Spirit of Geneva Lakes Oct 2025

Weddings

inside

Vol. 37 No. 10 COMPLIMENTARY COPY • Since 1989 OCT. 2025

ZIP BETWEEN

THE TREETOPS

Fall

INTO FUN

SAY ‘I DO’ AT A

WINERY

MANY WEDDING

TRADITIONS STAND

IT’S SPOOKY

STORY SEASON

ELKHORN

GUN

BARREL

BUY-SELL-TRADE

SHOP ONLINE

www.elkhorngunbarrel.com

9am-7pm

7 days a week

ON 12 NEXT TO

WORLD FAMOUS

HOT

DOGS

469825

ON THE COVER

From weddings and receptions

to bridal parties and other

celebrations, Staller Estate Winery

and Distillery has options outside

among the vineyards as well as

inside the barrel cellar.

PHOTO COURTESY STALLER ESTATE

Spirit of Geneva Lakes

CONTENTS

October events

calendar.................. 5

Zipline or hit a

trail at an outdoor

adventure............... 6

Area winery hosts

weddings and

receptions.............. 11

Dining directory..... 19

A look at the

history of wedding

traditions .............. 20

Ghost walks,

spirits and more

spooky fun............ 23

Sept.-Oct. Winery Hours

Daily: 12-5pm, Closed Mon. & Tues.

459616

Advertiser’s index

1903 Saloon.............................................19

Abbey Springs.......................................12

Addie Water Systems .................16

AeppelTreow Winery.......................3

AMB Roofing &

Sheet Metal.............................................3

Apple Barn Orchard

and Winery...........................................32

Aronson Fence Co Inc....................8

B & D’s Village Inn.............................19

Brightonwoods Orchard.............28

Burtness Chevrolet

Buick GMC...............................................6

Caravelle Lighting Inc...................18

Carpets Plus Outlet, Inc..............16

Elkhorn Gun Barrel..............................2

Evergreen Golf Club, LLC..........12

Geneva Crossing Senior

Neighborhood...................................28

Gino’s East Pizzeria...........................12

Green Grocer & Deli.......................19

Hafs Road Orchard..........................18

James R. Taylor & Sons...............22

John Thielmann

& Sons, Inc.............................................24

Jerry Kroupa..........................................30

Local Folks

Restaurant & Pub...........................19

Luisa’s Pizza Inc....................................12

Lyle’s TV &

Appliances, Inc .................................31

Mars Resort.............................................19

Michael’s On The Lake................19

Paper Dolls..............................................22

PATS Services Inc.............................16

Pine Street Cafe..................................19

Rau Salon...................................................10

Redbud Ridge Farm.......................14

Sportsman’s Pub & Grub...........19

Stowell’s Catering

Service.......................................................16

Studio Dori................................................19

Sugar Creek

Mutual Insurance........................... 26

Verlo Mattress LG................................4

Veteran’s Truck Line, Inc............22

Waterfront Pub and Grill............19

Westenn Mgmt LLP..........................6

Willow Farm Mercantile.............28

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4 OCT. 2025

Lake Geneva Farmers Market

The annual market, which runs through

Oct. 30 is held at Horticultural Hall, 330

Broad St., Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.,

rain or shine with vendors inside and out.

For more information, email market@

horticulturalhall.com.

Observe the Moon Night

Join Yerkes Observatory for an Open

House on Saturday, Oct. 4 from 6 to 8 p.m.

when they host “Community and International

Observe the Moon Night.” There will be

telescopes on the South Lawn, presentations,

food, and educational activities for the whole

family.

The cost is $5 for children, $10 for adults.

Yerkes is at 373 W. Geneva St. in Williams

Bay. For more information including tickets,

visit yerkesobservatory.org.

Save a life

Friday, Oct. 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at

Geneva Lakes YMCA, 203 S. Wells St., Lake

Geneva. Donors receive a certificate for a

pint of Culver’s Custard.

Please bring a photo ID and make sure to

eat & drink plenty before your donation.

Call Rock River Valley Blood Center at 815-

965-8751 to schedule an appointment. Walkins

are welcome and will be accommodated

as the schedule allows.

Bucket List Weekend

If fall fun is on your bucket list, Apple Barn

Orchard and Winery has you covered. Stop

by during a weekend full of apple picking,

pumpkin picking, wine tasting, donut eating,

and more.

Bucket List Weekend will be held

Saturday, Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and

Sunday, Oct. 12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will

include pick your own apples and pumpkins,

fresh bakery items, homemade apple cider

donuts, wine tasting, food trucks (Anchor In

and Sandwich Sisters), live music (Saturday

– Andy Braun & Sam Barrett; Sunday – Cork

n’ Classic & Steve Weber.)

Bring your camera, your appetite,

and your love for fall... because this is

one weekend you won’t want to miss!

Apple Barn is at W6384 Sugar Creek

Rd., Elkhorn. For more information, visit

applebarnorchardandwinery.com or the

Facebook page.

Lake Geneva Oktoberfest

Saturday, Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.,

and Sunday, Oct. 12, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.,

join a celebration of traditional German

festivities in downtown Lake Geneva.

Located in Flat Iron Park and throughout

downtown, there will be live music, delicious

IT’S COMIN’ UP

OCT. EVENTS

food, craft brewed beer, local artisans and

vendors, kids’ activities, dog races, and

more!

Visit the Downtown Lake Geneva website

at downtownlakegeneva.org for information

on becoming a vendor, sponsor, volunteer, or

to participate in one of the fun races.

Elkhorn Oktoberfest

Saturday, Oct. 18 in downtown Elkhorn

on the square, it’s coming – lagers & steins

& beers oh my! Elkhorn Oktoberfest will fill

the entire downtown with bands, brats and

golden beers.

Expect to see the park filled with craft

and commercial vendors. Walk the line

on Wisconsin Street and enjoy local and

German cuisine from a variety of food

vendors. Live music will plug in at the Main

Stage starting at 11 a.m. and play until the

day ends. Find a second music stage on

the corner of Wisconsin & Court streets with

music playing from 1 to 4 p.m.

