Halloween Legends and Lore returns to Old World Wisconsin for three weekends! We are huge fans of Old World Wisconsin and love visiting in different seasons for totally different experiences. The summer experience is vastly different from the fall Halloween Legends and Lore experience as well as the winter experience. That is what makes a visit to Old World Wisconsin so amazing for the family – always a new and different experience and there’s something for everyone to learn and be in awe of on site.

We went on opening night (October 10, 2025) as part of our media relationship with Old World Wisconsin (Erin and her two daughters). The weather was absolutely perfect! See more about our 2025 experience on the Lake Country Family Fun Facebook and Lake Country Family Fun Instagram as well as some insights below.

PRO TIP: Grab dinner at Clausing Barn before you start your spooky evening! The brats and tots were a hit!! The food is located on the lower level of the red barn by the entrance.

Halloween Legends and Lore Details

A series of six spooky evenings held in the Crossroads Village at Old World Wisconsin.

Witness a historic Halloween event unlike anything you’ve seen before—from ghostly whispers in the night to folkloric traditions held by candlelight, you’ll experience live storytelling, Halloween-themed games, hot food, warm drinks, local music and more.

In October, the veil between our world and the next grows thin at Old World Wisconsin… watch as supernatural tales brought from cultures the world over come to life before your very eyes for an eerie evening of Halloween-themed spook-tacular activities! Explore the historic Crossroads Village after nightfall for a spirited, one-of-a-kind adventure full of ghost stories, games, performances and more. Discover tall tales and hear old legends from the many generations of immigrants that came to Wisconsin in the 1800s, and have your fill of drinks, sweet treats and hot food—and make sure to stop by the museum store to grab a ghoulish gift for friends, family and other loved ones. Whose muffled footsteps will you hear skulking in the unsettling autumn air? Attend Halloween Legends & Lore and find out… if you dare.

Halloween Legends & Lore is sponsored by the Old World Foundation.

Halloween Legends and Lore Dates

• Friday, October 10, 2025 | 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
• Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. SOLD OUT!
• Friday, October 17, 2025 | 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
• Saturday, October 18, 2025 | 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
• Friday, October 24, 2025 | 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
• Saturday, October 25, 2025 | 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Event times are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. each date.

Highlights from Halloween Legends and Lore:

Guests can participate in more than 20 experiences including some rather intriguing outings, including:

• Photo opportunities – we never turn down a photo opp and there were SO many! Don’t miss the one by the entrance, by Clausing Barn, behind the Ramsey Barn Museum Store, and the Cauldrun. But really – it’s so picturesque, there’s so many more!
• Eric De Los Santos – he played amazingly eerie music behind the Ramsey Barn Museum Store, by the photo opp and we were amazed at his talent! (The music on our Instagram reel, linked above, is the actual music from Eric De Los Santos from October 10!)
• A 1930s Haunted Halloween Costume Party at Wittnebel’s Tavern (where all is not what it seems) – get the blinky Halloween Legends and Lore cup for your adventure!! Do it. I did!
• Silent film screenings inside the Clausing Barn
• A guided search for Wisconsin’s legendary Hodag on the Long Tail Trail
• A Victorian séance exploring the veil between the living and the dead – be prepared for the comical end to the scene
• A lantern-lit walkthrough of the Sorghum Maze – definitely do this!! Be aware that the terrain is a sorghum field with rocks and divets/holes. One of my kids may have stumbled 😉 She’s ok and we laughed it off 🙂
• A game of Ghost in the Graveyard – My kids played with some other kids that they met. Find the game at the church in Crossroads Village.
• An eerie encounter with the Laundress of the Dead at the Irish Home  – Eek!!
• An even eerier encounter with John E. Sanford’s widow – SHE MOVES!
• A spine-chilling tale of The Ridgway Ghost told under the moonlight
• Nighttime encounters with mysterious wandering characters  – Pumpkin Head was growing fond and following us for a bit – so I got a picture with him! The Grim Reaper is rolling around as well…but we didn’t experience anything gorey or anyone jumping out to scare us. Just ominously walking around 😉
• Visit and view local oddities at the General Store – You might find a Feejee Mermaid!
• Tales of old from Baba Yaga to St. Dunstan and the Devil Plus much, much more!

Know before you go:

• Be prepared for low visibility during Halloween Legends & Lore, as the event takes place at night. For the best experience, wear comfortable and non-restricting clothing during your visit. Dress for the weather forecasted. 
• Wear your tennis shoes or hiking boots or good walking shoes as you’ll be putting on at least a mile or more on this adventure. 
• The Ramsey Barn Museum store is open daily and remains open 30 minutes after grounds close.  
  
• Guests may exit and return throughout the night. 
  
• Restrooms and water fountains are available on site. We highly recommend using the permanent flushing bathrooms in the Brewery or the Clausing Barn prior to starting your walk to Crossroads Village. There are port o potties available along the path. 
  
• The grounds will remain open rain or shine.
  
• No pets are allowed. Service animals are permitted. 
  
• While we did see some strollers at the event, they were sturdy thick wheeled strollers. The terrain is crushed gravel.
• Because of the historic nature of the buildings, not all areas are ADA accessible. Old World Wisconsin is committed to reviewing accessibility needs and improving access for all. Guests arriving in wheelchairs and electric scooters are offered complimentary admission. Guests with additional mobility needs are encouraged to contact the site directly at 262-594-6301 or oww@wisconsinhistory.org. 

Purchase Your Tickets for Halloween Legends and Lore.

COST
Adult (18-64): $22
Teen (13-17): $22
Senior (65+): $20
Children (5-12): $17
Child Under 5: Free
Advanced registration is required.

About Old World Wisconsin:

Old World Wisconsin includes 60 authentically restored historic homes, farms, stores and workshops.  Each region features a distinct set of stories that invite you to experience the hopes and dreams of those who came before us. From the 1840s to the 1940s, you’ll find a true panorama of early Wisconsin history, covering more than 70 years and many cultures, including African American, Danish, Finnish, Hessian, Irish, Norwegian, Polish, Pomeranian and Yankee.   

 

Old World Wisconsin first opened in 1976. Researchers traveled throughout Wisconsin in search of historic buildings crafted by the first generation of Wisconsin immigrants and migrants. From Lake Superior to the Illinois border, and from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan, historians documented countless historic farmhouses, outbuildings and small-town structures. Once research was complete, the meticulous construction of Old World Wisconsin began. Piece by piece, workers carefully dismantled historic structures from around the state and reconstructed them in their new home.   

 

Old World Wisconsin
W372 S9727 Hwy 67
Eagle, WI 53119

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