The throaty rumble of classic cars and motorcycles will fill downtown Baileys Harbor Saturday during the community's annual AutumnFest.

From 9am until 4pm, arts and crafts vendors will sell autumn-themed goods around the Baileys Harbor Town Hall. Food and beverage vendors will be set up behind the town hall in Kendall Park. 

Classic cars and motorcycles are encouraged to attend, and may register from 9-11am Saturday morning at the tent near the intersection of County F and Guy St.
Vehicle entrants may vote for their favorite vehicles in 12 class categories. 

The Modern Day Drifters will entertain Autumnfest attendees with their tunes from 11am-3pm.

All Autumnfest proceeds support the Baileys Harbor Community Association. For details, check out the AutumnFest event page.

The tragedies of 9/11 may have taken place hundreds of miles away, but the pain felt in Door County made them feel much closer to home.

It has been 25 years since terrorists hijacked planes that crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. A fourth attack was thwarted by passengers aboard Flight 93 before the plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.

According to the Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial in Kewaskum, 18 people with Wisconsin connections were killed in the attacks. One of those individuals was Barbara K. Olson, who was buried at Ellison Bay Cemetery after her remains were recovered following the crash of American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon.

According to the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, Olson was a well-known conservative legal analyst and author who called her husband, U.S. Solicitor General Theodore Olson, as the plane was being hijacked. Her burial in Ellison Bay placed her near her family’s longtime vacation retreat.

Door County Maritime Museum Deputy Director Sam Perlman was nine months removed from moving to Door County from New York City when the attacks occurred. Perlman’s Brooklyn residence served as a point of reference when he would visit Windows on the World, the restaurant that sat on the 106th and 107th floors of the World Trade Center’s North Tower.

As a freelance writer for the Door County Advocate, Perlman shared stories not just about Olson, but also about his time in New York City and the friends he still had there.

“The whole thing seems totally unreal to me,” Perlman wrote 25 years ago. “I cannot imagine the next time that I return to New York and see where the World Trade Center used to be. The idea of the skyline of the city without the Twin Towers there is unbelievable.”

Linda Schultz was working at Sevastopol School when she got the call from the Red Cross to spend three weeks in New York City providing respite care to first responders and rescue dogs working at Ground Zero. Her Red Cross group attended several funerals for firefighters, and she can still see and smell the devastation in her memories. She wishes people could come together as they did in the days following the attacks, and she treasures the keepsakes and relationships she formed while serving in New York City.

All told, 2,977 people died in the 9/11 attacks, including more than 400 New York City emergency personnel and more than 50 military personnel at the Pentagon. Fire departments in Door and Kewaunee counties have participated in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Lambeau Field in past years, with many firefighters donning their turnout gear while carrying the name of a fallen hero.

Even though summer is in its twilight and school is back in session, you will have to pay extra attention to the roads this weekend with two major events taking place in Door County.

On Saturday, dozens of Jeeps will take to the road to benefit DOOR CANcer during the annual Door County Jeep Jam. The event takes Jeep owners and DOOR CANcer supporters on a drive through Baileys Harbor, Sister Bay, Ephraim, Fish Creek and Peninsula State Park before returning to Thirsty Cow Tap House for live music, food and auctions.

You can still register for Door County Jeep Jam, which raised more than $19,000 for DOOR CANcer last year. During the event, Jeep drivers will have a police escort, allowing them to proceed through red lights and stop signs.

On Sunday, the Jeeps give way to 3,000 bicycles as the Door County Century hits the pavement. Starting at John Miles County Park in Sturgeon Bay, the event offers four distances ranging from 30 to 100 miles, taking cyclists as far north as Ellison Bay. All four distances are sold out.

Motorists and cyclists are encouraged to travel cautiously and follow the rules of the road.

A 79-year-old Ellison Bay woman believes she injured her hand while trying to alert a skid steer driver before he backed into her vehicle.

The accident occurred near the intersection of State Highway 42 and Gooseberry Lane in the town of Liberty Grove at 9:45 a.m. Thursday. According to the accident report, the woman was traveling east on Gooseberry Lane when she encountered a dump truck and an accompanying skid steer.