Explore the downtown area at the All-

Around Town Beer/Wine Tasting. Sign up

for the Oktoberfest 5K Run/Walk and stick

around to walk through the Annual Classic

Car Show.

Fall Harvest Fest Trains

Combine the fun of a ride on a historic

electric train with fall activities at Elegant

Farmer’s Autumn Harvest Fest.

Harvest Fest tickets are day passes good

for all East Troy Railroad trains on Saturdays

and Sundays through Oct. 26.

Start either at the East Troy Depot or The

Elegant Farmer and return when ready. Just

do not miss the last train!

The first train leaves the East Troy Depot

at 10 a.m. and leaves Elegant Farmer at 11

a.m. The last train leaves the Depot at 3 p.m.

and Elegant Farmer at 4 p.m.

Advance reservations required. Tickets

are: $18 (adults and kids 15 and older),

$15.50 (seniors and military personnel), $12

(kids 3-14 years old) and free for infants (2

and younger.)

The East Troy Railroad Museum is at 2002

Church St., East Troy. For more information

including tickets, visit easttroyrr.org.

Autumn Harvest at Elegant Farmer, 1545

Main St. (Highways ES & J), Mukwonago,

includes: pick your own apples, shop the

market, a corn maze, hayrides, pony rides

and food in the Smilin’ Barn Cafe.

Needless to say, there will be lots to keep

the whole family entertained and enjoy a day

celebrating here in the Elkhorn community.

The calendar of events is compiled from

a variety of sources including area chambers

of commerce and visitor bureaus and

contains events listed as of press time.

The

Spirit

IS A PUBLICATION OF

GENERAL MANAGER

David Habrat

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Heather Ruenz

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Marcy Murphy

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Vicki Vanderwerff

PAGE DESIGN

Jennifer DeGroot

SALES

Pete Hansen

Tamera Hamilton

DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR

Lindy Sweet

The Spirit of Geneva Lakes is

a complimentary publication,

distributed from I-94 through

west Kenosha County, to and

including the Geneva Lakes area

in Walworth County, Richmond

Illinois, plus Burlington and

Waterford in Racine County.

Send all correspondence to:

The Spirit

SOUTHERN LAKES

NEWSPAPERS

1102 Ann Street

Delavan, WI 53115

N

SpiritofGenevaLakes.com

262.728.3411


Flying

through

the trees

Lake Geneva

Ziplines and

Adventures a gem

for outdoor fun

by Sandra Landen Machaj

CORRESPONDENT

Have you ever wondered how it would

feel to float above or near the treetops?

If so, consider a visit to Lake Geneva

Ziplines and Adventures and experience

that feeling firsthand.

Lake Geneva Ziplines is located on the

north side of Lake Geneva on 100 acres of

beautiful, wooded property, part of which

was once a rock quarry. While ziplining

is the main event that brings many people

out, there are a variety of other events to be

enjoyed on site.

“We are open year-round with a variety

of outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy,”

said Caitlin Snyder, who has served as

general manager of Lake Geneva Ziplines

since 2021 and has been a member of the

team for 10 years.

The business opened in 2011 as Lake

Geneva Canopy Tours, but over the years

it has grown and developed into an allinclusive

activity site. In 2020, it was

rebranded as Lake Geneva Ziplines and

Adventures to better reflect the full scope

of its activities. At that time, they also

formalized their team-building program,

which has become a popular way for

employees of companies to bond and form

a stronger team.

Each day a variety of people visit to

enjoy ziplining, some for the very first time

and others who are there to enjoy a repeat

experience.

They may be attending with a group

of others who enjoy the experience or

from top: Ziplining in the fall envelops guests

in the beauty of the changing colors; This group

takes the bachelorette party to a new level,

spending time having fun outdoors.

COURTESY LAKE GENEVA ZIPLINES & ADVENTURES

Spirit of Geneva Lakes

6 OCT. 2025

from top left: The rock wall is quite the structure on

site; This young man is proud of his ability to ascend

the wall; The view from high above and the fun of

ziplining brings a big smile to this woman’s face.

COURTESY LAKE GENEVA ZIPLINES & ADVENTURES Spirit of Geneva Lakes

be bringing a friend to introduce them to

ziplining.

“While some who are coming for the

very first time are filled with trepidation,

most are excited to make their first ziplining

tour through the canopy of trees,” said

Snyder.

She said important people know

ziplining is a safe activity and they maintain

the equipment to be certain that it remains

safe.

“All of our employees undergo safety

training and emergency removal from the

lines if it should be necessary, although it

never seems to be. Two of our employees

go down the zipline with each group. One

in the front and one at the back of the

group,” added Snyder.

“In addition, each person who is going to

zipline goes through a pre-trip instruction

time on the ground, so they know how to

manage their glide,” she added.

Lines and bridges

When guests arrive, there are various

decisions that have to be made, including

which zipline tour to take. The premier

option is the Main Canopy Tour, a nineline

zipline tour that not only includes nine

separate zip lines but also includes five sky

bridges and four spiral staircases. A shorter,

four-line tour only takes about an hour.

Fall is a special time to enjoy a zipline in

the Midwest, thanks to the changing colors

of leaves during the season before they fall.

While many may consider ziplining as a

spring, summer or fall activity, it’s offered

year-round, so visitors get a different view

from high up, depending on the season.

Although there are not branches

and leaves on the tree in winter, guests

experience the snow on the branches

and snow covering the land below while

zipping through the upper canopy.

The longest zipline in the tree canopy

is known as the Beast and is 841 feet

long. But the longest in the program is the

dual racing line of 1,200 feet long, where

in places Lake Como can be seen in the

distance. The length of time expected to be

on the zipline for the nine-line tour is 2 to 2

1/2 hours.

