Confession. I’ve lived here my whole life, and I still get a little giddy when the leaves turn on Nicolet Drive. The kids just want to know if we’re stopping for donuts.

We usually are.

I think that’s what I love about this stretch of the year. Nobody’s trying too hard. You go to the thing at the church, you run into three people you know, you eat something you shouldn’t, you go home. It’s not fancy. It’s just ours.

So that’s the plan this weekend. Go to the thing. Run into people. Eat the thing. Repeat.

Here’s the week.

— MH

Asking for help is the hardest part, so De Pere turned it into a sign. The city’s new “Belonging in Action: See a Sign, Lend a Hand” program gives out free double-sided yard signs. One side says Snow Help Needed Here; the other says Lawn Help Needed Here. Flip it with the season, plant it out front, and let the neighbors take it from there. No app, no forms, no volunteer roster. The city only asks for a street name on the sign, not an address, and it doesn’t manage who shows up. Health Director Chrystal Woller said it best: people in need don’t always say it out loud, and this makes the invisible need visible. With leaves down and snow six weeks out, the timing couldn’t be better.

Green Bay’s newest school cut the ribbon Wednesday morning, a month after kids started filling the halls. Starr Elementary holds 500 students from early childhood through fifth grade and brings Keller, Kennedy and MacArthur under one roof. It’s named for Bart and Cherry Starr, and Bart Starr Jr. spoke at the ceremony on behalf of the family. The $44 million build is the first big piece of the $183 million referendum voters passed in 2024, so if you voted for it, this is what it looks like.

Voyageurs Bakehouse just put a brand new Super Seed on the shelf. It’s 60% sifted whole wheat, 30% rye, 10% spelled, all of it Wisconsin-grown from Heartland Craft Grains, and the whole thing is crusted in seeds. They’re pitching it next to a bowl of pumpkin soup, and with frost coming Friday night, that’s exactly the right call. Fair warning from the bakery: it’s delicious, and it will make a mess.

Saturday is another Driveway Donut Day, and this one debuts the Halloween-themed Choco-Monster, a chocolate-frosted donut covered in sprinkles with candy eyes staring back at you. Glazed, crumb-topped, and drizzled varieties are on the rack too. Fall morning, fresh donuts, in and out of the driveway.

The city just launched a Microenterprise Grant program with awards up to $7,500 for new and growing businesses located inside Green Bay city limits. It’s built to get capital to the people who can’t get it from a bank yet: the home bakery that wants a commercial kitchen, the one-truck contractor who needs a second truck. If you’re reading this and you run something small out of your garage, this is for you.

Saturday’s third stop if you’re making a day of it. St. Matthew’s annual fall festival runs all day with gyros, stuffed cabbage, baklava, a bake sale that pulls from a lot of different kitchens, crafts, a hot chocolate bar, and live music from the David Paul Martin Band. Kids get face painting, pumpkin carving, gourd painting, and a bubble station from noon to 2, plus a free bouncy house the whole time. Every dollar goes to local charities: St. John’s men’s and women’s shelters, monthly shelter meals, House of Hope and the Alexandrina Center, plus international disaster relief.

De Pere Parks, Rec and Forestry is hosting an hour of sound healing at the Community Center. Sound bowls, chimes, and gongs paired with light meditation, built for anyone who needs a reset in the middle of a busy week. No experience needed, just show up and lie down.

The accordion is coming back to the Resch. Weird Al brings the full band production to Green Bay with Puddles Pity Party opening, which means a seven-foot sad clown singing covers before the main act. If you’ve never seen Al live, the costume changes alone are worth the ticket.

One night after Weird Al, the Resch flips to full volume. Godsmack headlines with Dorothy opening. Two very different crowds, same building, back-to-back nights.

Three shows in six days at EPIC. Friday is the 5th Annual Nashville Salute to Green Bay from Operation Song, the nonprofit that pairs veterans with Nashville songwriters to turn their stories into music. Saturday is W.A.S.P. playing 1984 to Headless with KK’s Priest. Wednesday is Dogstar, which is Keanu Reeves’ band, with The Backfires.

After hours at the National Railroad Museum, guided by lantern light through four historic cars. Real stories, not jump scares, and it's rated 16 and up. Only 20 guests per night, so it will sell out.

A wrap-up for this year’s Green Bay Sustainable Business Accelerator. Local businesses that went through the program get recognized, and the organizers share what they learned about which sustainability moves actually work for small companies here. Free, open to the public, and great for networking.

The big free one. Titletown hands out pumpkins and carving tools, first come, first served, and you leave with a jack-o-lantern. Touch a Truck brings in semis and farm equipment; carnival games, live music, food trucks, and the tenant restaurants are open. Sign the carving waiver online ahead of time and check in at the Titletown tent when you get there. Last year’s carved pumpkins stayed on display for a week.

📲 Don’t miss a thing. Follow us on Instagram & Facebook for daily updates, news, and behind-the-scenes bites from around Green Bay.

The children’s museum in Appleton dims the lights, kills the music, and powers down the louder exhibits for three hours Sunday morning so families in the autism community can play without the overload. Free for those families. If you’ve got a kid who loves the museum but struggles with the noise, this is the morning to go.

Green Bay took the Bears apart 31 to 7 on Sunday. Love went 25 of 31 for 367 yards, Christian Watson had two long touchdowns, MarShawn Lloyd ran in two more, and the defense forced five takeaways. That’s a 3-2 team heading into a prime-time rivalry game with Dallas, who just hired former Packers coordinator Mike Pettine to patch a bad defense. Micah Parsons is not expected back this week. It’s also the Packers vs Cancer game, so expect the pink and the recognition at halftime. Bart Starr Plaza tailgate at the Resch is open before kickoff.

Green Bay men’s basketball opens with an exhibition against the Wisconsin Badgers on Thursday, then hosts Marquette on Monday. Two Big Ten and Big East programs at the Resch in the same week is rare.

Pay no interest until nearly 2028 with some of the best hand-picked credit cards this year. They are perfect for anyone looking to pay down their debt, and not add to it!

Click here to see what all of the hype is about.

Learn How To Apply Now

🍯 That's the week. Downtown's the place to be, so go catch a show, grab a treat, and I'll see you next Thursday.

📩 Got something Green Bay should know? A new business, event, or shoutout? Just hit reply; we’re all ears, or click the link here.

Stay local. Stay buzzing, and maybe see you at an event. Don’t forget to say Hiiiii!

MH.