About 30 minutes outside Madison, Wisconsin, the small town of New Glarus has earned the nickname “America’s Little Switzerland” for a downtown built in the style of an alpine village. Founded by Swiss immigrants, the town caps off September with its own Oktoberfest, and nearby Monroe follows immediately after with Green County Cheese Days, the oldest culinary festival in the United States.

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- New Glarus, Wisconsin, is nicknamed “America’s Little Switzerland” for its alpine-style downtown.
- It sits about 30 minutes from Madison, making it an easy fall day trip or weekend stay.
- The town’s Oktoberfest caps off September with Swiss and German food, beer, and live music.
- Nearby Monroe hosts Green County Cheese Days, the oldest culinary festival in the US.

A Slice of Switzerland in the Midwest

New Glarus takes its Swiss identity seriously, from chalet-style architecture downtown to restaurants like Glarner Stube, serving Swiss dishes since the early 1990s. The result is a town that looks and feels distinct from anywhere else in Wisconsin.

Oktoberfest, New Glarus Style

New Glarus closes out September with its own Oktoberfest, featuring bratwurst and other German food, local beer, and live music, drawing visitors looking for a smaller, small-town alternative to the big city celebrations.

Green County Cheese Days: The Country’s Oldest Food Festival

Just down the road in Monroe, Green County Cheese Days follows close behind, billed as the oldest culinary festival in the United States. Expect a parade, live music, and cheese-focused treats including fried curds, mac and cheese, and cheesecake on a stick.

Beyond the Festivals

New Glarus rewards a slower visit too. New Glarus Woods State Park offers hiking trails through the surrounding hills, New Glarus Brewing Co draws beer fans year-round, and the Chalet Landhaus Inn keeps the Swiss theme going for anyone staying overnight.

Still Off the Beaten Path

New Glarus rarely turns up on typical Midwest fall foliage itineraries, which tend to point travelers toward Door County or the Wisconsin Dells instead. The Swiss Historical Village Museum, a cluster of pioneer-era buildings recreating the town’s founding by Swiss immigrants in 1845, offers a quieter look at its heritage than the crowds drawn to bigger regional attractions.

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