Late October is a wonderful time to wander through Vernon County. The Driftless hills are settling into the final stretch of autumn, country roads wind between wooded ridges and valleys, and communities across the county are filling the calendar with farmers markets, outdoor adventures, community dinners and Halloween fun.
It also happens to be the kind of Wisconsin weekend that practically begs to begin with a Friday fish fry.
Whether you’re coming from La Crosse, Madison, elsewhere in southwest Wisconsin or simply exploring your own backyard, Vernon County offers an easy recipe for a fall getaway: fish fry Friday, then spend Saturday and Sunday exploring places such as Westby, Viroqua, La Farge, Ontario, Coon Valley and the Mississippi River side of the county.
Find a Friday Fish Fry in Vernon County
Friday fish fry isn’t merely dinner in Wisconsin. For many people, it is the opening ceremony for the weekend.
That makes it an especially good fit for a Vernon County getaway. Start Friday evening at a local restaurant, supper club, tavern or neighborhood gathering place serving fish, then use dinner as your jumping-off point for an autumn weekend in the Driftless Area.
The Friday Fish Fry Guide can help you search for Friday fish fry options throughout Vernon County, including communities such as Viroqua, Westby, Hillsboro, Ontario, La Farge, Genoa, Stoddard, Viola, Readstown and surrounding rural areas.
Planning the meal first also makes the rest of the weekend easier. Stay near Viroqua and explore the county’s shops and trails, head east toward Ontario and Wildcat Mountain, follow the Kickapoo Valley through La Farge, or travel west toward Genoa and the Mississippi River.
However you build the route, leave room for one of Wisconsin’s favorite Friday traditions.
1. Ghoulees in the Coulees at Norskedalen
October 22-24, 2026 | Coon Valley area
Late October gets decidedly spookier at Norskedalen Nature & Heritage Center.
The 2026 Ghoulees in the Coulees festivities are scheduled for October 22, 23 and 24. The event series offers different levels of Halloween adventure, including a family-friendly trick-or-treat experience, Norskedalen’s traditional haunted trail experience and its adults-only Ghosts & Toasts event.
The wooded trails, historic buildings and glowing jack-o’-lantern atmosphere make this one of the more distinctive Halloween settings in the region. Norskedalen
For visitors planning an overnight Driftless weekend, this is an easy anchor event: Friday fish fry, Halloween in the coulees and a Saturday or Sunday spent exploring Vernon County.
2. Shop the Westby Farmers Market
Saturday, October 24 | 8 a.m.-noon | 110 N. Main Street, Westby
Fall hasn’t quite packed its suitcase at the Westby Farmers Market.
The Saturday market features produce, baked goods and homemade items and is scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon on October 24. La Crosse Local
It’s a relaxed way to begin Saturday morning before heading farther into the county. Grab something local, wander downtown Westby and then continue toward La Farge, Ontario or Viroqua for the afternoon.
3. Learn to Read the Woods Near La Farge
Saturday, October 24 | 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Rural La Farge
Anyone who looks at a muddy paw print and thinks, “Who went through here?” may enjoy the Driftless Folk School’s Tracking, Stalking, and Seeing Wildlife workshop.
The October 24 class near La Farge teaches participants to recognize wildlife tracks and signs and develop observation techniques for seeing more of the natural world. The program runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is designed for ages 12 and older, with younger participants attending with an adult. Viroqua Chamber
This is more than a quick event stop. It can become the centerpiece of an outdoor Saturday, particularly for hikers, photographers, hunters and nature lovers.
4. Make a Stop at the Fall Turkey Bazaar
Saturday, October 24 | 4-7 p.m. | Retreat Methodist Church, De Soto area
For a wonderfully old-fashioned community-event stop, head toward the western side of Vernon County for the Fall Turkey Bazaar at Retreat Methodist Church.
The October 24 event includes a turkey dinner with the trimmings and homemade pie, plus a bake sale, craft sale and quilt raffle. Viroqua Chamber
It’s the sort of community gathering that gives visitors a different view of the Driftless region, away from the larger attractions and right inside rural Vernon County life.
5. Spend Friday Evening at Sittin Pretty Pizza Farm
Friday, October 30 | 5-8 p.m. | Near Viroqua
Vernon County has developed a reputation for farm-to-table culture, and Sittin Pretty Pizza Farm adds a very Driftless spin to Friday night.
The farm, located about six miles outside Viroqua, has a pizza-farm event scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. on October 30 as part of its season of nonprofit fundraisers. Viroqua Chamber
For Friday Fish Fry Guide travelers, this can be an alternative stop during a multi-night visit. Keep Friday fish fry as the centerpiece of one evening, then mix in local farm experiences during the rest of the trip.