After she stopped her vehicle, the skid steer driver continued backing up, causing her to honk her horn to get his attention. The skid steer driver, a 57-year-old Ellison Bay man, said he has a backup camera and was using it periodically as they leveled gravel along the side of the road.

He told the deputy he never saw the vehicle. The report notes that sunlight coming through the trees may have affected his ability to see.

The man checked on the woman to see if she needed medical assistance. She told him and emergency personnel that she would drive to the clinic later to have her hand examined.

No citations were issued in connection with the accident.

The Griffon String Quartet and Eric Lewis will tour Door County once again this fall, but this time with songs you may not have heard before. The pairing will play one show in Green Bay on Sept. 17 before performing at MUSE in Sturgeon Bay on Sept. 18, Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church in Ellison Bay on Sept. 19 and Woodwalk Gallery in Egg Harbor on Sept. 20.

Some of their set will come from their new album, “Under the Harvest Moon,” the follow-up to their record “Beneath the Waves.” Midsummer’s Music Executive Director Allyson Fleck says the combination of bluegrass and chamber music seems to work well when Lewis and the Griffon String Quartet perform together.

The concerts serve as a precursor to the larger Autumn Fest that will take place throughout Door County and Green Bay in October. The Griffon String Quartet, the Pro Arte Quartet, and David Perry and Friends will be among the performers during the three-show series.

You will have to watch out for more than just law enforcement vehicles on the road this weekend. Door County is one of five counties that will receive aerial enforcement by the Wisconsin State Patrol this weekend and the only one that will be targeted twice.

State Highway 57 will receive extra attention from the Wisconsin State Patrol on Friday and Sunday. Aerial enforcement is one of the ways the Wisconsin State Patrol tries to enhance public safety efforts since it is easier to spot drivers who are speeding or driving aggressively from the air. If a pilot spots a violation, the pilot will contact officers on the ground to pull over the offending driver.

Eau Claire, Washburn, Columbia, and Waupaca counties will also receive aerial enforcement.

You can expect to see hunters entering the woods beginning Saturday, when deer hunting season opens for archery and crossbow hunters. It kicks off a period of more than four months during which hunters can harvest deer. Based on recommendations from county deer advisory councils, hunters are eligible for additional antlerless tags in Door and Kewaunee counties when they purchase their licenses. The archery and crossbow season runs through Jan. 31.

Other opportunities include the gun deer hunt for hunters with disabilities Oct. 3-11, the youth deer hunt Oct. 10-11, the traditional gun deer season Nov. 21-29, the muzzleloader season Nov. 30-Dec. 9, and the antlerless-only holiday hunt Dec. 24-Jan. 1. With hunters entering the woods, DNR Warden Chris Kratcha wants hunters to think about safety, especially when setting up their tree stands.

Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1973, must complete a hunter education course and have a hunter education safety certificate on file to purchase a hunting license in Wisconsin unless they are hunting under the hunting mentorship program or have successfully completed and can provide proof of basic military training. You can find course information on the DNR website.

If you missed the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Washington Island last month, you are in luck this month. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s will return to Sturgeon Bay on Sept. 12 in conjunction with Sunshine Resources’ Sunflower Fest at the city’s Martin Park. The walk will begin at 8:30 a.m. As of Thursday morning, more than $91,000 has been raised, which is 85% of the Door County chapter’s $107,500 goal. With positive momentum building to support people with Alzheimer’s, event organizer Cari Josephson says every little bit helps.

If you cannot make it to Sturgeon Bay this weekend, you can still participate in the third Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Door County this year. The Fish Creek walk will begin and end at Stella Maris Church at 8:30 a.m. You can register at this link or in person at the Sturgeon Bay and Fish Creek events.

The opportunity to make a bigger impact in the community required Sunshine Resources to add a second day to its biggest event of the year at Sturgeon Bay’s Martin Park. Sunflower Fest will kick off Friday night with a commemoration of the 25th anniversary of 9/11 at 5 p.m. The solemn start to the evening precedes a performance by Boogie and the Yo-Yoz.