Almost anyone is

eligible for ziplining

Neary anyone is eligible to zipline,

according to Snyder, and must weigh at

least 70 pounds and a maximum of 250

pounds and be at least 4 feet tall.

That is approximately 7 years of age and

older – note that 15 and younger must have

an adult with them on the zipline and those

16-17 years old must have an adult on site.

are pregnant.

“There is no upper age limit,” shared

Snyder. “Our oldest zipliner was a woman

who came to celebrate her 100th birthday.

“So, we don’t accept the excuse that

some people give that they are too old to

experience the ziplines if they are 100 or

less,” she added.

Adding to the autumn fun, the last two

weeks of October feature the Pumpkin

Drop & Fall Festival on site. Among the

activities are a scavenger hunt, live music

and a pumpkin drop for zipliners who

attempt to drop it on a target while flying

down the line.

For those who prefer to climb, the

Climbing Tower – a four-sided, 35-foot-tall

structure – offers a challenge for all levels

of climbers. There are footholds on every

side but some of the sides are more difficult

than others.

Hiking, biking and more

Ziplining and the climbing tower are

not the only activities offered. Hikers and

bikers enjoy 12 miles of trails to walk or

ride through the beautiful grounds, and the

trails are open year-round. The five trails

are open dawn to dusk, except when they

are forced to close due to excessive rain or

very muddy conditions.

The hiking and mountain biking trails

Participation is not allowed for women who


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from right: The large tower signifies being

near the end of the run and ready for the final

racing zipline; A group is transported to the

lines on a wagon. The welcome center behind

them offers a place to relax and is where the

pre-outing paperwork is completed.

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

are suitable for those with intermediate

to advanced/expert level skills so they

can safely maneuver along the trails. The

elevation and variety and number of turns

add to the excitement of the ride. The bike

trails are open from dawn to dusk.

“We also offer a variety of group

activities on site. Team building activities

that may include the ziplining along with

the many ground-based challenges to make

up the Team Building Course,” Snyder

explained.

The types of group events that are

common at Lake Geneva Ziplines and

Adventures include company team building

events. It’s a positive activity for a group

that works together, builds the teamwork

atmosphere and is a fun way to bond

together outside of the office.

“Our team building programs offers the

opportunity to become stronger and more

successful. We will customize a program

to help you meet your objectives and still

have fun along the way,” Snyder said.

“There is ample space to hold an indoor

event or an outdoor event on the grounds.

We work with you to plan your event,” she

added.

They are able to accommodate a group of

up to 25 people in a private meeting room

equipped with audio visual capabilities or

there is an option of renting an open room

that will hold 40 to 45 guests.

Other group activities that are held

include birthday parties, bachelor and

bachelorette parties. These events usually

include a zipline event or perhaps the high

ropes event. After spending time on the

ziplines, move inside to rented space or one

of the outdoor spaces for more socializing

and to enjoy food and beverages.

While there is not food on site, meals

are often catered by Simple Café – a

local restaurant that specializes in locally

produced foods.

If a simpler fare such as pizza or

sandwiches are preferred, those items can

also be obtained from local restaurants.

Enjoy some semi-privacy at the picnic

area complete with picnic tables and an inground

firepit.

For more privacy, the outdoor brick

patio (complete with a fireplace) can be

rented out. Relax on the comfortable chairs

or perhaps enjoy a hammock. Rentals of

this space can be arranged for daytime

use or be used to relax after a day spent

ziplining where guests can enjoy a beer

or glass of wine to close out the day. The

outdoor patio can be rented in the late

afternoon and can be used until 7:30 p.m.

A variety of deals and packages are

available from discounts for local residents,

health care workers and military personnel

to several options of group discounts. See

the website for details on all of the options

offered.

There is a gift shop in the Welcome

Center, with a variety of t-shirts and

sweatshirts with zipline logos.

Lake Geneva Ziplines and Adventures is

located at N3232 County Highway Trunk

H, Lake Geneva. For more information, call

262-248-9271, follow them on social media

sites or visit lakegenevaadventures.com.


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Staller Estate

offers plenty

for special

gatherings


CORRESPONDENT

hile this is the time of the year where

small changes outdoors are noticeable,

Staller Estate Winery and Distillery takes

pride in making those changes stand out

even more.

As visitors arrive and wander through the

vineyards, they notice that there are not just beautiful

green vines but bunches of grapes growing and

ripening on them. The vineyard has reached the stage

when it will soon be time for the intensive work that

begins with the picking of the grapes and culminates

with the creation of Staller’s famous wines.

During this time, visitors appear on site to take in

one last afternoon – enjoying a leisurely visit, a glass

of one of Staller’s award-wining wines or creative

cocktails. These are often paired with a charcuterie

tray of cheeses, and some fine charcuterie meats

accompanied by a fresh baguette.

Visitors can choose whether to sit outdoors among

the beauty of the grape vines, under the portico or

along the patio, or opt for indoor seating down in the

Weddings

COURTESY STALLER ESTATE Spirit of Geneva Lakes


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476493

12 OCT. 2025

455349

from above: A closeup of grape vines with

the grapes still in the process of ripening; The

wine barrel cellar room is ideal for a small

wedding or other gathering. It’s also served as

the place for wedding proposals in the past;

Wendy Staller, owner of Staller Estate Winery

& Distillery with her husband, Joe, displays

their newest product, canned cocktails sold for

carryout; Outdoor seating at Staller overlooks

the vineyards, adding to the ambience while

sipping on a glass of wine.


barrel cellar.

“We hold a variety of events here at the

winery, including birthday events, family

gatherings and bridal showers, rehearsal

dinners and small weddings,” explained

Wendy Staller, who co-owns the business

with her husband, Joe.

Sometimes bridal showers are held

outdoors with the tables set up between

the rows of grapevines. The vineyard

experience is a pleasant and enjoyable way

to hold a friendly gathering with friends or

family. It is also a great place for a wedding

or wedding reception.

