1. Milwaukee Comedy Festival
OCT. 1-8 | MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
This is Milwaukee’s biggest comedy event of the year! Catch 2023’s headliners Kyle Kinane, Todd Barry, Kelly Ryan and Dave Stone, plus dozens of other comedians.
2. Downtown West Allis Classic Car Show
OCT. 1 | GREENFIELD AVENUE
Check out 450 classic and custom cars at this auto show. Bring the whole family for the music and food, and sign the kids up to compete in the annual Hot Wheels race.
Tell us who you’d pick to be a Betty this year!
3. The Farm Music Festival
OCT. 5-8 | ULTIMATE FARM COLLABORATIVE
This grassroots festival is about mixing nature with hip-hop and dubstep music. The fest takes place at an urban farm in the Silver Spring neighborhood.
4. Illuminating the Dark Tours
OCT. 5-31 | PABST MANSION
Head to the Historic Pabst Mansion for a special after-hours tour. The mansion will be dimly lit as you explore by candlelight. Expect hidden compartments and a rare trip to the lower-level spaces.
5. Friday Garden Games
OCT. 6 | CEDARBURG ART MUSEUM
This event changes up the game each month, and for October it’s the beloved card game euchre. So hope for trump and take some tricks, but make sure to also take a moment to appreciate the picturesque garden.
6. See It
OCT. 13 | THE BEER GARDEN
Pay tribute to Friday the 13th by spending the evening with Stephen King’s Pennywise, the supernatural, child-terrorizing clown. The Deer District beer garden will have picnic tables, but you can also bring your own blankets and lawn chairs to guarantee a good seat.
7. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
OCT. 14 | HENRY W. MAIER FESTIVAL PARK (SOUTH GATE)
It’s not just a walk along the lakefront, it’s a movement raising money to support the fight against breast cancer. The Breast Cancer Awareness Month event’s goal is to raise $210,000 to support the American Cancer Society.
8. The Zombies
OCT. 14 | SOUTH MILWAUKEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
These 1960s rockers are back for a concert in South Milwaukee. The group will be playing songs off their new album, Different Game, as well as beloved throwbacks. It’s certainly the “Time of the Season” to see a band named after reanimated corpses.
9. Mac Sabbath
OCT. 16 | TURNER HALL BALLROOM
This isn’t your average tribute band. Mac Sabbath is a parody of the heavy metal legends Black Sabbath that also spoofs characters from fast food chains. Ronald Osborne, Slayer MacCheeze, Grimalice and the Cat Burglar will put on a theatrical rock concert featuring a laser-eyed clown and bouncing burgers.
10. Derek Hough
OCT. 18 | THE RIVERSIDE THEATER
“Dancing with the Stars” performer Derek Hough is in town to show off styles from ballroom to Latin. He’ll be joined on stage by a cast of dancers to put on a lively, fast-paced show.
11. Boo at the Zoo
OCT. 19-22 | MILWAUKEE COUNTY ZOO
Walk the zoo grounds for this “merry not scary” Halloween event. There are light shows, live music and a pumpkin-carving demonstration. Plus, you’ll get candy on the zoo’s Trick-or-Treat Trail, so bring your plastic pumpkins to collect.
12. Harry Potter Film Festival
OCT. 20-NOV. 2 | RIVOLI THEATRE
Accio tickets! It’s time for Cedarburg’s Harry Potter Film Festival. All eight movies will play throughout the 14-day event. Enjoy the screenings in historic surroundings at the Rivoli Theatre
13. Tim Johnston
OCT. 25 | BOSWELL BOOK CO.
Iowa-based suspense novelist Tim Johnston’s latest book, Distant Sons, is set in small-town Wisconsin. The rural area is haunted by the disappearance of three young boys who’ve been missing for decades.
14. David Sedaris
OCT. 25 | THE PABST THEATER
See the award-winning author and humorist on the big stage as he talks about his latest book, Happy-Go-Lucky. He’ll read passages from the book, answer questions from the audience and sign copies.
15. Jacob Slade + Def Sonic + Garrett Waite
OCT. 26 | ANONDYNE COFFEE ROASTING CO.
Three Wisconsin artists will bring their unique take on folk music to the Walker’s Point coffeehouse. Jacob Slade and Garrett Waite hail from Milwaukee. Def Sonic is driving in from Madison.
16. Wisconsin Whiskey Festival
OCT. 27 | HILTON MILWAUKEE CITY CENTER
Take your pick from more than 150 whiskeys that will be available for sampling. The variety comes from a mix of local and national distilleries.
17. Día de los Muertos
OCT. 28 | FOREST HOME CEMETERY & ARBORETUM
Kick off the celebration with a 5K run/walk through the cemetery. After the run, there will be food trucks, face painting, traditional music and dance, and ofrendas honoring the dead.
18. Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee
OCT. 28 | RED ARROW PARK
This one’s for the kiddos (ideally ages 2-10). Come in costume to carve pumpkins, meet characters, play with bubbles and shop books from the Friends of the Milwaukee Public Library.
