Hi there — fall arrived early this year, and the region's orchards, festivals, and farmers markets are already in full swing. Here's what's worth your Saturday, one parenting habit worth stealing, a quick note on why your kid's school cared so much about attendance last week, and a neighbor worth knowing — all before the next issue lands in two weeks.
On the Calendar
Waukesha Oktoberfest — Sept 25–26, Frame Park, Waukesha. Live music, food, beer, and classic Oktoberfest games like hammerschlagen and cornhole.
9th Annual Oktoberfest of Greater Racine — Sept 24–26 (into the 27th). Traditional food, drink, and entertainment at Franksville Memorial Park to kick off fall in Racine County.
Kenosha HarborMarket — Saturdays through Oct 31, downtown Kenosha (2nd Ave & 56th St). Farm stands, local vendors, and lake views on the harbor.
Cedarburg Oktoberfest — Oct 3–4, historic downtown Cedarburg. A hometown favorite in Ozaukee County, with the Wine & Harvest Festival’s energy carrying into fall.
Wings and Wheels for a Cause — Sept 26, West Bend Municipal Airport. A drive-in/fly-in car show with live music, food, and kids’ activities in Washington County.
Discovery World Animal Encounters & Design It! Lab — weekends through the window, Milwaukee’s lakefront. Meet Great Lakes wildlife and build a take-home craft.
Heading to an orchard this fall? Make Honey Creek Orchard in Cedarburg your first stop — U-pick apples, farm play, and fresh cider treats. Details below.
Parent to Parent
The five-minute reset. Before the after-school scramble hits, try naming the plan out loud together — snack, homework, one outside break, dinner — before anyone's shoes come off. Kids handle transitions better when they know what's coming, and it saves you from repeating yourself four times before 6 p.m.
School Notes
If your child's school made a bigger-than-usual deal about attendance last week, here's why: Wisconsin public schools are required to count students for state funding purposes on the third Friday in September — this year, that was September 18. Districts use that count (plus a second one in January) to calculate state aid, so a student who was enrolled and attended at least one day before and after the count date still counts, even if they were absent that specific Friday. Nothing for you to do here — just useful to know if the school felt extra insistent about it.
Featured Orchard
Honey Creek Orchard — Cedarburg (8210 Pioneer Rd). A family farm built for kid days: U-pick apples across 2,500+ trees (mix-and-match varieties), farm animals, Western Town play areas, plus fresh apple donuts, cider, and pies.
Farm admission covers the activities; apple picking is separate. Closed Tuesdays — hours run roughly 9–5 weekdays (Fri a bit later, Sat until 6, Sun 10–5). Their 2026 season opens the first Saturday after Labor Day, so this is prime orchard weekend energy.
See you every other Thursday. Got an event, a deal, or a tip other families should know about? Just reply — a real person reads every note.
— Cedar & Shore