“Recently we had a wedding reception

for 84 people here,” Wendy said. “While

the wedding ceremony for this event was

held off site, we have had weddings where

the ceremony is also held here on site,

either out of doors or inside.

“When we have events that full meals

are required, we usually have the catering

done by Jeff and Marie Halpin, owners

of Annie’s Burgertown,” she said. “But

their catered meals are always much more

elegant than their casual food produced at

Burgertown.”

The Stallers have used Jeff and Marie

for many of the private event dinners held

on site and have always been pleased with

the quality and variety of the selections

provided by the Halpins.

Plenty of options

While some are wary of planning an

outdoor event as they are at the mercy of

the ever-changing weather, that is never a

problem at the Winery.

“If the plan is for an outside event and

the weather doesn’t allow it, we just move

it inside,” Wendy said. “Usually, we can do

it down in the wine barrel cellar.”

The wine barrel cellar is a cozy

downstairs room with a décor of wine

barrels and stored wines, giving one the

feeling of being in a mid- century European

winery. While the décor is warm and cozy,

the actual temperature down there is not,

for it is a true wine cellar.

“A true wine cellar is always 55 to

60 degrees to keep the wine at optimal

temperature,” Wendy explained. “So, think

about bringing a sweater or jacket to keep

out the chill if needed to move indoors to

the barrel cellar.”

The wine barrel cellar is often used for

a private couple’s event, such as a special

wedding anniversary dinner or a proposal.

A special seating menu for the cellar is

$59.95 per person and includes: exclusive

seating for two, two wine flights paired

with specialty truffles, a charcuterie and

fromage (cheese) board for two, two glasses

of wine from the wine list and two limited

edition “Allure” Staller Estate wine glasses

as a remembrance of the event.

While the private event for two is

special, the barrel cellar is also a great place

to hold a small anniversary, bridal shower

or special family event. Wendy suggested

calling as soon as someone is certain they

want to hold a group event at Staller,

especially if a specific place – such as the

barrel cellar, the sunroom or the gazebo – is

being requested.

Staller Winery will then work with

customers on the specifics of the event,

making choices that fit perfectly for

everything from bachelorette parties and


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476495

14 OCT. 2025

anniversaries to family reunions and more.

How it began

Joe and Wendy’s interest in winemaking

began when they were still students

at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Little did the couple know that this hobby

would continue to intrigue them and grow

the way it has.

After finishing at Whitewater, Wendy

went on to the University of California-

Davis, where she enrolled in and

completed a wine program. There she

became knowledgeable about all aspects of

wine making and the business of wine.

Joe and Wendy then purchased an old

dairy farm on Highway A, near Delavan.

They thought the site would make a nice

vineyard where they could continue their

hobby of wine making and eventually turn

it into a small family business.

Their dreams came true through faster

– and eventually on a much larger scale –

than expected.

“It was a hobby that grew out of control

and became a full-time business,” shared

Wendy. “We started with a small vineyard

and then increased the number of vines.

This vineyard is growing adjacent to

the winery. When the three acres there

were filled with vines, we added another

vineyard up on the hill.”

Because the vineyard produced plenty

of grapes, they began to produce not just

one type of wine but a variety of them,

including reds and whites in both dry and

sweet varieties. The next step was to enter

the wines in contests – locally at first and

then internationally, with both of them

winning awards.

Encouraged by the awards and positive

feedback that came with them, the Stallers

began to hold tastings at the winery. The

tastings also proved to be very successful

and as more people came for tastings

and purchased bottles of their wines to

take home, Joe and Wendy began to add

additional services. Those included wine

tastings coupled with charcuterie trays or

picnic platters as well as special events

including dinners with paired wines.

It seemed there was no shortage of new

ideas and they were able to bring those

ideas to fruition with more special events.

But they weren’t done growing yet.

Adding the distillery

“Then we began to branch out and

became not just a winery but a distillery,”

Wendy said. “We created some excellent

vodka, cognac, brandy and a bottled

Wisconsin favorite – the Brandy Old

Fashioned created with our brandy.

“We also began to expand our entries

into competition, delving into more

International competition and again have

been successful,” she added.

In the first year, the brandy and the

Brandy Old Fashioned were winners in

local competitions. Most recently, the

from top: A special arch is constructed in the vineyard for the wedding ceremony; A great spot

for that first married kiss is among the grape vines of the vineyard; Wine barrels are part of the

outdoor display near the entry to Staller Estate.





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16 OCT. 2025

couple entered an international competition

in London, where they were awarded a

bronze medal.

At the Finger Lakes Competition, not

only did their wines – Horizon Cuvee,

Estate Nouveau, and their barrel-aged

Reserve La Crescent – receive medals, but

the winery itself was chosen as Winery of

the Year for the State of Wisconsin.

While they continue to perfect their

award-winning products, the Stallers are

always working on creating more products

to add to their lines. In the past year, one

of the products they added were canned

cocktails.

“We have created three different canned

cocktails – the Old Fashioned, the Vanilla

Bean-Lemon Drop Cocktail and the Lemon

Berry Cosmo,” Wendy said. “These are

‘purchase and go’ drinks and not served for

consumption on site. They are a great drink

to take on picnics or other outings when

you don’t want to take a beer or wine.”

More new additions are the creation of

creamy dessert drinks. These drinks, which

Wendy described as similar to an Irish

cream but with unique flavors, have also

been well received.

At the present time, the dessert drinks

come in four different flavors and are sold

under the Dairyland Label. They are made

using farm fresh cream and the flavors are

cinnamon bun, lemon bar, old fashioned

and pecan pie cream.

“The pecan pie cream seems to be the

favorite and sells out the fastest,” Wendy

said.

Staller Wine Estates and Distillery is at

8896 County Highway A, Delavan. Contact

them by phone at 608-883-2100 or visit

their website at www.stallerestate.com for

a listing of upcoming events and to inquire

about making plans for your special event,

including weddings, receptions, bridal

showers and bachelor parties.

