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- Shorewood turns out to Feast
Shorewood turns out to Feast
Plus: Fall guides, China Lights, Oktoberfest continues
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September: It’s time to get your favorite sweaters out of storage, eat and drink with fall feasts, and map out your leaf-peeping adventures on the Ice Age Trail and beyond. See our new guides to all things fall!
Know the North Shore: Lake Effect Surf Shop
Lake Effect Surf Shop in Shorewood recently announced the bittersweet decision to close its physical doors after nearly a decade of serving the community, transitioning to an online-only presence. As they prepare to wind down in-store operations, the shop will remain open from Thursday to Saturday until the end of September, inviting everyone to stop by, reminisce and celebrate. Watch the announcement.
China Lights 2025
China Lights returns to Boerner Botanical Gardens this Friday, turning the Hales Corners park into a breathtaking spectacle with hand-crafted lantern displays that bring fantastical creatures and mystical forests to life. It's a cultural journey spanning 400 years of Chinese lantern-making tradition. Your family will walk through a 20-foot butterfly dome, encounter talking Halloween pumpkins, and witness live performances of ancient Chinese arts. See our guide to this popular display that runs through Nov. 2.
Time to Feast in Shorewood
In 2018, Shorewood resident Arthur Ircink pitched an idea to the Foundation's Shark Tank panel: Close down a portion of Oakland Avenue to create a temporary farm-to-fork style dinner and street festival. Today, the Shorewood Feast and Harvest Dinner have become a great way to kick off the fall season in a unique, community-focused way. You can also enjoy live performances on two stages, treat the kids to free face painting and balloon creations, sample delicious local cuisine, or browse unique handmade goods from local artisans. Saturday, September 13th, Noon – 9 pm. 📍 Oakland Avenue (4200-4400 blocks).
Oktoberfest is everywhere
The Milwaukee area offers the Midwest's most authentic Oktoberfest experience, with over 15 major celebrations spanning from July through October 2025. From the massive lakefront to intimate community church festivals, these events showcase genuine German heritage with traditional food, imported beers, and cultural entertainment across Milwaukee, Waukesha, Cedarburg, Racine, and surrounding communities. See our full Oktoberfest guide.
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North Shore History: Wreck of the Chequamegon
the Chequamegon
At the height of the Pabst Whitefish Bay Resort (1899–1914), wooden steamers carried Milwaukee visitors to the popular lakeside attraction. Most of these ships ended their days in scrapyards, but two—the Bloomer Girl and the Chequamegon—remain preserved as shipwrecks in Lake Michigan. The Chequamegon, built in 1903 in Manitowoc, shifted roles from passenger ferry to freight hauler and tug under several names before sinking in 1922 after striking an object north of Whitefish Bay.
The wreck of the Chequamegon was discovered intact in 2008, surveyed in 2019, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. These vessels serve as underwater reminders of Wisconsin’s turn-of-the-century resort era and maritime history.
See you out there,
North Shore Family Adventures
P.S. Forward this guide to anyone still asking, “So what should we do this fall????” Encourage them to subscribe!
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