With a portion of the proceeds from Friday night going to support Door County first responders, Sunshine Resources CEO Barry Metzentine says it is a great opportunity to showcase not only the work of the organization, but also the work of others in the community.

Saturday begins at 8:30 a.m. with the Sturgeon Bay edition of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s ahead of a busy day of cornhole, kids' activities, raffles and music by Big Mouth and the Power Tool Horns. Sunshine Resources Director of Business Development Jeremy Paszczak says Sunflower Fest shows how partnerships can help organizations play to their strengths and make a bigger impact.

Proceeds from Sunflower Fest support the work of Sunshine Resources. Earlier this year, the organization launched its “Five Initiatives, Five Years, $5 Million” plan, which will touch people of all ages and abilities throughout the county.

The plan includes creating an alternative school program; developing a Northern Door facility and program; building a new Sunflower Cottage; renovating the PATH building; modernizing its Yew Street facility; and establishing an endowment fund. All are on the calendar within the next five years.

Expect to rely on the Bayview Bridge or Michigan Street Bridge to get through Sturgeon Bay next week. Wisconsin Department of Transportation officials announced Tuesday that routine maintenance is scheduled for Sept. 14 and 15 on the downtown bridge, with work possibly extending into Sept. 16 if weather conditions are poor.

The bridge will be closed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to accommodate crews as they repair developing potholes and apply epoxy overlay patches. WisDOT Engineering Specialist Jim McDowell says this is routine maintenance for a span like the Maple/Oregon Street Bridge.

As for the other bridges, McDowell says the Bayview Bridge will likely undergo maintenance in November that will require it to close for a few days. The Michigan Street Bridge is expected to remain open until its spring maintenance.

Some of the people who benefit from the Sturgeon Bay Farmers Market are faces you do not regularly see on Saturday mornings. For the last few years, the Sturgeon Bay Farmers Market has participated in a food rescue initiative that takes fresh, unsold produce donated by market vendors and brings it to Lakeshore CAP for distribution to local families in need.

More than a dozen businesses have helped Destination Sturgeon Bay collect more than 1,000 pounds of food through the program, ensuring that families who rely on Lakeshore CAP to help keep their pantries and refrigerators full have healthy options to choose from.

In this week’s episode of the Faces of the Farmers Market Podcast, Door County Media Group’s Bryan Mazur discussed the Food Rescue program with Door County Mutual Aid’s Carol Jensen-Olson, Grow Door County’s Matt Peter and Dromhus’ Heather Popp.

You can learn more about the program and listen to the full Faces of the Farmers Market Podcast by clicking the link.

The calendars and colors are turning, which means the hours and programming at the Door County YMCA are changing as well. In the latest episode of the Y-Wednesday Podcast, Steve and Jackie Kane Center Executive Director Holly Butenhoff shares details about the programming and hours that come with the fall season.

One of the highlights is a collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association and Sunshine Resources that will bring former Wisconsin Gov. Marty Schreiber to the Jackie and Steve Kane Center in Fish Creek for a special presentation at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 18. His book, “My Two Elaines: Learning, Coping, and Surviving as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver,” shares stories from his experience as a caregiver for his wife as she battled the disease.

Butenhoff also spotlighted upcoming tailgates on Sept. 24 ahead of the home opener at Lambeau Field and a special membership promotion in October.

You can listen to the full podcast at this link.

It will soon be easier to charge up and explore the area if you drive an electric vehicle in Door County. Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced that 42 locations, including one in Sturgeon Bay, will receive grants to build fast, reliable electric vehicle charging stations across Wisconsin.

The awards are part of $25 million in funding from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, which was created through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“From the start, we’ve planned an EV charging station network that will benefit both EV drivers and Wisconsin communities. The stations provide fast charging at convenient locations where drivers can also take care of other errands while charging up,” WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman said.

