October brings a different personality to Kenosha County. Lake Michigan takes on its crisp fall look, leaves brighten parks and wooded trails, and Halloween events begin popping up from Pleasant Prairie to Bristol and Downtown Kenosha.
That makes this a terrific time to turn an ordinary Friday night into a full southeastern Wisconsin getaway. Start with one of Wisconsin’s favorite traditions, a Friday fish fry in Kenosha County, and then keep the weekend rolling with fall hikes, Halloween lights, art, haunted adventures and colorful drives through communities across the county.
Whether you’re a Kenosha County local looking for something different to do or you’re coming down from Milwaukee, up from northern Illinois or across southeastern Wisconsin, here are some ideas for building an October weekend around good food and fall fun.
Find a Friday Fish Fry in Kenosha County
Around Wisconsin, Friday fish fry isn’t simply something you order for dinner. It’s part of the rhythm of the week.
Kenosha County gives you plenty of territory to explore, too. You can plan Friday evening around Kenosha or Pleasant Prairie before heading toward the Lake Michigan shoreline, or explore farther west through Bristol, Salem Lakes, Silver Lake, Paddock Lake, Twin Lakes and the surrounding countryside.
Depending on the restaurant, a Wisconsin fish fry might mean cod, perch, walleye or other fish accompanied by familiar sides such as fries, potato pancakes, coleslaw and rye bread. Each restaurant puts its own stamp on the tradition.
The Friday Fish Fry Guide is designed to make finding those local spots easier. Browse Kenosha County listings, pick the restaurant that fits your plans and make Friday dinner the starting point for the weekend.
If you’re visiting from outside the county, consider arriving Friday afternoon, exploring a little before dinner and then staying for Saturday’s fall and Halloween events. That turns fish fry night into something bigger: the opening act of a Wisconsin autumn road trip.
1. Take on HallowGlow at Bristol Woods
Dates: Fridays and Saturdays through October 24, 2026 Location: Boundless Adventures at Bristol Woods Park, 9800 160th Avenue, Bristol
Western Kenosha County gets its own dose of Halloween adrenaline with HallowGlow at Boundless Adventures. The aerial adventure course is transformed for October with Halloween lighting, creating an after-dark climbing experience among the trees.
HallowGlow runs Fridays and Saturdays from October 9 through October 24, making it especially easy to work into a weekend itinerary.
This is a good pick if your definition of fall fun involves something more energetic than pumpkin displays. Pair a daytime drive through western Kenosha County with an evening climb, or make this your Saturday adventure after Friday fish fry.
Bristol gives visitors a reason to travel beyond the Lake Michigan side of the county and explore the wooded, rural side of Kenosha County.
2. Drive the Pleasant Prairie Halloween Lights Tour
Dates: October 17–31, 2026 Location: Throughout Pleasant Prairie
After dark, Pleasant Prairie becomes its own Halloween attraction during the 5th Annual Halloween Lights Tour.
Residents throughout the village decorate their homes, and Visit Pleasant Prairie creates a tour of participating displays. Visitors can use an interactive map, enjoy a Halloween playlist and vote for their favorite decorated home.
Special treat stops are also planned at the Visit Pleasant Prairie Welcome Center on October 17 and October 24 from 1–4 p.m., with Halloween characters, apple cider, cookies and photo opportunities.
The tour continues through Halloween, so it also works well for visitors who can’t make only one specific festival date.
Save the drive for after sunset. Have dinner first, grab something warm to drink and let the decorated homes become your evening entertainment.
3. Bring the Kids to Pleasant Prairie’s Trunk-or-Treat
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026 Time: 2–4 p.m. Location: Lake Andrea Beer Garden parking lot, Pleasant Prairie
Families can add another Halloween stop that same weekend with Pleasant Prairie’s Trunk-or-Treat.
The free community event features local businesses and organizations handing out treats from decorated vehicles, with costumes encouraged.
Because it’s held in the afternoon, it’s easy to build an entire Pleasant Prairie day around it. Explore the Lake Andrea area, attend Trunk-or-Treat and then wait for dusk before starting the Halloween Lights Tour.
It’s a wonderful opportunity for families to enjoy two seasonal activities in one afternoon and evening without having to travel far.
4. Browse the Final Kenosha Art Market of 2026
Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026 Time: 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Location: Union Park, 4500 7th Avenue, Kenosha Admission: Free
Fall doesn’t have to be all ghosts and pumpkins.
The Kenosha Art Market closes out its 2026 season on October 18 in the Union Park Arts District. More than 70 area artists are typically represented, with work ranging from ceramics, glass and woodworking to painting, fiber art, photography and prints.
Live demonstrations, music and food are also part of the market atmosphere.
This is particularly nice for a Sunday morning after a busy Saturday. Grab breakfast, wander the market, meet local makers and leave room in the car for whatever piece of art unexpectedly decides it belongs in your house.
5. Experience Spooky Hollow After Dark
Dates: October 23–24, 2026 Time: 6–9 p.m. Location: Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary & Arboretum, 880 Green Bay Road, Kenosha
For Halloween atmosphere without a full-blown horror experience, Spooky Hollow offers something different.
Visitors walk the trails after dark while encountering local folklore, mysterious stories, seasonal displays, crafts and Halloween photo opportunities.
Organizers describe the experience as family- and adult-friendly rather than a jump-scare haunted attraction.
Because the experience takes place outdoors on natural trails, plan for autumn weather and appropriate footwear.
It’s an appealing choice for anyone who wants their Halloween with a little more woodland folklore and a little less chainsaw.
6. Spend October 24 at Downtown Kenosha’s Fall Into Fun Fest
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026 Time: 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Location: Veterans Memorial Park, 5220 Sixth Avenue, Kenosha Admission: Free
One of the best family-event days in this October lineup is Fall Into Fun Fest in Downtown Kenosha.
