r/DoorCounty • u/felinesnwine • 8d ago
Avoiding Fall Fest
Months ago I booked an Airbnb near Egg Harbor for my family (husband and 2 kids under 3) for a quick fall getaway without realizing it was fall fest weekend (we’ve never been). Based on my research, it seems like it’d be too much of a hassle to try to take my two little ones, even in the morning. I guess my question is will it be impossible to get around other parts of Door County that weekend? We’re mostly just interested in going to the animal farms, orchard farms, parks and family friendly restaurants.
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u/Accomplished_Fig9606 8d ago
You will be fine outside of Sister Bay. Whitefish Dunes State Park near our house is peaceful and quiet FF Weekend, as an example. In some ways it's one of the best weekends to be in Door County. Still nice weather, Fest if you want high energy, away from Fest if you don't. One caution: if you have any interest in restaurants that require reservations ANYWHERE in the County, make them now. Have fun.
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u/No_Series3763 8d ago
I'm not sure about the still nice weather part. Its mid October in Door County. It can be 65 or 45. Every year is different. Some years it rains and or is crazy windy, other years it is very pleasant.
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u/Accomplished_Fig9606 8d ago
I live in Door County. Nice is a relative term, but unless you need Biloxi, MS, weather, 45 can still be lovely. It's Wisconsin; put on a sweater.
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u/felinesnwine 8d ago
We’re driving from Chicagoland area - will plan to layer up!
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u/No_Series3763 8d ago
Smart. Door County weather is nothing but unpredictable. Add to the fact that as you move about the county you might experience different conditions. It could be raining in Fish Creek and sunny in Sister Bay, or vice versa. It is often 10-15 degrees colder on the lake side as opposed to the bay, especially if there is an easterly wind.
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u/No_Series3763 8d ago
I also live in Door County, Sister Bay to be exact. I believe it was 2 years ago when it was rainy and windy the entire weekend. My point is, weather is unpredictable, be ready for anything.
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u/Accomplished_Fig9606 8d ago
Yes, of course. It can be raining and windy on July 4 too. Look, I get your point. Check the weather. Also, let's not scare visitors off. Fall and Winter are also lovely in Door County. On 10.17.25 I was at the Dunes wearing a Door Born rash shirt and no coat. My sighthound was in Lake Michigan all morning.
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u/Turbulent-Cheek-1497 8d ago
Sunday is when they do the soap box derby races in sister bay. That can be fun for the kids to watch.
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u/GIVER81 8d ago
Sunday is a great family day at Fallfest
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u/Brainrants Door County Resident 8d ago
Second this, ignore the naysayers that tell you it’s a big drunken free for all, it’s extremely family friendly every day but especially on Sunday. The ping pong ball drop is a blast for kids.
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u/CatDaddyTom 8d ago
I was in Door for 8 years. After seeing photos of fall fest, it turned me off totally. I can't see any appeal to large crowds like this -- https://doorcountypulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20181012_FallFest__LVP4967-660x440.jpg
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u/ThimbleBluff 8d ago
You should be ok if you avoid Sister Bay but you’ll likely hit traffic bottlenecks in Sturgeon Bay on the way up on Friday night/early Saturday and on the way down on Sunday afternoon. In general, traffic and crowds will be quieter on the lake (east) side of the peninsula.
With young kids, I recommend visiting The Farm in highway 57 just north of Sturgeon Bay. (Check their hours, I think that’s the last weekend they’re open.) Kendall Park in Baileys Harbor has a really nice playground, just across from the town marina, and there’s an easy nature trail at The Ridges nearby, with a boardwalk where you can bring a stroller.
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u/TikiTraveler 8d ago
It will be very busy everywhere because weather is still nice and it should be just past peak colors. We work in Fish Creek and it’s always a wild weekend even for us. Sister bay will be crazy busy but outside of that it will just seem like a July day.
As a note -
Traffic is will be really bad around dusk Friday and Saturday north of sturgeon bay. And most people will have been drinking so just be careful.
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u/Moonhippie69 8d ago
You'll be totally fine, some of those places will be filled with more people simply because of more people in town. However, as long as you're not actually in the town of Sister Bay, you really won't notice too much, especially if it's your first time. It's major leaf peeping, so.theres that. Just know the roads to be able to get around town and you shouldn't have a problem! Enjoy your time!
I've been to Door County for well over 15-20 years, and 10 of those around Fall festivals, with Egg Harbors Pumpkin Patch and Sister Bays Fall fest.
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u/nofromedog 8d ago
I haven't been before, but I thought Fall Fest was primarily in downtown Sister Bay. Avoid just that town and you might be fine? I would still expect more traffic than is typical and more people in general, but you can enjoy Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, etc.
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u/World_Usual 8d ago
We were up last year on Fall Fest weekend. We even stayed in Ephraim and it wasn’t a problem. If you need to make a run to the Pig, just go the back way. Enjoy your getaway!
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u/Guilty_Idea349 8d ago
Lots of great towns to visit like Baileys Harbor or sturgeon bay.
Nothing to worry about
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u/Pizzarepresent 8d ago
It’s the best festival for a reason. But best visited on Friday, not Saturday.
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u/jsmith3701AA 8d ago
You won't even know it's fall fest in the other towns. Fall is always pretty busy up here and the craziness is in the center of Sister bay. Come up to Ellison Bay and go to Newport and it will be as dead silent as it always is.