For Sturgeon Bay drivers, the new charging station will be located at the Kwik Trip near the intersection of State Highway 42/57 and Duluth Avenue. The investment of more than $436,000 was welcome news for Destination Door County President and CEO Jon Jarosh, especially with the area being a cul-de-sac of sorts for motorists. He says it is a step forward compared with many of the charging stations in the county, which are approximately 10 years old and feature slower Level 1 and Level 2 chargers.

Jarosh adds that Destination Door County still offers businesses up to $1,000 in reimbursement for electric vehicle charging station installation costs through its mini-grant program.

To date, WisDOT has awarded approximately $62 million through three rounds of funding to support 120 projects throughout Wisconsin. Previous grants supported charging station projects at businesses along the state’s Alternative Fuel Corridor system. The network is designed to serve more than 43,200 electric vehicles registered in Wisconsin, as well as travelers and visitors. Twenty-five stations funded through the program are currently operational.

A 48-year-old Fish Creek man was pulled from the water at Peninsula State Park on Monday and later died at the hospital.

According to a joint statement from the Door County Sheriff’s Department and Gibraltar Police Department, the two agencies responded to Nicolet Bay after receiving a report that Grant A. Vytlacil had been found unresponsive in the water. Lifesaving measures were performed after Vytlacil was pulled from the water, but he later died at the hospital.

Gibraltar Fire and Emergency Services, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Door County Emergency Services also assisted at the scene.

Officials with the Door County Sheriff’s Department and Gibraltar Police Department thanked bystanders who assisted agencies with bringing Vytlacil to shore.

The case is considered closed, and no further information will be released.

The 2026 season at Peninsula Players Theatre will come to a close with “Murder Girl,” which begins its run Wednesday. Written by Heidi Armbruster and directed by Mallory Metoxen, the show is about as Wisconsin as a murder mystery can get. The story unfolds inside a supper club as the show’s characters, played by Garrett Lutz, Isabelle Muthiah, Laura T. Fisher, Charlotte Booker and Joe Picchetti, question each other about the disappearance of an employee while enjoying Old Fashioneds.

Armbruster, who will host a pre-show seminar ahead of the Sept. 11 performance, enjoys highlighting her home state in the production.

“Murder Girl is about a small community where everybody has known everybody forever, old stories have become local mythology, and people’s lives are tangled up with one another in ways they can’t entirely escape,” Armbruster said. “There’s something about bringing that story to Door County — and to an audience that understands the particular intimacy of a place with a long memory — that feels very right.”

“Murder Girl” runs through Oct. 18, with performances Tuesday through Saturday at 7 p.m., except for 2 p.m. matinees Oct. 4 and 18.

An 89-year-old Ellison Bay woman was taken to Door County Medical Center on Saturday after she was struck by a vehicle while crossing a street in the town of Liberty Grove.

The crash occurred just before 9:40 a.m. at the intersection of Mink River Road and State Highway 42. According to the crash report, the woman was crossing the street when a 28-year-old Madison man attempted to turn left from southbound Highway 42 onto Mink River Road.

The driver told the responding deputy that a pillar in his vehicle blocked his view of the woman and that he was checking on his daughter in the back seat. He said he was traveling approximately 5 mph when he struck the woman, breaking her hip.

The driver was cited for inattentive driving.

If you are struggling to get ahold of people in Door County on your first day back in the office after Labor Day weekend, you are not alone. Area businesses began alerting their followers on social media at approximately 8:45 a.m. Tuesday about a Spectrum outage and explaining how it would affect their operations.

For many businesses, the outage affects not just internet access but also phone and point-of-sale systems. Those trying to reach businesses affected by the outage are encouraged to find alternate ways to make contact and bring cash when visiting impacted businesses.

No timeline for service restoration has been announced, but Spectrum alerted customers that their next update would come by 1 p.m.

Good news is coming Wednesday for city residents who face the steepest climb when it comes to finding affordable housing in Sturgeon Bay. The city and representatives from community development financial institution Cinnaire and real estate developer Spoerl Commercial will break ground on Phase 1 of the development known as The Avenue.