The October 24 event is scheduled to include pumpkin decorating, crafts, face painting, story time, a petting zoo, music, a costume contest, fall photo opportunities and food and snack vendors.
And don’t rush home afterward.
Downtown Trick-or-Treat follows later in the afternoon, making it possible to turn the downtown area into a substantial Saturday outing rather than a quick stop.
Combine the festivities with the nearby lakefront, downtown shops and restaurants and you have an easy day-trip itinerary without spending half the day behind the wheel.
7. Explore Silver Lake Park in Western Kenosha County
7. Explore Silver Lake Park in Western Kenosha CountyIf you’d rather trade Halloween crowds for autumn woods, make time for Silver Lake Park in the Salem Lakes area.
The park includes wooded hiking and walking trails, scenic overlooks, disc golf and opportunities to spend time along Silver Lake.
Visitors can explore approximately two miles of hiking and walking trails, along with the 18-hole Silver Fox disc golf course.
It’s a particularly useful stop for this itinerary because Kenosha County is much more than its Lake Michigan shoreline.
Drive west and the scenery changes. Communities including Salem Lakes, Silver Lake, Paddock Lake, Wheatland and Twin Lakes offer a different side of the county, with inland lakes, wooded parks and quieter rural roads that become especially inviting during fall.
8. Walk Kenosha’s Lake Michigan Shoreline
You can’t really build a Kenosha County weekend without giving Lake Michigan some attention.
Autumn is a terrific time to walk the waterfront. The crowds of midsummer are gone, the air is cooler and the changing trees add color to the shoreline.
Kenosha offers an unusually accessible lakefront, with parks, walking areas, beaches, harbor views and museums concentrated near the water.
You can wander the harbor, see the lighthouse, walk through HarborPark or combine your shoreline time with Kenosha’s museum district.
For photographers, sunrise over Lake Michigan is worth getting up earlier than you’d normally consider reasonable on a weekend.
Plan a Fall Weekend in Kenosha County
One of the best things about Kenosha County is that you don’t have to choose between an urban lakefront weekend and a country fall drive. You can do both.
Friday: Start with a Wisconsin Fish Fry. Arrive in Kenosha County and begin your weekend with a traditional Wisconsin Friday fish fry. Choose a restaurant in Kenosha, Pleasant Prairie, Bristol or one of the western Kenosha County communities. After dinner, take a waterfront walk or head toward Bristol for HallowGlow.
Saturday: Explore the County’s Fall Activities. Build the day around whichever October event fits your weekend. Pleasant Prairie’s Halloween activities, Spooky Hollow or Downtown Kenosha’s October 24 festivities can become the centerpiece. Add a drive west toward Bristol, Salem Lakes, Silver Lake, Paddock Lake or Twin Lakes if the leaves are calling your name.
Sunday: Slow Down and Enjoy the Scenery. Walk the Lake Michigan shoreline, browse the October 18 Kenosha Art Market if you’re visiting that weekend, explore Silver Lake Park or visit one of Kenosha’s museums. For locals, you may discover somewhere in your own county that you haven’t visited in years. For day-trippers and weekend travelers, the mix of Wisconsin food traditions, Lake Michigan, inland lakes, fall color and Halloween events makes October one of the most interesting times to explore Kenosha County. And naturally, it all gets better when the weekend starts with fish fry.
Kenosha County Fall Weekend FAQ
What is happening in Kenosha County in October 2026?
October events include HallowGlow at Bristol Woods, the Pleasant Prairie Halloween Lights Tour, Pleasant Prairie Trunk-or-Treat, the Kenosha Art Market, Spooky Hollow and Downtown Kenosha’s Fall Into Fun Fest. Several events are concentrated between October 17 and October 24.
Where can I find a Friday fish fry in Kenosha County?
The Friday Fish Fry Guide can help you find Friday fish fry restaurants throughout Kenosha County, including the Kenosha, Pleasant Prairie and western Kenosha County areas. Check individual restaurant listings for current hours, fish choices, prices and specials.
What are some fall things to do in Kenosha County?
Popular fall ideas include hiking at Silver Lake Park or Petrifying Springs Park, visiting the Lake Michigan shoreline, exploring Bristol Woods and attending seasonal markets and Halloween events.
Kenosha County also has an extensive network of biking and walking trails for visitors who want to enjoy the fall scenery outdoors.
What Halloween events are happening in Kenosha County?
Among the 2026 choices are HallowGlow in Bristol, the Pleasant Prairie Halloween Lights Tour, Pleasant Prairie Trunk-or-Treat, Spooky Hollow, the Kemper Haunted House and Downtown Kenosha’s Fall Into Fun Fest.
The Kemper Haunted House offers additional Halloween entertainment during October, including opportunities for visitors who enjoy haunted attractions.
Is Kenosha County good for a weekend trip?
Yes. Its combination of Lake Michigan, museums, downtown attractions, county parks, inland lakes, seasonal events and Friday fish fry makes it easy to create either a day trip or a two-night weekend.
Visitors can explore the lakeshore, attend local events, enjoy outdoor recreation and discover communities throughout southeastern Wisconsin.
What communities can I explore in Kenosha County?
In addition to the City of Kenosha, visitors can explore Pleasant Prairie, Somers, Bristol, Salem Lakes, Silver Lake, Paddock Lake, Twin Lakes, Wheatland and other communities throughout the county.
Each offers its own mix of local restaurants, parks, small-town attractions and opportunities to experience southeastern Wisconsin.
Event dates, times, locations and activities may change due to weather, scheduling or other circumstances. Please check the official event or organizer website before traveling.