6. Take the Kids Through Viroqua’s Enchanted Forest
Saturday, October 31 | 3-5 p.m. | Hubbard Hills, Viroqua
Halloween afternoon brings one of the county’s sweetest fall events.
The Enchanted Forest Walk takes families along a guided route through Hubbard Hills, where characters appear along the trail to tell their stories and hand out treats and treasures. The October 31 event runs from 3 to 5 p.m. and is hosted by Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School’s Class of 2027. Viroqua Chamber
Instead of the standard door-to-door Halloween routine, families get woods, stories and a little Driftless enchantment.
7. Hike Wildcat Mountain State Park
7. Hike Wildcat Mountain State ParkOntario | Year-round
When there isn’t an event on your schedule, Vernon County provides plenty of scenery to fill the gap.
Wildcat Mountain State Park, near Ontario, sits on a steep ridge overlooking the Kickapoo River Valley. The park has 21 miles of hiking, nature and equestrian trails, along with overlooks above the valley. It is open year-round. Wisconsin DNR
Late October is an especially appealing time to walk the ridges. Even after peak color begins to fade, the exposed contours of the Driftless landscape become part of the show.
Pair the park with a drive through Ontario and the Kickapoo Valley for one of the county’s best scenic loops.
8. Explore the Kickapoo Valley Reserve
La Farge | Year-round outdoor destination
Another weekend deserves-more-than-an-hour destination is the Kickapoo Valley Reserve near La Farge.
The reserve protects thousands of acres of Driftless terrain and provides opportunities for hiking and other low-impact outdoor recreation. Its visitor center is located on State Road 131 in La Farge. Kickapoo Valley Reserve
A late-October visit can be as simple as choosing a trail, slowing down and letting the Kickapoo Valley do the decorating.
If you’ve spent the morning in Westby or Viroqua, the reserve also creates a natural reason to continue eastward through the county.
Plan a Fall Weekend in Vernon County
Plan a Fall Weekend in Vernon CountyA Vernon County fall trip doesn’t need a complicated itinerary.
Friday: Start with a traditional Wisconsin Friday fish fry. Choose a community that puts you close to Saturday’s activities and settle into the weekend.
Saturday morning: Browse the Westby Farmers Market, hike at Wildcat Mountain or explore the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.
Saturday afternoon: Choose a class, community event or scenic drive through the Driftless hills.
Halloween weekend: Build your trip around Ghoulees in the Coulees or the Enchanted Forest Walk.
And don’t overlook the driving itself. Vernon County’s geography rewards taking the slower road between destinations. Communities including Westby, Ontario, La Farge, Hillsboro, Viroqua, Readstown, Genoa, Stoddard and Viola offer plenty of reasons to turn a single event into an entire day trip.
For residents, it’s a chance to rediscover the county. For visitors, it’s a very Wisconsin combination of scenery, small communities, local traditions and food.
And Friday fish fry makes a pretty fine first chapter. 🐟🍂
Vernon County Fall Weekend FAQ
What is happening in Vernon County in late October 2026?
Late October events include Ghoulees in the Coulees at Norskedalen, the Westby Farmers Market, a wildlife tracking workshop near La Farge, the Fall Turkey Bazaar, Sittin Pretty Pizza Farm and the Enchanted Forest Walk in Viroqua. Norskedalen
Where can I find a Friday fish fry in Vernon County?
Use the Friday Fish Fry Guide’s Vernon County listings to explore fish fry options in and around Viroqua, Westby, Hillsboro, Ontario, La Farge, Genoa, Stoddard, Readstown, Viola and other communities throughout the county.
What are some Halloween things to do in Vernon County?
Two particularly seasonal options are Ghoulees in the Coulees, scheduled for October 22-24, and Viroqua’s Enchanted Forest Walk on October 31. Norskedalen
What are some outdoor fall activities in Vernon County?
Wildcat Mountain State Park near Ontario and the Kickapoo Valley Reserve near La Farge are two of the county’s major outdoor destinations. Wildcat Mountain offers extensive trails and overlooks of the Kickapoo Valley, while the reserve provides a large protected Driftless landscape for outdoor recreation. Wisconsin DNR
Is Vernon County good for a weekend trip?
Yes. The county combines scenic Driftless drives, trails, small communities, markets, cultural attractions and seasonal events within an area that works well for either a day trip or multi-day visit.
Which Vernon County communities are worth visiting?
Depending on your route, consider Viroqua, Westby, Ontario, La Farge, Hillsboro, Viola, Readstown, Genoa, Stoddard, Coon Valley and the rural communities between them. Vernon County’s own visitor information highlights attractions ranging from Norskedalen and Wildcat Mountain to the Kickapoo Valley Reserve and sites along the Mississippi River. In Vernon County
Event dates, times, locations and activities may change due to weather, scheduling or other circumstances. Please check the official event or organizer website before traveling.