If you know me, you know that August is the beginning of my favorite season of the year. Around here, we jokingly call it "Augtober" because it's the unofficial beginning of fall. The temperatures may still be warm, but I'm already dreaming about cozy sweatshirts, pumpkin treats, colorful leaves, and planning all our autumn adventures.

Every year I make a fall bucket list, and one thing that should absolutely be on yours is visiting a cranberry festival.

Last fall, we hitched up the camper and headed north to experience the Eagle River Cranberry Fest in Eagle River, Wisconsin. I'd heard people rave about it for years, and now I completely understand why. It isn't just a festival, it's a full weekend celebrating Wisconsin's cranberry harvest, local businesses, handmade goods, and everything we love about small-town fall traditions.

Everything Cranberry... Literally!

If you think cranberries only belong on your Thanksgiving table, prepare to be amazed. More than 8,000 pounds (four tons!) of fresh cranberries are sold during the festival. Everywhere you turn you'll find another delicious cranberry creation waiting to be sampled. Some of our favorites included:

Fresh cranberries
Craisins
Homemade cranberry baked goods
Cranberry brats
Cranberry soup
Cranberry beer
Cranberry wine
Warm fall drinks
Cranberry jams, jellies, and sauces

One thing everyone was talking about? The famous cranberry cheesecake, which is making its return for the 2026 festival!

Whether you love cranberries fresh, baked into pastries, made into sauces, or blended into your favorite drink, you'll find plenty of ways to enjoy Wisconsin's signature fruit.

If you're 21 or older, don't skip the Cranberry Wine & Beer Garden. It was fun sampling unique cranberry-inspired beverages you simply won't find anywhere else.

More Than Just Cranberries

While cranberries are definitely the star of the show, there's so much more to experience.

The festival grounds are filled with:

Hundreds of arts and crafts vendors
Antique and vintage treasures
Farmers market vendors
Boutique shopping
Homemade goods
Live entertainment
Family activities
Plenty of food vendors (with and without cranberries!)

Downtown Eagle River also comes alive with an open-air antique market, farmers market, and additional craft vendors, making it easy to spend an entire day wandering between the two locations.

I love festivals like this because there's truly something for everyone. Even if cranberries aren't your favorite, you'll still leave with great food, unique shopping finds, and a fun day spent outdoors.

Don't Miss the Marsh Tours

One of the highlights of our trip was taking a cranberry marsh tour at Lake Nokomis. I'll admit, I didn't know much about cranberry farming before this visit. Despite what many people think, cranberries don't actually grow underwater. The bogs are flooded only during harvest because the berries float, making them easier to collect.

Unfortunately, we happened to visit during one of the warmest early Octobers on record. Because of the unusually warm temperatures, the marshes hadn't been flooded yet. Harvesting the berries under those conditions could have caused them to be crushed under the weight in the trucks.

Even though we missed seeing the iconic floating cranberries, I still highly recommend the tour. We learned so much about the growing process, sampled nearly every cranberry product imaginable (yes...I think we tried them all!), and stocked up on goodies from the farm store before heading back.

Sometimes travel doesn't go exactly as planned, but that's part of the adventure.

Exploring Eagle River

If you've never visited Eagle River, it's worth spending extra time exploring beyond the festival. Nestled in Wisconsin's beautiful Northwoods, Eagle River is surrounded by lakes, forests, and endless outdoor recreation.

Eagle River is even known as the "Snowmobile Capital of the World," with more than 500 miles of groomed snowmobile trails and the famous World Championship Snowmobile Derby held each winter.

Hockey fans may also recognize Eagle River as the home of the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame and a longtime host of national pond hockey championships.

Whether you're visiting in fall or returning during another season, there's always something happening in this charming Northwoods town.

Where We Stayed

Since we had the camper with us, we stayed at Peaceful Pines Resort, and honestly, the name couldn't fit better.

If you're looking for a quiet campground surrounded by towering pine trees instead of a busy "theme park" campground, you'll love it here.

The campground offers:

Full hook-up RV sites
Seasonal and overnight camping
Rustic cabins
A tiny house
A stocked glamping tent
A fully equipped travel trailer rental
Camp store
Clean facilities

After long days exploring the festival, it was the perfect peaceful place to relax around the campfire before calling it a night.

If camping isn't your thing, Eagle River also has plenty of hotels, resorts, cabins, and vacation rentals to fit every travel style.

Dinner at a True Wisconsin Supper Club

No trip to northern Wisconsin would be complete without visiting a traditional Wisconsin supper club. Saturday evening, we drove a little farther north to Twilight Supper Club in Land O' Lakes, and it was absolutely worth the drive. Of course, you can't visit without ordering one of their famous Flaming Old Fashioneds.

And whatever you do...Save room for dessert. Whether you choose homemade dessert or one of their oversized ice cream drinks served in giant goblets, you'll end your meal on the perfect sweet note.

Planning Your Visit to Cranberry Fest 2026

Dates: October 3-4, 2026

Saturday Sunday

Festival Grounds: 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Festival Grounds: 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Marsh Tours
October 1-4 (times vary)

Reservations aren't required but are highly recommended, especially if seeing the cranberry harvest is at the top of your list.

Final Thoughts

The Eagle River Cranberry Fest quickly earned a spot on my list of favorite fall festivals.

Between the friendly atmosphere, delicious food, local shopping, beautiful Northwoods scenery, and learning about one of Wisconsin's most iconic crops, it was the perfect autumn weekend getaway.

If you're looking for a fun road trip this fall, add Eagle River to your bucket list. Whether you're camping like we did or staying in one of the area's cozy cabins or resorts, you'll leave with a full stomach, bags full of local goodies, and plenty of memories.

And who knows, you may even become a cranberry fan before the weekend is over.

Eagle River Cranberry Fest: Everything Cranberry (and So Much More!)