Fall in and around New Glarus does not arrive all at once.

It starts with apples and the first hints of color, builds into festivals and pumpkin patches, and eventually settles into those crisp October weekends when simply driving a country road or walking through the woods can feel like an event.

This year, the calendar is especially full. From major festivals in New Glarus and Monroe to orchards, vineyards, trails and family attractions within a short drive, there are plenty of ways to build a fall weekend without going far.

1. Do the Big Three Fall Festivals

If you want to experience the region at its busiest and most festive, September and October bring three major celebrations in less than a month.

Green County Cheese Days returns to downtown Monroe Sept. 18-20. The festival, which dates to 1914, celebrates cheesemaking, dairy farming and Swiss heritage with music, food, demonstrations and its signature Sunday parade. Green County Tourism and Travel Wisconsin describe the parade as being led by Brown Swiss cows.