Autumn is just around the corner, and there’s never been a better time to get out and enjoy all the kid-friendly fun in the Milwaukee area! Here are our top picks for the weekend:
1. Apple & Sunflower Festivals
Sunflower Fest – Old Homestead Orchard
7814 Raynor Ave., Franksville, WI 53126
September 9-10, 2024
Admission: FREE (fees apply for activites, flowers and apples)
Enjoy 8 acres of beautiful sunflowers and view! Wander the maze, and pick your own sunflowers, apples and pears. Orchard staff will hide 20 golden sunflowers throughout the maze each day. A golden sunflower earns a free prize! Plus: Pony rides, kids play area, café with apple cider treats, and more.
Apple & Sunflower Fest – Basse’s Taste of Country
3190 County Line Q, Colgate, WI 53017
September 5-8, 12-15, 2024 (weather permitting)
Admission: $15.95 per person (Children Under 2 FREE)
Walk or ride the Grain Train out to the fields, where you can enjoy picking your own apples from the orchard, and wandering through the beautiful zinnias and 5-acre sunflower maze. Admission includes a 1/4 peck bag of U-pick apples; U-pick sunflowers and zinnias cost extra. Basse’s is cashless.
Autumn Harvest Fest – The Elegant Farmer
1545 Main St., Mukwonago, WI 53149
September 7-October 27, 2024 (Saturdays and Sundays only)
Admission: FREE (fees apply for activities, apples and pumpkins)
This fun family event features apple picking, corn maze, laser tag, pumpkin patch, tractor-pulled hayrides, pony rides, the Smilin’ Barn Café and more.
The Yard at BAYSHORE, 5800 N. Bayshore Dr., Glendale, WI 53217
Saturday, September 7, 2024, Noon-3 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Celebrate the new school year at this event in The Yard, presented by St. Francis Children’s Center! Dance with Kid Boogie Down, dive into science at Mad Science fun stations, explore fossils and dinosaurs with the Milwaukee Public Museum, and jump around in the bouncy house.
Enjoy a petting zoo, face painting, and flamingo and dinosaur drawstring bag giveaways. Stick around afterward for a free showing of Rock Dog 3: Battle The Beat.
Henry Maier Festival Park, 639 E. Summerfest Place, Milwaukee, WI 53202
September 6-8, 2024
Admission: Starting from $22 for toddlers to $45 for adult-only sessions. Advance purchase recommended.
With massive inflatables and dedicated sessions for all ages, this event is perfect for families with kids of all ages. The Big Bounce America is an entire inflatable playground spread out over 900 feet, packed with a variety of custom-built attractions.
Old Heidelberg Park, 700 W. Lexington Blvd., Glendale, WI 53217
Friday-Sunday, September 6-October 6, 2024, open at 11 a.m.
Admission: FREE
Oktoberfest 2024 in Heidelberg Park at the Bavarian Bierhaus will celebrate over 60 years of great music, great beer, and great food. There will be free parking, a midway for kids on Friday and Saturdays, and plenty of tables.
Ozaukee County Pioneer Village, 4880 County Rd I, Saukville, WI 53080
Saturday, September 7, 2024, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Admission: Adults $8, Students $6, Children Under 5
This train show features the Kettle Moraine Ballast Scorchers and Metro Model Railroad Clubs, Railroad Bells, Horns & Whistles. There will also be a scavenger hunt around the track, RC planes by the Astrowings, an RC race track by Compass, a car show, live music, food, a beer tent, a silent auction and more.
All proceeds benefit the Ozaukee County Historical Society’s 1940 Milwaukee Road Caboose Restoration Project.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles Show >>
Downtown Wauwatosa, 7720 W. Harwood Ave., Wauwatosa, WI 53213
September 6-7, 2024
Admission: FREE
This annual festival features live music on three stages, five beer gardens, a food court, vendor market, unique TosaFest experiences, Oktoberfest with Draft & Vessel, a Spritz Garden with The Village Cheese Shop, and more!
Don’t miss KidsFest on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will be inflatables, cornhole and kid-friendly activities i n the parking lot on Wauwatosa Avenue near Harmonee.
Wehr Nature Center, 9701 W. College Ave., Franklin, WI 53132
Sunday, September 8, 2024, Noon-4 p.m.
Admission: General $6; Friends of Wehr Members $4; Children 2 and Under FREE ($5 parking fee applies for non-members)
Explore the wonderful world of invertebrates through Show, Tell, and Touch displays featuring live critters from Wisconsin and across the globe. Dress like a bug, join a guided insect safari hike, and sample tasty insect treats from the Critter Café.
Invertebrates are essential pollinators, decomposers, food for critters (and people), and so much more. Learn how insects help us and how you can help the insects during this open house-style event.
TIP: Skip the lines! Walk-ins are welcome but receive a pre-registration discount of $1 off if you register online by September 5th.
100 Best Things To Do With Kids in Milwaukee
From fresh farmer’s markets and must-visit museums to professional sports games and cozy indoor play cafes, there are so many great things to do in MKE with your whole family.
Events Calendar
Dive into our Events Calendar for an exciting array of daily activities perfect for kids and families, all handily sorted by location.
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Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.