Fall hours at Staller are Wednesday

through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

They are closed Monday and Tuesday.

from above: This bride and her attendants

look beautiful on the Staller Estate property;

Guests celebrate a newly married couple as

they make their way past the vines at Staller

where the ceremony was performed.


The lineup of this year’s wines and brandies that

have won international awards.



Over 50

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Pumpkins • Squash • Gourds

HourS

Mon - Thurs 12 - 5

Fri - Sun 9 - 5

Advertising works in the

Spirit of Geneva Lakes!

Promoting your business in the

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to growth and overall success.

Knowing that your message

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For advertising opportunities contact:

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OCTOBER

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Saturday, October 11.

I will be Carving Live

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11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

0ctober upcoming events

DORI DAVIS-BECK • 262.210.3751

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OCTOBER

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JERRY SMITH’S

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11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

OCTOBER

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OCTOBER

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SENDIKS IN GREENFIELD, WI

11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

NOVEMBER

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PUMPKIN CARVING

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See website for details

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OCTOBER

26

SENDIKS IN NEW BERLIN, WI

11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

476491

Information

is subject to

change. Please

contact individual

restaurant for

more information.

Dining Directory

Call for Carry Out & Delivery Options

MICHAEL’S ON THE LAKE • 3101 Eagle Road,

Kansasville, WI 53139. (262) 878-3313. A Wisconsin supper

club on the shore of Eagle Lake. Known for our steaks, prime

rib on Saturday night, fish fry on Wednesday and Friday,

baby back ribs and our famous carrot cake. Visit www.

michaelsonthelakeWI.com for our full menu. Open Wed.

& Thurs. @ 3; Fri. & Sat. @ 11; Noon on Sunday. L, D, $$$,

GF, FF, SR (

1903 SALOON • 11230 260th Avenue, Trevor, WI 53179.

262-298-7005. Comfortable gathering place with friends.

Dine in or take out. Excellent food. Specialty drinks.

L D, $$

THE GREEN GROCER AND DELI • 24 W.

Geneva St., Williams Bay. 262-245-9077. www.

greengrocergenevalake.com Organic grocery store with a

deli. Serving sandwiches made with Boars Head meat and

cheese, homemade soups, salads and pizzas, wine, beer

and cocktails. Dine in, Carryout or delivery.

Open 7 days a week. L, D, $-$$ (

LOCAL FOLKS RESTAURANT & PUB • 39601 60th

St. (Slades Corners), Burlington. 262-539-3200. Open 6am

every morning! B, L, D, $, FF,

SPORTSMAN’S PUB & GRUB • 25313 W. Loomis Rd.,

Wind Lake, WI 53185. 262-895-1055. Join us Friday and

Saturday FOR THE BEST PRIME RIB IN TOWN! $2.00 OFF

Any prime rib dinner. Sunday morning breakfast served 8am

til Noon. L, D, FF, $$

Key

PINE STREET CAFE • 141 N. Pine St., Burlington, WI

53105. 262-763-9800. Homestyle food made from scratch

daily using only the finest, freshest ingredients. Breakfast •

Lunch • Dinner. Fish Fry Every Friday. Sunday 6am - 3pm.

Monday - Saturday 6am - 8pm. $$, B, L, D, FF,

LUISA’S • Just off Hwy. 50, 12 mi. east of Lake Geneva.

262-537-4795. Superb Italian & American cuisine. Dine in,

carry out, delivery, catering avail., call ahead & will have it

hot ready to go. D, $$

B&D’S VILLAGE INN • 34414 Geneva Rd., New Munster,

WI. 262-537-4719. Open daily at 11am

Serving Friday fish fry!

MARS RESORT • W 4098 S. Shore Dr., Lake Geneva.

A classic Wisconsin supper club “nestled on the shores of

Lake Como.” Open 7 days a week at 11am. Out of this world

ribs and spectacular sunsets! Reserve one of our Igloos on

our “Fire and Ice” Deck for a truly unique experience. We

created special platters that are sure to please all of our

guests. Enjoy our Piano Bar for fun Friday and Saturday

nights. Call 262-245-5689 today and visit

www.mars-resort.com to view our menu. L, D, FF, $$

GINO’S EAST OF CHICAGO • 300 Wrigley Dr., Lake

Geneva. 262-248-2525. www.ginoseastlakegeneva.

com. Chicago’s original deep dish pizza, Italian

sandwiches, salads and entrees. L, D, $-$$

WATERFRONT PUB & GRILL • 408 State Rd. 50,

Delavan, WI. 262-728-4700. www.waterfrontdelavan.com

Great atmosphere for all occasions with homemade food!

Indoor patios available for private parties. Dine in or pick

up through our drive thru window. Daily specials including

Friday Fish Fry and Saturday Prime Rib. Specialty cocktails

and 19 beers on tap. Open 7 Days A Week -11 am L, D, FF,

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B: Breakfast L: Lunch D: Dinner NC: No credit cards accepted $: Mostly under $10 $$: Mostly under $20 GF: Gluten free

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476579


Here comes the bride

LOCAL HISTORIAN DISCUSSES DRESSES, FLOWERS


CORRESPONDENT

While couples have been getting

married for centuries, related traditions and

superstitions have changed dramatically

over the years.

Going back to ancient times, marriages

were very different than the way they’re

planned today. Yet many of the traditions

we associate with weddings and marriage

now have roots from those early days.

While today, couples meet, fall in love

and then plan to marry, falling in love – or

for that matter even knowing each other,

was not required.

“In ancient days, marriage by capture

was a common way of finding a bride,”

shared Chris Brookes local historian and

Outreach Coordinator for Black Point

Estates and Gardens. “This was especially

true in areas where there was a shortage of

women of marriageable age.”

The prospective groom and his friends,

who became known as the groom’s men,

would raid adjoining villages to capture a

wife for their friend who wished to marry. The

women would dress alike to try and prevent

the bride’s capture leading to the groom trying

to figure out which was his love.

