Summerfest Grounds Add Haunted Mini Golf

Haunted mini golf at Nine Below, 1905 E. North Ave. Photo taken Sept. 18, 2024 by Sophie Bolich.

A Halloween attraction that spent the past three years on Milwaukee’s East Side is moving to the lakefront.

Bars & Recreation will bring its Haunted Mini Golf experience to Henry Maier Festival Park for seven nights in October, Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. announced Thursday.

The attraction will operate inside the Aurora Pavilion from Oct. 22 through Oct. 25 and again Oct. 29 through Halloween.

Haunted Mini Golf was previously held at Bars & Recreation’s Nine Below, the underground mini golf venue on N. Murray Avenue. The move to the Summerfest grounds will allow for a larger version of the event, including two nine-hole haunted miniature golf courses, live DJs, themed costume nights, food and drinks and scare actors during evening sessions.

“Haunted Mini Golf has always been about creating an experience you can’t get anywhere else,” said Bars & Recreation CEO Marla Poytinger in a statement. “This year, we’re giving guests even more ways to be part of the fun.”

The event is the latest effort by the nonprofit that operates Summerfest and the festival grounds to bring additional programming to the lakefront grounds outside of the summer festival season.

“We’re excited to welcome Haunted Mini Golf to the lakefront this fall,” said MWF president and CEO Sarah Pancheri. “As we continue to expand the variety of events and activities hosted at Henry Maier Festival Park, this partnership offers a fun new way for families and friends to celebrate the Halloween season.”

The experience will change after dark.

Before 7 p.m., the courses will operate without scare actors and are recommended for guests ages 10 and older. After 7 p.m., scare actors will be incorporated into the courses and the experience is recommended for those 16 and older. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Each of the seven nights will also carry a different cosplay theme.

The Oct. 22 opening night will feature a “Haunted Renaissance” theme, followed by “Pirates & Curses” on Oct. 23, “Witches, Wizards & Magic” on Oct. 24 and “Enchanted Forest” on Oct. 25.

The attraction returns Oct. 29 with “Fright at the Movies,” followed by “Villains & Monsters” on Oct. 30 and a “Halloween Masquerade” on Oct. 31.

In addition to mini golf, organizers say the event will feature seasonal food and beverages, Halloween-themed cocktails and an optional “RIP Lounge” with a private bar and souvenir skull cup.

Tickets for nine holes start at $20 for adults and $15 for children. Reservations are encouraged.

Haunted Mini Golf will run from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 22, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 23, noon to 10 p.m. Oct. 24 and noon to 7 p.m. Oct. 25. It returns from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 29, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 30 and noon to 11 p.m. on Halloween.

Additional grounds activation this weekend

MWF’s efforts to expand the use of the grounds will also be on display this weekend.

Milwaukee Oktoberfest returns to Henry Maier Festival Park this weekend for its second year at the Summerfest grounds. The 16th annual event, produced by Swarmm Events and Kegel’s Inn, runs Friday through Sunday, Oct. 2-4.

The Oktoberfest celebration moved from Cathedral Square Park to the lakefront in 2025 and is expanding its footprint this year. Organizers said last year’s event went through more than 4,500 sausages and nearly 1,800 pretzels. This year’s event will use the Aurora Pavilion, Hofbräu Beer Garden and Northwestern Mutual Community Park, with multiple entertainment areas, German food and beer, cultural performances and contests.

The festival runs from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Kegel’s Inn will again provide German food, while activities include stein hoisting, a brat-eating contest, Miss Oktoberfest and a wiener dog pageant.

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