Art lovers in southeastern Wisconsin can spend this weekend wandering from studio to studio without spending a dime, as the Covered Bridge Art Studio Tour returns Friday through Sunday, October 9 through 11, running each day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The self-guided event requires no tickets and no reservations, letting visitors start wherever they like and build their own route through farmland, pumpkin patches and small-town main streets.
The tour is organized by the Cedarburg Artists Guild, and as reported by Urban Milwaukee, the guild is billing this as the 41st year of its fall arts tour — though Fox Cities Magazine describes it as the 44th year, so the exact milestone depends on which account you trust. Every participating artist is a member of the guild, according to the organization's own event listing, and the tour spans studios and workspaces across southeastern Wisconsin.
The number of participating artists is similarly murky depending on the source. The guild's own website states there are 61 artists on the 2026 tour, while Fox Cities Magazine's coverage cites 61 artists in their workspaces, and both Urban Milwaukee and a Port Washington tourism listing put the figure at 53. Whatever the final count, the format stays the same: visitors can ask questions, chat with the artists directly, and watch demonstrations that offer a window into how each piece comes together.
Where to Start and What to Expect
Visitors can start at the Cedarburg Cultural Center and pick up a map before heading out. Those who prefer to plan ahead can use a map and download one. The Cedarburg Cultural Center is located at W62N546 Washington Ave. in Cedarburg and can be reached at 262-375-3676.
Participating communities span both Ozaukee and Washington counties, including Mequon, Thiensville, Cedarburg, Grafton, Saukville, Port Washington and Newburg, according to Travel Wisconsin. In Port Washington specifically, stops include Art Perspective Gallery at 226 E Main Street and artist James Kiesow's studio at 5040 Country Club Beach Road, as detailed on the Visit Port Washington event listing.
A Scenic Drive With Every Medium Imaginable
Beyond the art itself, organizers are pitching the weekend as a scenic autumn drive. Urban Milwaukee describes the tour as a drive through rural Wisconsin.
Inside the studios, the range of work on display is broad. Fox Cities Magazine reports that artists are working in paint, clay, metal, wood, textiles, jewelry, collage, encaustics, stained glass, pastel, pencil, ink printmaking and iron — essentially every imaginable medium and genre, giving browsers plenty of reasons to linger at each stop and, if something catches their eye, take home an original piece straight from the person who made it.