In Roman times, it was believed evil

spirits would attend the wedding to curse

the bride and groom. To confuse the spirits,

bridesmaids dressed like the bride.

One practice that has stood the test

of time for many weddings is that the

bridesmaids dress alike although the bride

is the only one in a bridal gown.

Interestingly, the parents of the captured

bride usually wanted their daughter to stay

married to her captor for they feared that the

marriage had been consummated and she

would not be considered fit for another man.

Flowers and herbs

Carrying a bouquet of herbs and flowers

became a tradition early on and was done

for the beauty as well as sharing a pleasant

fragrance. Keep in mind that bathing did

not occur nearly as frequently at that time.

“Bathing was often only done about

once a year especially among the peasants,”

Brookes said. “Thus, the fragrance of the

herbs and flowers helped to diffuse the odor.

Rosemary was an herb that was frequently

used because of its strong scent, and it was

also a symbol of fertility and fidelity.”

The bride would toss the bouquet as

a souvenir of the wedding and an object

of good luck to the person who caught it.

AND OTHER WEDDING TRADITIONS

Today it’s tossed to the single women at the

reception and is said to predict who will be

the next one to marry.

While it’s common in weddings for the

bride’s father to walk her down the aisle

and hand her over to the groom, it used to

be the culmination of a business deal. And

the marital kiss at the end of the ceremony

was the sealing of the marriage and is said

to allow the souls to mingle. In ancient

Rome, the wedding kiss was considered the

legal bond.

The honeymoon was a tradition of the

ancient Germans. The wedding would

be held at the full moon and after the

ceremony, the couple hid for one full cycle

of the month during which time they drank

honeyed mead – a honey sweetened wine.

It’s believed the term honeymoon came

from that tradition and was a time for the

couple to get to know each other.

In 18th century Britain, the trips

newlyweds would take was to visit relatives

who weren’t able to attend the wedding.

Queen Victoria started

many traditions

If there is any one person responsible

20 OCT. 2025

from left: On Jan. 4, 1898, Miss Elsa Seipp was married to Albert Madiener at her mother’s

home, now known as Black Point Estate in a typical Victorian gown. Her sister, Alma served as her

Maid of Honor in a white embroidered chiffon dress and carried a bouquet of pink roses. Alma

Seipp also married at Black Point, on Aug. 24, 1912. She wore a Victorian style gown as well but

with a much shorter veil than the traditional Victorian version.

COURTESY CHRIS BROOKES/ BLACK POINT Spirit of Geneva Lakes

for the wedding traditions that we follow

today it is Queen Victoria. Her wedding

to Prince Albert in 1840 was a massive

event but even prior to the wedding, she

was presented an engagement ring he had

designed.

It was an 18-carat gold ring that looked

like a serpent with diamonds for its mouth

and red rubies for its eyes. It also included

an emerald, which was her birthstone. The

serpent may seem like an odd choice, but it

was an ancient Roman traditional symbol

for everlasting love and adoration.

Prior to Victoria’s wedding, most brides

wore their best dress or had one made if

finances allowed. It was not a white gown

as it could be of any color, except yellow

which was reserved for mourning.

Queen Victoria introduced the white

satin and lace wedding gown, symbolizing

purity, innocence and eternal love. It was

created by local women who spent six

weeks sewing it, according to the history

books.

The dress had an 18-foot train which

was carried by Victoria’s 12 bridesmaids

who were also dressed in white. The bride’s

dress also had white lace across the bodice

and at the end of the long sleeves. Her veil

was held in place by a crown of orange

blossoms.

The Queen’s wedding cake was also

special as it was a 3-tier plum cake –

otherwise known as a fruitcake – with white

frosting symbolizing purity. Only 14 inches

high but 10 feet in circumference, the cake

weighed an estimated 300 pounds. It was

not made to be eaten at the wedding but

was cut up and boxed to take home as some

still do today.

“I call Queen Victoria the 19th Century

Influencer,” said Brookes. “For she

certainly influenced the look of weddings

then and with traditions that are still part of

today’s wedding customs.”

While nearly everything was elaborate,

her bridal bouquet was not. It was a simple

bouquet of snowdrops, the favorite flower

of her groom.

Mendelsson’s Wedding March became

popular later, after it was selected for one of

her daughter’s weddings.

Black bridal gowns

In Germany black was considered

the color of choice for bridal gowns and

German families would choose that over

Victorian white around 1900. But that

tradition did not remain popular.

With the end of the Victorian era, there

were some other changes. In the early

1920s many brides chose the Juliette cap

to hold their veil in place. It fit down on

the head and was often crocheted or was a

mesh cap decorated with pearls.

In the Roaring 20s many still wore

Victorian-style dresses although as

regular dresses became shorter –

especially during the flapper era, some

brides chose a shorter wedding dress. The

bridal bouquet became very extravagant,

with large, beautiful, expensive flowers.

During this time the wedding services

became more opulent and women earned

the right to vote and seemed to have more

say in their wedding planning. With the

increase in the size of weddings, using

a wedding planner to take care of the

details became popular.

Marshall Field & Co, the upscale

department store in Chicago began the

Bridal Registration to assure that the

couple received the gifts they wanted.

When the depression hit, there was

no money for fancy wedding dresses

and extravagant receptions, so they were

limited for a time. Then World War II

began and many brides followed the

examples of Hollywood stars and were

married wearing suits. This may have

been due to the lack of availability of

bridal gowns or because the marriages

took place quickly before the grooms

deployed. This was when men began to

wear wedding rings, a reminder while

they were at war of the reason they were

fighting.

Traditions continued to change

including hoop skirted dresses in the 60s

to the popularity of outdoor ceremonies in

the 70s. Following the marriage of Diana

to Prince Charles of England in the 80s,

opulent dresses like Diana wore became

popular for a time.

