Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/84343
playAround Town Downtown Madison gets into an October state of mind Pass the Wine and Cheese, Please Looking for a way to savor the season outside of town? On Oct. 13, Madison Community Schools and Recreation will offer their "Wisconsin Wine and Cheese Fall Tour," an all-day trek down scenic roads boasting plenty of fall foliage to local cheese factories and vineyards. Mmmm. Visit mscr.org to register. Fall Forward If there's one thing that makes it easier to say goodbye to the warmer months, it's the coming of colorful fall festivities. Th is month, there are activites aplenty in the heart of Madison to help you cheerfully embrace the season. You don't have to be a UW white as it marches from Gilman Street to State Street, offering plenty of high-ener- gy thrills along the way. Looking for a quieter way to get into student (or even an alum) to have a blast cheering on the UW Homecoming Parade on Oct. 26. Beginning at 6 p.m., the annual parade—in- cluding classic cars, fl oats, UW cheerleaders, Bucky Badger and the show-stopping UW March- ing Band—paints downtown red and the spirit of autumn? Head over to the UW Arboretum for guided strolls such as "Night Walk: Under the Autumn Moon," an evening hike for nature-lovers on Oct. 27, or "Walk: Tour of the Lost City," a trek to the nearby abandoned (and some say spooky) residential area on Oct. 28. Madi- son Parks also offer a way to soak in the crisp autumn air with hayrides perfect for the whole family on weekends throughout October and November at Olin, Warner and Elver Parks and Cherokee Marsh. As Halloween creeps near, step onto the spooky side at haunted hotspots around town. After the hayrides close shop, Olin Park is transformed into a scream-fi lled forest by Horror in the Dark at Olin Park, a haunted house that runs on weekends through October. For a more mellow look beyond the grave, head to the Wisconsin Historical Museum for "Halloween Fun: Haunted Wisconsin," where author Mi- chael Norman will divulge the gory details of the state's spookiest people and places. Or hear terrifying tales from your own backyard with Madison Ghost Walks, a downtown evening walking tour fi lled with creepy historical tales, ghost stories and more! October 2012 bravamagazine.com 65 Photo by Brent Nicastro