Popular evening event opens on October 9 for six nights only!

EAGLE, Wis. – Mysterious legends, Victorian traditions and eerie tales take center stage when Old World Wisconsin opens for Halloween Legends & Lore. Held on six Friday and Saturday nights beginning Oct. 9, this family-friendly Halloween experience returns with five new attractions offering more thrills and chills during an evening that encourages guests to step deeper into the mysteries of the past.

New this year, guests can venture into the woods for a performance of “The Man in the Black Suit,” search the “Northwoods” for the lost lumber camp, gather around a bonfire to hear “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” observe the tradition of All Souls’ Day in St. Peter’s Church and listen to stories told by the graveyard caretaker in the church yard.

Crowd-pleasing favorites return, including the Generac Sorghum Maze, where guests navigate by lantern light, and a Victorian séance set in a turn-of-the-century home.  Also returning are performances of the Slavic tale Baba Yaga and the German Austrian tale “Die Nachtkrapp,” performed by the KMPerform School for Arts and Performance. Guests can also take part in a trial exploring the legend of Wisconsin’s “Beast of Bray Road.” Old-time black-and-white silent movies shown in the Clausing Barn will transport the audience to the eerie world of yesteryear. These attractions are a sample of the more than 20 activities and performances available at this spine-tingling event.

“Halloween Legends & Lore is where history and mystery collide,” said Old World Wisconsin Attractions Director Doug Raney. “Every year we look forward to showcasing the stories of the past in our authentic historic village and grounds. This is the only time of the year when you can visit Old World Wisconsin by night, shrouded in lantern light and candlelight.”

As darkness falls, the evening abounds with photo opportunities, from snapping a selfie in front of life-size coffins to mixing a witch’s brew in a large cauldron. A tiered display of illuminated carved pumpkins also provides an ideal opportunity for a spooktacular group photo.

Food and drink are part of the experience, too. Guests can grab a bite at Clausing Café or enjoy an “Apple Cauldron Sundae” served at the Creamery in a color-changing bowl. At the haunted Halloween party in Wittnebel’s Tavern, guests can enjoy “Farmer’s Wagon” Coconut Porter from Duesterbeck’s Brewing Company. The light-up cup, perfect for a beer on tap or specialty cocktail, like a “Witchy Whiskey Sour” or a “Dark N’Stormy,” is also back! New this season, the first 150 guests who purchase a canned beer from the Brewhouse will receive a free, limited-edition Halloween Legends & Lore can koozie.

More goodies await in the new Welcome Center, which now houses the retail store. Guests can browse “Halloween Legends & Lore” merchandise along with a variety of other gift items.

Old World Wisconsin’s Halloween Legends & Lore will take place on six Friday and Saturday evenings: Oct. 9-10, 16-17 and 23-24 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and advance tickets are required. The Clausing Café, Brewhouse and Wittnebel’s Tavern will open at 4 p.m. Last entry is at 8 p.m. each day and tickets cost $26 for adults and teens, $22 for seniors (65+), $18 for children (5-12) and free for children under five. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free general admission and 10% off ticketed events and store merchandise. Parking is included in admission.

For further information or to purchase tickets, visit oldworldwisconsin.org or call (608) 264-4848. The address is W372 S9727 Highway 67, Eagle, Wisconsin, 53119.

About Old World Wisconsin

Old World Wisconsin, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, is one of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s 12 historic sites. Rated as one of the top attractions to take kids in the Milwaukee area, Old World Wisconsin is a 600-acre regional history attraction that features interactive environments and immersive stories of 19th-and early 20th-century Midwestern immigrant farm and rural life. The attraction offers guests family-friendly, hands-on activities such as visiting Crossroads Village and eight working farmsteads, explore heirloom gardens, experience beer brewing traditions, meet heritage animal breeds and try historic crafts and skills. Old World Wisconsin is located on Highway 67 just south of Eagle, Wisconsin, within daytrip distance of Milwaukee, Chicago and Madison. For more information and a list of upcoming events visit oldworldwisconsin.org or call (262) 594-6301. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free general admission to this site during regular operating hours.

About Wisconsin Historical Society

The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org.