Pines Inn Cottages, Waupaca, Wisconsin

10/29/2026

10/29/2026

🌲 WAUPACA ADVENTURE REPORT
**October 29–November 1, 2026**
**Powered by Adventure Outfitters**

🍂 ONE MORE FALL WEEKEND

We're reaching the end of October, but we're not quite ready to put the outdoor gear away yet!

This weekend looks like another opportunity to get outside, enjoy some mild late-fall weather and take advantage of everything happening around Waupaca before our attention starts turning toward snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

🥾 GET OUT FOR A HIKE

This week's outdoor recommendation is simple:
**Go for a hike at Hartman Creek State Park.**

Hartman Creek offers about 10 miles of hiking trails, ranging from short, easy walks to longer outings. A few good options include:

**Deer Path Trail** — a scenic 1-mile loop around Allen Lake.
**D**e Trail** — a 1-mile trail between Mid and Hartman lakes.
**Pope Lake Trail** — a relatively flat 1-mile hike.
**Oak Ridge Trail System** — nearly 5 miles for anyone wanting a longer adventure.

Hartman Creek also contains about 3 miles of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

Even if a shower passes through this weekend, there should be opportunities to get outside between the raindrops.

☀️ WEEKEND WEATHER

**Friday:** Areas of morning fog followed by improving conditions and highs around 60°F.

**Saturday:** Partly sunny to mostly cloudy with temperatures around 60°F.

**Sunday:** Mostly cloudy, highs in the lower 60s, with a chance of showers.

🎃 WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND WAUPACA?

Halloween on Main Street
**Friday, October 30 | 4–6 PM**

Downtown Waupaca will be filled with Halloween activities including business trick-or-treating, a petting zoo, Touch-a-Truck, food vendors, entertainment and more.

Final Waupaca Farmers Market
**Saturday, October 31 | 9 AM–1 PM**

Saturday is the final scheduled weekend of the Waupaca Farmers Market season downtown.

Halloween Trick-or-Treating
**Saturday, October 31 | 5–7 PM**

Citywide trick-or-treating takes place Saturday evening.

Pumpkin Time on Main

The downtown pumpkin display is also underway, giving families another reason to spend some time walking around downtown Waupaca this weekend.

⭐ TIM'S ADVENTURE PICK
Take a Hike at Hartman Creek State Park

Find a break in the weather, grab a jacket and head out for a walk in the woods.

We're reaching that time of year when every mild day feels like a bonus. The leaves may be disappearing, but late fall has its own kind of beauty—the woods are quieter, the views through the trees open up and there are fewer people on the trails.

Enjoy it while it's here.

💡 TIM'S TIP OF THE WEEK
Take Advantage of the Weather While You Can

Before long, we'll be trading hiking shoes and bicycles for snowshoes and cross-country skis—and we're looking forward to that too!

GET OUTSIDE. EXPLORE WAUPACA.

**Waupaca Adventure Report**
*Powered by Adventure Outfitters*

10/29/2026

It's the perfect time of year for a ghost story--and Waupaca's ghost of Brainard's Bridge is one that has been told for more than 125 years! The ghost story was printed in the Waupaca Republican on January 15, 1897. Here is an excerpt:

"Peder Pederson--that isn't his name--living a few miles northwest of Waupaca, had occasion to come to town not long ago, and for a short cut took a path through the woods by the way of the old pole bridge on the Brainard property...

He did not reach the bridge until near midnight. To his surprise he saw a figure of a woman standing on the bridge and quietly looking at the boiling rapids in the river above.

He watched for a long time, afraid to move, and especially afraid to cross the bridge. At last the woman turned and walked toward him. This was too much and he took the back track up the road at a speed that would bring a blush to every record breaking bicyclist in the country. He never stopped until he was safe at home.

A few days afterward he met Charles Rollin Brainard, who owns the property and confidentially told him of what had happened. Brainard looked wise and said: "Oh, well, I have known of that for the past three months."

"The mysterious woman at the pole bridge" became the undertone topic of conversation in a certain circle and excited a great deal of interest.

Brainard, who seemed to know more about the matter than any one else positively
declined to be further interviewed until he was told that he was himself being watched as to his night wanderings. This brought him to terms, but his story only adds to the mystery.

"Sometimes when I see no prospect for any sleep at all during the night, I put on my overcoat and go out for a walk in the cool night air. One night I wandered down the lane and along the river bank...I suddenly became aware of a moving object in the road ahead of me. This was in October. The figure was walking slowly toward the pole bridge...The figure, which was evidently that of a woman, walked slowly but firmly down to the bridge, out into the middle, and then stood looking up stream...After an indefinite time, she turned, went on across the bridge and disappeared in the darkness and woods."

10/28/2026

Just three more days until Halloween on Main and our annual brat fry downtown! AND Farmers State Bank is matching every dollar we raise at the brat fry up to $2,000! Thank you, Farmers State Bank! We hope to see you all on Friday!

10/26/2026

Parade sign-ups are NOW OPEN!⛄❄

Help us kick off Waupaca’s Yuletide Celebration with some holiday magic on Main Street!

Thursday, December 3 at 6:30 PM
With the Community Tree Lighting at Danes Hall Plaza will follow immediately after the parade.

Sign up here: https://www.waupacachamber.com/event-detail/rTTHEz6F6KodLIMVPVuG5g2/waupaca-s-yuletide-celebration-parade

Keep the celebration going December 3–6 with local shopping, the Cookie Walk, Holly Jolly Trolley, family activities, visits with Santa, and more throughout Waupaca!

10/26/2026

With Visit Waupaca Chain O'Lakes – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

10/25/2026

Tickets are still available for our Dinner at the Depot on Friday, November 13, but they are going fast!

Join the Waupaca Historical Society for a special evening featuring a delicious menu inspired by historic railroad dining menus from our collection. Enjoy a unique dining experience surrounded by local history at the Waupaca Railroad Depot!

Don’t miss out! Get your tickets today and be part of this special evening.

Contact the Waupaca Historical Society for ticket information or stop in at the Holly Center during open hours!