HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES RAMP UP
Boo in the Bay, trick-or-treat trains, Falltober Fest & more on tap
Walk among the candles this weekend at Yerkes Observatory (pictured) in Williams Bay
The Lake Geneva Public Library is the first landmarked building with the city of Lake Geneva, and the public is invited to celebrate the milestone Thursday, Oct. 22.
There are three Boo in the Bay events this week in Williams Bay, including the annual Pumpkin Races Saturday, Oct. 24.
LOOK AHEAD
Look Ahead is the weekly event listing of The Resorter. Below are Lake Geneva area happenings we suggest checking out. Note: Information is subject to change. Email Special Section Coordinator Steve Targo to have an event listed.
Wednesday, Oct. 21
Wheel of Fortune Live — Lobby opens 6 p.m., show starts 7 p.m., Irvin L. Young Auditorium, 930 W. Main St., Whitewater, theyoungwhitewater.com/ event/wheel-of-fortune-live. Watch as those who purchase tickets prior to October are selected from the audience to participate in this live version of the long-running television game show. Contestants will spin a replica of the iconic Wheel and solve puzzles to win prizes. Tickets start at $25. Extra fees may apply.
Boo in the Bay: Murder at the Monster Mash — 6 p.m., Lions Field House, 270 Elkhorn Road, Williams Bay, williamsbayrecreation.checkfront.com/reserve. Guests will work together to solve a Halloween murder mystery. Free to attend, registration required at this installment of Williams Bay's Boo in the Bay event series. Note: Event is "booked full," according to the link, but people can request placement on a waitlist.
Kate Mooney Author Talk — 6 p.m., Fontana Public Library, 166 2nd Ave., Fontana, lakesidebookslg.com/events. Mooney, author of "The Woman of the House," will be in conversation with event coordinator Anna Gravunder. Copies of the new book will also be available for purchase. Free to attend, submit RSVP at the link.
Thursday, Oct. 22
Landmark Night at the Library — 5:45-7:45 p.m., Lake Geneva Public Library, 918 W. Main St., Lake Geneva, lglibrary.org. Celebrate the designation of the first locally landmarked building within the city of Lake Geneva (see story A1). Ribbon cutting with Visit Lake Geneva starts at 5:45 p.m. Open house in the newly renovated Smith Room of the library at 6 p.m. A program about historic preservation and landmarking is at 6:30 p.m. Ken Etten, of the Historic Preservation Commission; and Chris Brookes, of the commission and Black Point Estate and Gardens, will be there. Free, open to the public.
Friday, Oct. 23
Geneva Falltober Fest — Gate opens 4 p.m., starts 5 p.m., Lake Geneva House of Music, N3241 County Road H, town of Geneva, lghom.com/ full-calendar. Halloween spirit and Oktoberfest vibes permeate this threeday event, which kicks off today. Live music, costumes, German-inspired activities and food, pumpkins and more. Free admission. Find more at the link and at the House of Music Facebook page.
Trick-or-treat Trains — 5 & 6 p.m., East Troy Electric Railroad, 2002 Church St., East Troy, easttroyrr.org/trick-or-treat-trains.html. Take a 25-minute train ride from the railroad depot to the Jim Byrnes Memorial Park, formerly known as Town Hall Park. Once at the park, children can trickor-treat, play games and enjoy the new playground equipment. After the trip back to the depot, each child can pick a pumpkin to take home. Trick-or-treat Trains will also run Friday, Oct. 30, at 5 & 6 p.m. Tickets $12 ages 2 and younger, $29 ages 3-14, $32.50 ages 15 and older. East Troy Railroad Museum members receive a discount.
The 1985: Totally 80s Mixtape Live — Doors 6 p.m., show 7 p.m., Geneva Stage, 244 Broad St., Lake Geneva, genevastage.com. High-energy retro dance party with The 1985 performing music by Prince, Madonna, Michael Jackson and other 1980s music in a "full-throttle flashback," according to the site. Tickets $30-35, plus fees.