The new construction will bring 39 affordable housing units to 14th Avenue between Georgia Street and Iowa Drive. Thanks to low-income housing tax credits, the project will feature a mix of apartments for individuals and families earning between 30% and 60% of Door County’s median income, including eight units reserved for residents with special needs.

Door County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Michelle Lawrie hopes area leaders will have a better idea of the housing situation in their communities by early next year as work continues on an updated study.

DCEDC is working with Place Dynamics to conduct the study as it looks to assess the current housing inventory and development activity, factors influencing housing supply and demand, and strategies to address housing needs over the next five, 10 and 20 years. The report will update a 2019 study that showed a significant disparity between available housing units and demand. The analysis estimated that the housing shortage cost the county approximately $25 million.

Lawrie says DCEDC is currently planning opportunities for the community to engage in the process so residents can share what they are seeing and how they believe public and private entities can work together to address housing issues in Door County.

Lawrie adds that a schedule of community engagement opportunities will be released in late September.

As the final visitors depart the peninsula on Labor Day, Destination Door County President and CEO Jon Jarosh is ready to kick off the fall tourism season. While the county is known for its summer fun, approximately 30% of Door County’s lodging room activity occurs over the next several weeks through the end of November as people look to experience Door County’s fall foliage and other activities.

Last weekend’s Sister Bay Marina Fest kicked off a busy stretch of fall events, including Baileys Harbor Autumn Fest on Sept. 12, Sturgeon Bay Harvest Fest on Sept. 18 and 19, Egg Harbor Pumpkin Patch on Oct. 10 and 11, and Sister Bay Fall Fest from Oct. 16-18.

With fall, however, come different hours and other impacts due to reduced staffing. Jarosh says it is a great time to visit, especially if you have been waiting for some of the heavier crowds to disperse.

If you are keeping track, Travel Wisconsin is predicting that Door County will reach peak color during the third week of October, weather permitting.

The Door County Historical Society will welcome a special guest to its centennial celebration Wednesday as the organization marks its 100th anniversary. The organization is inviting the community to Heritage Village in Sturgeon Bay for the presentation of the 2026 Reuben Gold Thwaites Trophy for Local History, the Wisconsin Historical Society's highest honor for affiliated local historical organizations.

The traveling trophy, which dates to 1958, recognizes the organization's work in the community over the past five years. The award, which was announced in July, coincided with the Door County Historical Society's efforts to restore the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse to its former glory. The restoration also earned the Door County Historical Society the Historic Rehabilitation Award.

“These awards celebrate what we've accomplished together over the past 100 years,” Door County Historical Society Executive Director Amy Frank said. “They remind us that preserving history isn't just about protecting old buildings or collecting artifacts — it's about connecting people to the stories that define our community.”

Christian Overland, Ruth & Hartley Barker director and chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Historical Society, along with society staff and members of the Board of Curators, will be in attendance for the ceremony, which will take place at 3:30 p.m. at Heritage Village.

The Door County Housing Partnership will reach a major milestone later this month when it breaks ground on its 10th home. Formed in 2021, the Door County Housing Partnership operates on a community land trust model designed to keep homes and their properties affordable for low- to middle-income working families to purchase.

The homes built during that time have been split between Sister Bay and Sturgeon Bay. The 10th home will be on Galley Place, close to others built by the organization, including its first home in 2022. The organization has worked with Door County Habitat for Humanity and private homebuilders to help make affordable homes a reality for people wanting to live and work in the area.

Mariah Goode has worked in affordable housing for more than 25 years, and she is proud of the work the Door County Housing Partnership has done in the community.

The Door County Housing Partnership will host its groundbreaking at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 15. The event coincides with the kickoff of its annual campaign to raise enough money to support the construction of two or more homes in 2027.

To break the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health, the best place to start could be with a single step. Prevent Suicide-Door County will host its annual Walk for Hope and Awareness on Sept. 13, beginning at 1 p.m. at Sawyer Park in Sturgeon Bay.

