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- Peak Pumpkin Palooza 🎃
Peak Pumpkin Palooza 🎃
Inside: Ghost of the Dam, Pumpkin Train, Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee, Trick or treat starts today
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We are at Peak Pumpkin Weekend - quite literally. Historically, Google searches for pumpkins spike to their highest level during this weekend before Halloween. So in that spirit, I’m adding a bonus weekend edition of this newsletter so you can take advantage of all things pumpkin and Halloween during this festive orange window. Happy Pumpkin season! 🎃
Know the North Shore: Ghost of the Dam
You could say that the Milwaukee River that runs through the North Shore has a haunting past. The North Ave Dam sat on the Milwaukee River in Milwaukee, just upstream of the North Avenue Bridge. It originally dates back to 1835, when it was built to support a canal that was meant to run from Milwaukee toward the Rock River near Janesville. Later it served industrial purposes (powering mills and alike) and created a “pool” of river upstream that supported recreation (ice harvesting, boating).
Over time, the dam became an ecological and physical barrier: upstream of the dam the river was calmer, downstream more industrial. It blocked fish migration and trapped polluted sediments. In the early 1990s, a study found significant contamination behind the dam and recommended its removal. In 1997 the dam was removed so that the river could flow more naturally, enabling fish migration and habitat rejuvenation. Today, conditions continue to improve on the river.
Now you can revisit the past and envision the cleaner future with The Ghost of the Dam — a free, family-friendly evening where history and ecology intertwine. On Tuesday, October 28 from 4–6 p.m. at Restoring Lands (2134 N Riverboat Rd), guided tours will depart every 20 minutes to explore “Legends of the Sturgeon,” “Shadows of the Dam,” “Currents of Today,” and “Future Visions.” Warm up with cocoa by the fire, meet community partners, and learn how native fish like sturgeon and northern pike continue their upstream fight through the lingering “ghost” of the old North Avenue Dam. Costumes welcome!
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Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee
The Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee is happening TODAY from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Baird Community Commons (400 W. Wisconsin Avenue).. Activities include:
🎃Complimentary pumpkins and a pumpkin decorating station
🎃 Dance along to kid-friendly music and a live DJ set by Kid Boogie Down
🎃 Face painting and balloon art
🎃 Halloween goodie bags, available while supplies last
🎃 Special Goosebumps performance by First Stage.
🎃 Treats from Amy’s Candy Apples, Stone Creek Coffee, Ben & Jerry’s, and Bars & Rec
And find much more in the Halloween Village. See our full guide!
Trick or Treat Schedule
Trick or treating kicks off TODAY with events like the Whitefish Bay Silver Spring trick or treat, and continues this weekend! Looking beyond the North Shore? Mequon, the city of Milwaukee and other spots will also have Halloween trick or treating this year. We have you covered with trick-or-treat schedules all across the greater Milwaukee area.
Pumpkins priced to move 🎃
If you procrastinated in picking up pumpkins, you are in luck. From now until Halloween, you can get a steep discount and stock up on decoration at Barthel Fruit Farm in Mequon. All pick-your-own pumpkins are just $2 each — any size. (Already picked and washed pumpkins are individually priced.) While you’re there, stock up on fall favorites:
🍎 Pick-your-own apples — $20 per peck or $30 per half bushel (cash discounts available) 🎃 Gourds — $7 per peck bag. Barthel Fruit Farm is open daily 9 a.m.–6 p.m., with the entrance for pick-your-own and the corn maze closing at 5:30 p.m.
Spooky Cave Tours
Get ready for a thrilling adventure at Mequon’s Foxtown Station, located at 6209 W Mequon Road. Hop on the hayride to the Spooky Cave Tours during TODAY’s Fall Family Fun Day. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., explore mysterious tunnels, uncover hidden surprises, and enjoy a little spooky fun that's perfect for adventurers of all ages. 🎃👻🕸️
ROAD TRIP: Wisconsin Dells Pumpkin Train 🛤️
All aboard for one of fall’s most delightful family traditions—the Great Pumpkin Train at Riverside & Great Northern Railway in Wisconsin Dells! If crisp autumn air, fiery fall colors, and pumpkins galore are your vibe, this is the seasonal adventure you won’t want to miss. See our guide.
Go Bucks!
The 2025-2026 Bucks season kicks off TONIGHT! Gear up for the games this year!
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North Shore History: The Town of Milwaukee
The old Town of Milwaukee area produced five of the county’s northeast suburbs, including Whitefish Bay (1892), East Milwaukee (1900) now called Shorewood (1917), Fox Point (1926), River Hills (1930), and Glendale (1950). The creation of the last municipality removed the remaining vestiges of the Town of Milwaukee. Residents of Glendale, however, believed the old town hall was worth preserving. Through the efforts of the Glendale Women’s Club, the building was moved from its former site at 528 Bender Road to the present site in 1963. Source: Milwaukee County Historical Society.
See you out there,
North Shore Family Adventures
P.S. Forward this guide to anyone still asking, “What should we do this Halloween???”
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