While you’re out and about enjoying the various Halloween festivals and candlelight hikes this weekend, don’t over look the “Trick or Treat With The Big Cats” event  this Sunday, October 30th at the Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue in North Freedom.  Here’s what they have to say: “There will be no entry fee. (Donations Are Appreciated) there will be LOTS OF CANDY to be handed out. It will be like going to 25 different houses. There will be halloween decorations, spooky music, Lions, Tigers, Leopards, and come and meet our new African Serval: Kierra! Hope to see everyone there, IF YOU DARE!!!” Trick or Treat With The Big Cats will run from 1pm to 6 pm.  There is a Google map available on their  website.  While there, please consider making a donation.. Rescuing these big guys and caring for them is an expensive calling!

The Wisconsin Department of Tourism Fall Color report is now calling Sauk County at Peak color.  While we may feel that we’re actually a bit past “peak” we certainly agree that there is still a lot of color out there! The picture above was taken on South Shore Road at Devil’s Lake State Park just yesterday.  The trick to finding amazing colors at this time of year is to head a bit deeper into the woods.  Trees that are exposed to more sunlight, that get less water or are exposed to other stresses such as those on city streets, parks and other more public areas have mostly turned to sticks.  Now you simply need to get a bit further off the beaten path to find some amazing colors.   If we had to guess, there will still be some wonderful colors out there for the next week or so.. but things are defiantly beginning to decline.

West Bluff @ Devil's Lake State Park - October 26th, 2011

This Saturday from 6 pm to 9pm the Friends of Devil’s Lake State Park will be hosting their annual Halloween Candlelight Hike on the north shore of  Devil’s Lake State Park.  In addition to providing a big bonfire, the Friend’s group will also be selling chili, cocoa, cider and desserts at the Rock Elm shelter which is right near the main north shore parking area.  The candlelight hike itself is a short, easy trek which is always fun for the whole family.  Read the rest of this entry »

What a perfect Saturday we had for the annual fall Fair on the Square here in Baraboo! Every year we write about all the great things to do and see at the downtown Baraboo event; The live music, the arts and crafts vendors, the games and kids activities.. Yes, and even the belly dancing!  In the end though we all know our favorite part of the Fair on the Square really is don’t we!?  It’s the food!   Of course, I don’t need to see another deep-fried cheese curd for at least another year!    We’ve posted a few more pictures from this year’s event over on our Flickr Fall Fair on the Square Gallery, click here.

You’ve probably noticed that the news is filling with predictions of the coming winter weather Apocalypse. That means of course that AccuWeather.com has released their annual winter predictions for 2011-2011.  AccuWeather.com is calling for the worst winter weather in the nation to hit Chicago with Minneapolis predicted to suffer this winter’s worst chill.  Well, here in the heart of Wisconsin we’re probably in for both!  Read the rest of this entry »

O.K, so the Wisconsin Fall Color report is calling us at 50% color.  Both the Baraboo & Wisconsin Dells chambers are reporting peak in approximately 2 weeks.  Maybe.  Certainly some of the most picturesque roads are not at their best yet.  The entrance road to Devil’s Lake State Park is still mostly covered in green.  But there’s more to enjoying Fall in Wisconsin than simply “Peak” color.  What you really want is lots of color, great weather and fun activities all coming together on the same weekend.  That’s what we call peak…  And if you make the drive this weekend, you won’t be disappointed!  Read the rest of this entry »

Wisconsin’s own Driftless Film Festival, kicks off October 6th in Mineral Point and continues through the 9th at a variety of Wisconsin venues including; The Al Ringling theatre in Baraboo, The Gard Theatre in Spring Green, Richland Center & Plattville.  The festival features a wide variety of international films focusing on unique independent productions from around the world.  There’s a film for every taste from unique documentaries such as “Wrestling for Jesus” which follows a rural South Carolina man who starts a Christian professional wrestling league, to films perfect for the Halloween season such as ”A Cadaver Christmas“.  We should mention that the Driftless Film Festival also provides another opportunity to see the film Green Fire about legendary environmentalist Aldo Leopold.  For a full list of titles and descriptions, click here.

For more information visit www.driftlessfilmfestival.org

Wondering about fall colors here in the Baraboo Hills & The Devil’s Lake State Park area?  Well, you can check in with the Wisconsin Fall Color report, (They even have an app for that now) but to be honest it’s always a bit hit or miss.  You could call the local chamber of commerce. . . Honestly, I don’t think they get outside enough!  Better yet, you can join us on our Skillet Creek Facebook page.  It’s just like having a friend in town. Heck, we’re out there every day and we’ll let you know when things start really changing and share some of the best places to view the fall colors when they do arrive.  What’s more, we’ll keep you up to date with local events, share daily pictures and much more.  Oh, and by the way, that bit of color in today’s picture (above) came from Devil’s Lake State Park just this week.  It’s coming. Promise.

Wollersheim Winery in Prairie du Sac reported on their Facebook page that they are busy harvesting their 2011 grapes!  Well, here at the Skillet Creek base camp on the other side of the Baraboo hills, our grape harvest took all of about 10 minutes. One vine produced one nice big bucket of grapes.  It’s time to make the jelly!   If you’ve never tried making grape jelly yourself, you can find some great recipes out there.  Here’s one from PickYourOwn.Org.   It seems that today is the day to get out and cover or pick anything in your garden that may be sensitive to cold.  Sauk County is under the first frost advisory of the season until 8 am tomorrow.  It’s that time of year!

Two local Labor Day weekend events offer you the chance to throw stuff!  First, right here in Baraboo, the Spirit Lake Mountain men will be holding their annual Baraboo River Rendezvous. The annual Rendezvous will begin this Friday, Sept. 2 and run through Sunday, Sept. 4th. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The event is a living history reenactment of the  pre-1840s fur trade era put on by the Spirit Lake Mountain Men. Events will include kids games & candy cannon, hawk & knife throws, pie baking contest, flint fire starting, trap toss, fry pan throw (women only), fishing on the river, blanket bow shoot and more. Period food is available on site.  Admission for adults is just $1. Children ages 5 and under are free.  Oh, and by the way, pets are not allowed at the event.  You can visit the Spirit Lake Mountain Men’s Website for schedule of events and printable flier.

Meanwhile in Sauk Prairie the annual Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw and Festival will be running Saturday and Sunday at Marion Park. This is a busy event. Nearly 40,000 people attend the Cow Chip Throw each year. In additon to the chance to toss some chips the event also offers two stages of free entertainment, arts and crafts fair, 5K & 10K Run and more!  For more information or to plan your visit head over to WisCowChip.com.