According to USAFacts.com, 920 Wisconsinites died by suicide in 2024, representing a suicide rate of 14.8 deaths per 100,000 people, which exceeds the national average. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reports that more than 90% of people who die by suicide have a diagnosable and potentially treatable mental health condition, although the condition often goes unrecognized or untreated.

A simple conversation about mental health could make a difference.

“Our goal is to break the stigma, to get the word out there. If we don't talk about it, it still becomes a hidden thing in our county,” said Prevent Suicide-Door County Secretary and member April Grosbeier. “We really need to talk about it because it's here, it's not going away, it's not getting better.”

The event will feature local counselor and licensed clinical social worker Kathy Bandstra, MSW, LCSW, as a guest speaker. Bandstra will address the crowd at 1:30 p.m. before the walk officially begins at 2 p.m. Walkers are encouraged to bring a large picture of a loved one that they can affix to their shirt or to a banner at the park.

You can find more details about the walk here.

If your kids are looking to get involved in their community, local organizations like 4-H would like to hear from you. Sept. 2 marked the official start of enrollment for 4-H, with hundreds of youth choosing clubs to join and projects to explore.

In Kewaunee County, some of the new offerings include a veterinary science project, a livestock judging club, an arts club, a creative writing project, and a junior leaders association. 4-H Youth Educator Erin Dahle says 4-H has grown beyond what is done in the barn and helps youth find their spark.

Current members and volunteers have until Nov. 1 to re-enroll, while new families have until Feb. 1. 4-H is not the only youth organization in recruitment mode. Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes is holding membership recruitment events at Lambeau Field on Sept. 12 and 13, in addition to other events at Green Bay-area schools and libraries. Individual units of Scouting America and Girl Scouts of the USA may also schedule their own recruitment events at area schools.

The signs of fall are already beginning to appear across Door County. Monarch butterflies are gathering along the Lake Michigan shoreline before making their journey south. Trees are quietly storing nutrients and energy in preparation for winter, even while their leaves remain green. Bats are feeding heavily before migrating or settling into winter hibernation sites. For those who take the time to look, autumn's transition is well underway.

At Crossroads at Big Creek, many of this month's programs connect directly to these seasonal changes and the natural rhythms that shape life in Door County.

The week begins on Wednesday, September 16, with a unique opportunity to explore a hidden world beneath the Great Lakes. Crossroads will livestream freshwater filmmakers and explorers Zach Melnick and Yvonne Drebert (filmmakers of All Too Clear) as they partner with Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Great Lakes Now for the first-ever live broadcast from Middle Island Sinkhole, an underwater time capsule located 80 feet below the surface of Lake Huron.

Using a high-tech remotely operated vehicle (ROV), the team will descend into the sinkhole, following advanced divers as they collect samples from the remarkable microbial mats that thrive on the lakebed. The livestream is expected to begin at 10 a.m. CST.

During Sinkhole Odyssey | Hidden Below, visitors will journey into an underwater environment that mirrors conditions on Earth more than 2.5 billion years ago. While wildlife above ground is preparing for winter, participants will discover the fascinating ecosystems that exist deep beneath the water's surface and gain a rare glimpse into one of the Great Lakes' most extraordinary hidden wonders.

While wildlife above ground is preparing for winter, participants can discover the fascinating ecosystems that exist deep below the water's surface.

Later that afternoon, Crossroads will host Wandering Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. As monarch butterflies continue their migration and hints of fall color begin appearing along trails and wetlands, participants can join a naturalist-led walk through the preserve to observe the season unfolding in real time. Easy walking and seasonal discoveries make this outing a favorite for visitors who enjoy experiencing nature at a slower pace.

The changing season is also a reminder of the people who help care for Door County's natural spaces. On Thursday, September 17, at 5 p.m., Crossroads will celebrate the volunteers whose dedication supports environmental education, habitat restoration, and community programs throughout the year. Volunteer Appreciation Night will offer an evening of dinner, stories, and fellowship as staff and volunteers reflect on another successful season.

