Report
Summer moments are best spent outdoors. Savor those moments with the help of Travel Wisconsin’s Trail Report. The Trail Report is an interactive map to plan hiking and biking adventures. It lists more than 185 trail networks across the state.
You’ll learn about trail conditions, get the weather forecast and find ideas to round out a trip. Click a trail network on the map and you’ll see recommendations for nearby dining, lodging, activities and events.
Savor the flavors of summer
Travel by fork and seek out those classic summertime flavors over Labor Day weekend. Find the perfect drive-in restaurant for cold ice cream and hot food.
Rudy’s Drive-in has been a family tradition since 1933. They’ve got locations in both La Crosse and Sparta and are famous for their chili dog. Ardy & Ed’s Drive-In is a blast from the past in Oshkosh with its roller-skating car hops. You can even dock your boat across the street and grab some food to be enjoyed on Lake Winnebago.
Seek out another summertime specialty at a Wisconsin pizza farm. Sprouting Acres serves scratch-made pizza near Madison in the village of Cambridge. You’ll find pizza and live music both on Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6. In Marathon County, Stoney Acres Farm uses produce they grow and hogs they raise to craft unforgettable pizzas. They operate a pizza night on Friday, September 4, and Saturday, September 5, that’s worth the visit.
Start your getaway at TravelWisconsin.com
