Noted author and apple expert Dan Bussey to speak at Autumn Celebration event on October 10

GREENBUSH, Wis. – Fall comes alive at the Wade House this October, as the historic site celebrates the season with its annual Autumn Celebration Weekend Oct. 10-11, along with new fall programs including a leaf-peeping hike through the Kettle Moraine and a Greenbush Cemetery Walk.

The annual Autumn Celebration will feature a full slate of activities for all ages, including pumpkin carving, apple pressing, historic games and some family-friendly Halloween stories told by candlelight in the Herrling Sawmill.  Guests can also enjoy horse-drawn rides through the prairie trails and hot apple cider served onsite. This year’s celebration also features a special presentation by Dan Bussey on Oct. 10. Bussey is a nationally and internationally recognized authority on heirloom apples and author of “The Illustrated History of Apples in the United States and Canada.” He will trace the journey of apples throughout Wisconsin, highlighting varieties that originated in the state and explore the important role apples have played in Wisconsin history.   

“Fall is a wonderful time of the year to visit the Wade House,” said Wade House Site Director Bridgitt Zielke. “The historic property comes alive with beautiful fall colors, and there’s something for everyone to enjoy, from hands-on activities and historic demonstrations to scenic rides through the rolling landscape. We’re especially excited to introduce several new fall programs this year while bringing back some visitor favorites.”  

Wade House is open through Nov. 1, with hours of admission from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., from Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is $15 for adults and teens, $13 for seniors (65+), $8 for children (five to 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 wadehouse.org or call 920-526-3271. The address is W7965 State Hwy 23, Greenbush, Wisconsin.

Wade House October events include:

Wade House Hikes – Oct. 3, 1 to 2:15 p.m.

Wondering why leaves turn different shades of yellow, red and orange come fall? Or when and how they know to begin changing. Explore the mysteries and beauty of autumn this October when visiting Wade House. Hike through the Kettle Moraine with naturalist and historian Jim Willaert. Explore the rolling countryside, hardwood forests, meadows, streams and glades surrounding the historic stagecoach inn during leaf-peeping season. The cost is $6 for adults and teens, $5 for seniors (65+), $3 for children (5-12) and free for children under age five.

Wade House Autumn Celebration Weekend – Oct. 10 and 11, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with Dan Bussey talk at 1 p.m. on Oct. 10

Fall in the Kettle Moraine means seasonal colors and traditional fun for the whole family.  Carve a pumpkin, press some apples and participate in games from yesteryear like Snap Apple before heading over to the candlelit Herrling Sawmill for some spooky, family friendly tales from the past. Then, warm up with hot apple cider and enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides across the Wade House grounds. The Wade House Stagecoach Inn, Dockstader Blacksmith Shop, Herrling Sawmill and Wesley W. Jung Carriage Museum will be open to guests. The cost is $17 for adults and teens, $15 for seniors (65+), $8.50 for children (5-12) and free for children under age five. Society members receive a 10% percent discount on special events.

Stagecoach Saturdays – Oct. 17, 9:30 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 3 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m.

Gather the family and travel back in time to experience a relaxing, peaceful stagecoach journey through the rolling landscape of the Kettle Moraine. Board the replica Concord stagecoach, meet horses, take photos with them and learn more about the picturesque world of the horse-powered past during this 30-minute ride. The cost is $15 for adults and teens, $13 for seniors (65+), $10 for children (5-12) and $3 for children under age five.  

An Evening at Wade’s Tavern – Oct. 22, 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Experience an uplifting evening in what was once the social hub of 19th-century life in Greenbush. Sample specialty beers and apple cider and nosh on snacks while exploring the 1850s stagecoach inn. Musical entertainment will be provided by The Belle Weather, a Sheboygan-based modern folk and indie rock band featuring acoustic guitar, upright bass, cello and violin. The $22 admission includes one drink and light snacks. Must be 21 years of age or older to attend. This event is made possible with support from The Friends of Wade House.

Greenbush Cemetery Walk – Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., departs every 30 minutes

Discover the history of early Greenbush residents during a two-hour walking tour of the Greenbush Cemetery. Stroll through century-old, hand-stacked stone walls and admire ornate gravestones while a docent sheds light on the people, stories and unique features that define this historic 1848 cemetery. Finish the tour with light refreshments at the Wade House Stagecoach Inn. Tours leave every 30 minutes, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The cost is $15 for adults and teens, $13 for seniors (65+) and $8 for children 5-12 and free for children under age five.

Prairie Schooner Saturdays – Oct. 24, 9:30 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. 2:15 p.m., 3 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m.

Sign up for this once-in-a-lifetime experience to journey across the scenic Kettle Moraine countryside aboard a horse-powered covered wagon. The ride is a faithful reproduction of a prairie schooner, like those that traveled west across the continent in the 1800s. Guests are asked to arrive 30 minutes prior to the ticket time; the listed ticket time serves as the prairie schooner ride start time. The cost is $15 per adult and teens, $13 for seniors (65+), $10 for children (5-12) and $3 for children under age five.

About Wade House

Wade House is one of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s 12 historic sites and museums. Located in Greenbush, the site includes an 1850s stagecoach inn that was built to serve traffic along a plank road connecting Fond du Lac and Sheboygan. The site tells the story of frontier entrepreneur Sylvanus Wade and his family during the 1850s and 1860s. In addition to the inn, the historic site includes the Dockstader Blacksmith Shop and Herrling Sawmill, one of the few working, water-powered sawmills of its kind in the nation. Wade House is also home to the Wesley W. Jung Carriage Museum, which houses the state’s largest collection of antique carriages and working wagons. For more information and a list of upcoming events call (920) 526-3271 or visit wadehouse.org. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free 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.