As Brookes pointed out, Queen

Victoria’s choice of a white wedding

gown has remained the top choice though

some women now opt for off-white or

antique white versus pure white. The

average age for a first wedding is now

early 30s versus early 20s, which was the

most common age range for many years.

Other traditions of interest include:

• The garter toss, which originated

in England and France as a way for the

groom to toss out a piece of the bride’s

wedding attire and distract guests as the

newlyweds made their escape.

• The ringing of wedding bells, which

stems from the Irish belief that the sound

of bells wards off evil spirits and ensures

a happy family life.

• Tossing rice is meant to symbolize

rain, which is said to be a sign of

prosperity, fertility and good fortune.

• The placement of the ring on the

fourth finger of the left hand stems from

Ancient Greece. It was believed the

“ring” finger contained a vein that leads

straight to the heart.

above: Formal wedding pictures were the vogue

in the early 20s. The Juliette cap was the most

popular head piece with a long veil attached.

The bridal dress was still as fancy as the early

Victorian dresses but shorter and the simple

bouquet was replaced by massive white roses.


from top left: The Orb sisters are shown

in matching black dresses which may have

been wedding gowns. In Germany, black was

often the color chosen for such a dress; In

pre-Victorian days, there were many types of

wedding dresses in a variety of colors.

COURTESY CHRIS BROOKES/ BLACK POINT Spirit of Geneva Lakes


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In the spooky fall of the year

The time is here for

ghost walks, sordid

and scandalous

tours and more


CORRESPONDENT

Fall, especially the month of October, is a

special time of year and a favorite for many.

Activities change, as does the weather.

Warm breezes turn cooler, and then cold

winds blow through leaves that have

changed color from green to rust and

yellow off.

The trees then take on a somewhat

spooky look as those leaves fall, leaving

behind bare, gnarled branches reaching out

to the gray sky. Is it then that some begin

to feel we see ghosts and goblins in the air?

Do carved Jack ‘O Lanterns with candles

add another frightening experience?

October becomes the month of haunts

and hauntings, culminating with the

celebration of Halloween on the last day,

Oct. 31.

Whether we embrace those scary stories

or try to ignore them, most everyone has

some interest in learning where they come

from, and whether homes thought to be

haunted truly are.

The Lake Geneva area offers plenty of

experiences of that sort throughout October

including opportunities to answer the

question: Are ghosts real?

Poe at the Point

Many people grew up being introduced

to Edgar Allan Poe’s works in high school

– works that either scared or intrigued but

were likely not forgotten. A chance to relive

some of his most famous works happens

with Poe at the Point – held at Black Point

Estate and Gardens during the fall season.

Embark upon the boat at the Riviera

Docks and enjoy the eerie feeling as dusk

descends. On the shore, Black Point Estate

– the former summer cottage of beer baron

Conrad Seipp – can be seen towering above

the lake.

After docking, begin the climb of more

than 100 steps up to the mansion just as the

Seipp family did when they would arrive at

their summer residence. The difference with

this tour is that darkness descends, and the

spookiness of the evening takes over.

Inside the mansion, guests gather in the

dimly lit rooms for a chilling live reading

of some of Poe’s most memorable works,

including “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The

Raven.”

“For several years we have presented

this program, with author Joshua Rex

performing the readings,” said David

Desimone, Administrator of Black Point

Estate and Gardens.

Rex’s performances will take place on

the evenings of Oct. 16, 17 and 18, with the

addition of a daytime version of the program

at 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 18, for those not ready

or able to attend during the evening.

After the dramatic readings, held by

Exquisitely carved jack-o’-lanterns welcome

visitors to an evening of Legends and Lore at

Old World Wisconsin.

COURTESY WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY Spirit of Geneva Lakes


$129

Furnace Tune-Up

462811

24 OCT. 2025

candlelight, which enhances the chilling

tales, learn about Poe’s fascinating life and

mysterious death. Then explore the first

floor of the 1888 mansion in the subdued

lighting, if you dare. And don’t forget – the

mansion is said to be haunted!

It’s then time to head back to the

boat after heading down the steps in the

darkness. You don’t want to be left alone at

Black Point when the boat leaves the dock.

Enjoy the dark ride along the lake with

only shadows to be seen along the shore,

heading back to the Riviera docks with

Poe’s words resonating in your head.

Fans of history, classic literature,

mystery, and those who enjoy sophisticated

spookiness should consider attending this

program.

For more information, visit the website,

blackpointestate.wisconsinhistory.org or on

Google search “Poe at the Point.”

Sordid and

Scandalous:

A Walking Tour

of Lake Geneva

Many people think of Lake Geneva as

a beautiful place where everything is light,

lively and perfect… where only the best

people lived.

Well, while that is true for much of

Lake Geneva, it’s not the case for everyone

who has lived there. Visitors may want to

think again about life in Lake Geneva and

around Geneva Lake in the early years, as

in addition to its beauty and positive events,

the area has produced “its share of weird,

wicked and outright scandalous behavior,”

according to the Wisconsin Historical

Society.

Those interested in exploring this history

during the fall season when the weird

and wicked are foremost in thoughts as

Halloween approaches may want to take

part in “Sordid and Scandalous: A Walking

Tour of Lake Geneva.” Visitors can wander

through the beautiful and historic areas of

Lake Geneva, and learn that often, all is not

necessarily what it seems to be.

Meet one of two tour guides – Dave

Desimone or Michael Rehberg, both from

Black Point Estate – at the Riviera for a

1.5-mile walking tour. As the group walks

through the Maple Park neighborhood and

the downtown areas where a variety of

sordid activities were held, a tour guide

shares stories of the past.

Lake Geneva had intriguing connections

to the Prohibition-era gangsters usually

from top: The Sordid and Scandalous

tour begins at the Riviera in downtown Lake

Geneva; For a few days in October, Black Point

Estate welcomes visitors to Poe at the Point, a

reading of Edgar Allan Poe’s famous and scary

poems; A woman in a black cloak makes her

way along the walking tour.