As gardeners know, fall is a time of abundance. While trees are busy storing resources for winter, home gardens are producing their final harvests. On Saturday, September 19, from 9 to 11 a.m., gardener and educator Stacia Dick-Schuster will present Putting Up Your Harvest, a workshop designed to help gardeners make the most of their late-season bounty. Co-sponsored by the Door County Seed Library and the Door County Master Gardeners Association, the program will explore practical ways to manage and preserve fresh produce as the growing season comes to a close.

Fall's beauty takes center stage on Monday, September 21, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., during Let's Get Artsy! Participants will create clay leaf prints inspired by the colors, textures, and shapes that make autumn in Door County so memorable. As trees begin revealing the brilliant pigments hidden beneath summer's green leaves, this hands-on art program offers a creative way to celebrate the season.

The arrival of fall also signals a new season of exploration for Crossroads' youngest naturalists. Beginning Tuesday, September 22, at 10 a.m., Junior Nature Club invites children ages 3 to 5 and their adults to discover the wonders of fall through a six-week series of nature-focused activities while exploring their senses.

Visitors can also enjoy the changing season at their own pace through Crossroads' current Trail Tales Storybook Walk. Beginning at the West Trailhead and following the Meadow Trail, families can experience Hiking Day by Anne Rockwell, beautifully illustrated by her daughter Lizzy Rockwell. As pages of the story unfold along the trail, readers are invited to share the simple pleasures of spending time outdoors. With lyrical text and vibrant illustrations that practically leap from the page, Hiking Day is a perfect companion for a fall walk, encouraging children and adults alike to slow down, explore, and appreciate the natural world around them.

According to Crossroads new Naturalist Jess Poppie, autumn offers some of the best opportunities to observe nature in action.

"Many people are noticing monarch butterflies gathering along the shoreline right now," Poppie said. "Some of these butterflies will travel more than 2,000 miles to central Mexico. At the same time, trees, bats, birds, and many other species are preparing for winter in their own ways. It's a season filled with incredible stories."

Whether you're watching butterflies fuel up for a long migration, noticing the first hints of color in the canopy, preserving the harvest from your garden, or sharing a storybook walk with family, fall offers countless opportunities to connect with nature.

All programs are held at the Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, unless otherwise noted. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we can offer free programming for all ages, and our trails are open to the public all day, every day, free of charge.

Upcoming Programs

Wednesday, September 16

10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | Live Movie - "Sinkhole Odyssey | Hidden Below"

Join a livestreamed exploration of one of the Great Lakes’ most extraordinary underwater environments and discover a world that resembles the Earth as it was 2.5 billion years ago. This program is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

1:30 p.m. | Wandering Wednesday

Join a naturalist-led hike through the preserve. Enjoy easy walking and seasonal discoveries during this approximately one-hour outing. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on leash.

Registration is not required. This program is free and open to the public. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Thursday, September 17

5:00 p.m. | Volunteer Appreciation Night

We’ve accomplished some incredible things this year, and none of it would have been possible without our amazing volunteers! To show our appreciation for your time, energy, and dedication, we’d love to celebrate with you! Are you a Crossroads volunteer? Join us for an evening of dinner, stories, and community! Please RSVP 920-746-5895. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Saturday, September 19

9:00-11:00 a.m. | Putting Up Your Harvest: Education Series

Congratulations! Your vegetable garden has given you fresh produce, but what do you do with the bounty? Stacia Dick-Schuster will explain what to do with the garden as it ripens. This workshop, co-sponsored by the Door County Seed Library and Door County Master Gardeners Association, is free and open to the public. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Monday, September 21

1:30-2:30 p.m. |Let's Get Artsy!

Create make-and-take leaf prints with clay. All materials provided - just bring your curiosity! Free and open to the public. Please register at crossroadsatbigcreek.org/event/lets-get-artsy/ or call 920-746-5895. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Tuesday, September 22

10:00 a.m. | Junior Nature Club

Six-week program for ages 3-5 and their adults, learning about observing nature with their senses. Drop in. Registration is not required. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Nature Center Closure

The Collins Learning Center at Crossroads at Bigg Creek will be closed to the public this afternoon for a special event. Trails remain open all day, every day at no charge.