October Events Calendar

ECFE Drop-in Playgroup • Thursdays, 12:30-2:30 pm through Jan. 17 • ECFE Room 106, Goodview School
• Kid-friendly activities and a chance to play with your preschooler in the ECFE gym. Free; no registration required. More info: 494-0913

Oktoberfest • Fri, Sept. 28 – Sat, Oct 6 • Oktoberfest Grounds, La Crosse
• Music, food, entertainment, carnival, plus three parades: Opening Day Parade (Fri, Sept. 28, 10:15 am, from 2nd & Market to 2nd & La Crosse streets); Maple Leaf Parade (Sat, Sept. 29, 10 am, Clinton & Copeland to 2nd & King); Torchlight Parade (Thu, Oct 4, 7 pm, Kane & Gillette south on Caledonia to St. James). Buttons are $7 for adults, kids 12 and under, free. No button required on Mon, Tue, Wed. More info: (608) 784-3378 or www.oktoberfestusa.com

WSU Homecoming Parade • Sat, Sept. 29, 10 am • Huff St. (beginning at Broadway St. and ending at Mark St.)
• See the WSU Homecoming parade, then attend the sesquicentennial kickoff picnic at 11am in the WSU courtyard; free food, family entertainment, and music.

Galesville Apple Affair • Sat, Oct. 6 • Galesville, Wis
• Food (including a 10-ft apple pie), arts and crafts, music, horseshoe games, and bike tours of area apple orchards. Buses leave from the downtown venue regularly to tour historic Eastside Farm. More info: www.galerep.com/apple.html

Milwaukee Road 261 (steam locomotive) • Sat., Oct. 6 & Sun., Oct 7 • Amtrak Station
• The Milwaukee Road 261 steam locomotive makes its annual visit to Winona. Come see the train from 11:45-12 and 2:15-2:30 each day (times are approximate). Or ride the train to La Crescent and back to Winona; roundtrip tickets are $29 for children 3-14, and $39 for adults for a coach ticket. For more info: 651-765-9812 or www.261.com

Charlotte’s Web • Fri, Oct. 5, 6:30 pm • Page Theater, Saint Mary's University
• The classic story by E. B. White as presented by the TheaterWorksUSA traveling theater company. Tickets are $6 for children and adults. More info: www.pagetheater.org or 457-1715

Historic Downtown La Crosse Day • Sat, Oct. 13, 10 am-5 pm • Downtown La Crosse
• Ride an old-fashioned fire engine, see historic displays and actors, sample food and listen to music. Fun, food, music and more for the entire family throughout downtown La Crosse. Maps and more info: historicdowntownlacrosse.com

Big Muddy River Rendezvous • Tue, Oct. 16 – Sun, Oct. 21, 8 am-4 pm • Prairie Island Park, Winona
• Re-enactors portray life at a fur-trading camp from 1690-1865. Hide tanners, cannons, spinning wheels, wagons, kids games, and food vendors. Educational presentations during School Days, Tue-Fri. Admission is $4 for all kids and adults Tue-Fri; on Sat & Sun, admission is $5 adults, $4 kids, and children under 6 are free.

Alexander & the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day • Fri, Oct. 19, 6:30 pm • Page Theater, SMU
• Alexander wakes up with gum in his hair, trips on a skateboard, and accidentally drops his sweater in the sink—all before breakfast. Kids laugh and sing along with Alexander's misadventures in this hilarious musical. Presented by TheaterWorksUSA. Tickets are $6 for children and adults. More info: www.pagetheater.org or 457-1715

Free Events at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum • Sat, Oct. 20 & Tue, Oct. 23 • Minnesota Marine Art Museum
• Come for family storytelling on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 9:30-10:30; this month features stories about ghosts and goblins. Make a craft to bring home after the story. Tuesday, Oct. 23 is Toddler Tuesday. Explore colors with your child as you pick and choose from various child-friendly activities throughout the museum. Free. Come and go as you please. More info: 474.6626 or minnesotamarineartmuseum.org

Car Seat Training • Mon, Oct. 22, 5:30-8:30 pm • Maxwell Children’s Center, Wabasha Hall (Wabasha & Winona sts.)
• Registration required. To Register, contact Winona County Community Health Services at 457-6400.

Hixon's Enchanted Forest • Sat & Sun, Oct. 20-21 & 27-28, noon-3 pm • Myrick Park, La Crosse, Wis.
• Children go on a ¾ mile trick-or-treating hike through a forest filled with more than 30 storybook and cartoon characters, such as Snow White, Cinderella, Batman, Dorothy, Bugs Bunny, Aladdin, and Alice in Wonderland. Music by Hans Mayer and refreshments await kids at the end of the trail. Park at Forest Hills golf course and take the sidewalk to the Nature Center. Reservations required. Children $5, adults $2. More info: 608-784-0303 or www.hixonforest.org

BOO-seum • Fri, Oct. 26, 5:30-8:30 pm • La Crosse Children’s Museum (207 5th Ave S, La Crosse)
• Halloween party for ages 2-6 with adult. Sing-along with Hans Mayer (shows at 6:30 & 7); games; inflatables; treats; crafts. Costumes optional. Admission with Hans Meyer concert: $6 per child for members, $8 per child for non-members; admission without Hans Meyer concert: $3 per child for members, $5 per child for non-members. Pre-registration and prepayment required. 1 free adult per child; extra adults pay child fee. More info: 608-784-2652 or www.childmuseumlax.org.

Preschool Halloween Party • Wed, Oct. 31 9-11 am • East End Recreation Center (4th St. E. & Zumbro St., Winona)