COURTESY WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY Spirit of Geneva Lakes


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from top: A bartender at Maxwell Mansion shares ghostly stories with

guests; A group on a Ghost Walk along the shore learns about haunted events

that have occurred; Tour director Rita Mae Moore shares stories with a group in

front of the Baker House in Lake Geneva, which once served as a sanitarium.

COURTESY AMERICAN GHOST TOURS Spirit of Geneva Lakes

associated with Chicago and

other larger cities. Some

were also found right in Lake

Geneva. A notorious bank

robbery occurred in the 1950s

in Lake Geneva, but who was

responsible and whether they

got away with it might still be

unknown.

Who or what caused the

riots in Lake Geneva? Was

there really a flying saucer

found in the area? And what

about the Geneva Lake Sea

Serpent. Was it real?

The tours are held

Saturdays in October from

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It is

advised to wear comfortable

walking shoes and dress for

the weather, as the entire tour

is outdoors and not canceled

due to weather. Pets are not

permitted on the tour, and

the tour is for teens over the

age of 13 and adults. Tickets

must be purchased in advance

through the Black Point Estate

website.

American

Ghost Walks

Those looking to wander

through Lake Geneva and

learn about the ghosts that

have been found in the area

can go on a Haunted History

Walking tour. It’s an ideal

October when everyone is

tuned in to ghosts and goblins

as Halloween approaches.

The American Ghost Walks

were founded and are owned

by Mike Huberty, a Wisconsin

resident who grew up near the

community.

“Before we begin ghost

tours in an area, we do

research on any ghost or

paranormal activity in that

area,” said Huberty. “We

interview those who have

experienced the ghostly

activities and check the

historical records before we

add the story to our tour.”

The Lake Geneva Ghost

tour is held daily beginning at

7:30 p.m. and lasts for about

two hours. The group meets at

the gazebo in Seminary Park,

521 Baker St., to begin the

walk.

There are two buildings

that are known for being

haunted that are the focus –

Maxwell Mansion and the

Baker House. These mansions

were built in the 1800s and

are known for paranormal

activity. The walk, which

remains outside the buildings,

includes a discussion on

the paranormal experiences

reported.

The tour guide will tell

the story of the woman in

black who is said to live in

the park adjacent to Lake

Geneva Library. Time will

also be spent walking through

downtown Lake Geneva

while stories about ghostly

activities there are shared.

Flat Iron Park is another

stop on the tour where the

guide talks about the Native

American tribes who first

settled in this area.

Travel through Lake

Geneva with a tour guide

dressed in Victorian

clothing, a time when many


of these hauntings were first

observed. There are several

tour guides as the tour takes

place daily including Rita Mae

Moore.

“Rita became a tour guide

for us when her mother, who is

a local ghost hunter, suggested

her for the job,” Huberty said.

“She continues to share her

knowledge of the history of the

ghostly activities to those on the

tours.”

The tour is held outside

even in light rain and cold

temperatures so dress

appropriately and wear

comfortable walking shoes. No

pets are allowed on the tour.

For more information or to

purchase tickets,

visit www.americanghostwalks.

com.

Come Enjoy Over 150 Commercial &

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262-878-3000

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Closed Mon. & Tues. • Open Wed. thru Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

September thru mid-November

7 Miles E. of Burlington on Hwy 142, then 1/2 mile north on Kenosha County B (288th Ave.)

10 Miles North of Illinois/Wisconsin state line on I-94

and 10 Miles West of I-94 on 142.

Elsewhere

in the area

Other fall events and

Halloween activities in the area

include the following:

Black Point Estate

and Gardens

• Spiritualism in the

Victorian Era – Learn about the

Fox Sisters, early spiritualists in

Wisconsin, and the founding of

the first School of Spiritualism

(The Pratt School). Held at

Black Point Estate Oct. 3, 10

and 24.

Old World Wisconsin

• Halloween Legends and Lore

– Visit Old World Wisconsin at

this time and enjoy the mystery,

459615

history, and spooky festivities of

events on the grounds.

This family friendly event

combines ghostly games and

stories of ghosts from the area.

This year, they have added

additional events including black

and white films shown in the

Clausing Barn, a costume party

Meet Your Friends at Geneva Crossing!

Lake Geneva’s Premier

55+ Neighborhood

The Terraces

& Highlands

Active Senior Living 55+

Arbor Village

& Village Glen

Assisted Living and

Memory Care Neighborhood

at the newly opened Wittnebel’s

Tavern with specialty crafted

cocktails for adults, and bonfire

stories told while sitting along the

bonfire.

Visit oldworldwisconsin.

wiscosinhistory.org for more

information and to purchase

tickets.

A tour group gathers in front of Maxwell Mansion to hear stories of the

many paranormal events that have reportedly occurred there.

COURTESY AMERICAN GHOST TOURS Spirit of Geneva Lakes

262-248-4558 • www.genevacrossing.com

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View my properties at www.lakehomeswi.net

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Lot 0 Green Lake Dr., Elkhorn - A Rare Opportunity on any lake in SE WI. Build a Single Family

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NEW LISTING

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W5789 Ridge Rd., Elkhorn - Rare lakefront opportunity on Middle Lake! This generous 0.83-

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this property provides endless potential. A rare blend of space, lake frontage, and location—perfect

for creating a lifetime of memories $649,700

30 OCT. 2025

Lt1 North Lake Shore Dr., Sugar Creek - 7.2 acres on North Lake in Blue Wing Estates

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Fall Bucket List

Go Apple Picking

Pick a Pumpkin

Enjoy a Sample of Wine

Eat an Apple Cider Donut

Sip Our Apple Cider

APPLE BARN • W6384 SUGAR CREEK ROAD

ELKHORN, WI 53121 • 262-728-3266

www.applebarnorchardandwinery.com

476504

Spirit of Geneva Lakes Oct 2025

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