Yerkes Candlelight Walk — 7-9:30 p.m., Yerkes Observatory, 373 W. Geneva St., Williams Bay, yerkesobservatory.org/tours-and-events/ yerkes-candlelight-walk. Annual walk through 2,000 candles "will be illuminated like an autumnal constellation," per the link. Candles will be in the 50-acre Olmstead arboretum, with educational stations along the trails and inside the observatory. Free shuttle to and from Williams Bay High School, 500 W. Geneva St. No on-site parking at Yerkes. Another Candlelight Walk is Saturday, Oct. 24, 7-9:30 p.m. Cost $15 for ages 19 and older, $10 ages 18 and younger. Rain or shine event.
Saturday, Oct. 24
2026 Catch & Release Fishing Derby — Check-in 5:30 a.m., tournament 6-10 a.m., post-derby buffet and more after until 12:30 p.m., Turtle Lake Tap & Grill, N6513 Anderson Drive, Delavan, turtlelaketapandgrill.com/fishing-derby. Prizes for largest walleye, bass and northern pike. Derby limited to 20 boats. Registration is per boat/team of two. Down payment: $100, to be paid in person or over the phone. More at the link.
Trunk or Treat! — Noon-2 p.m., Advanced Auto Clinic Delavan, 4300 Highway 50, Delavan. Family fun in the form of free candy and treats. Costumes encouraged. See Advanced Auto Clinic's Facebook page for more.
Boo in the Bay: Pumpkin Races — 1 p.m., Barrett Memorial Library, 65 W. Geneva St., Williams Bay, williamsbayrecreation.checkfront.com / reserve. Think this is just about rolling a pumpkin down a hill? There are three divisions. Fun Run is simply rolling a pumpkin to see how far it goes. Bracket Division has head-to-head races in a stepladder format. Then there's the Cheaters Division, an anything goes format that allows contestants to be creative with their pumpkin designs.
Lake Geneva Jaycees Trunk or Treat — 1-4 p.m., Lake City Social, 111 Center St., Lake Geneva. Children can wear costumes and go from trunk to trunk for candy and treats at this annual event by the Jaycees. Music, games, pumpkin decorating and more. See the Jaycees Facebook page for more.
Lil' Rev — 3-4:30 p.m., First Congregational United Church of Christ, 715 Wisconsin St., Lake Geneva. Singer, storyteller and ukulele ace Lil' Rev is performing, with admission $10 at the door. Children age 10 and younger free to attend. Freewill and concession donations accepted. Call or text Common Ground Lake Geneva at 815861-4930 for more.
Boo in the Bay: Monster Walk — 5-6:30 p.m., Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy, 251 Elkhorn Road, Williams Bay, williamsbayrecreation. checkfront.com/reserve. Guests will join a "monster detective" and take to the Kishwauketoe trails to find as many Halloween monsters as they can. This is a non-scary, non-contact Monster Walk. Free to attend.
BoDeans: Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams … and Good Things — Lobby opens 6 p.m., show 7 p.m., Irvin L. Young Auditorium, www.theyoungwhitewater.com/event/the-bodeans40-years-of-love-hope-sex-dreamsand-good-things. The BoDeans debut album "Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams" turns 40 years old, and the band is celebrating with a tour. The BoDeans will play a two-and-a-half-hour show that features a video retrospective. Tickets start at $43. Extra fees may apply.
Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra: An American in Paris — 7 p.m., Delavan-Darien High School, 150 Cummings St., Delavan, app.aplos.com/aws/events/2026_october_concert. Gershwin's musical version of an American visiting the streets of Paris and Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man." Eireann Murphy, of the orchestra, will perform the Vaughan Williams Tuba Concerts and Ethel Smyth's "Overture to the Wreckers." Area high school string students will perform with the orchestra. Tickets are free for students, $20 adults, $50 for premium reserved seats.
