Your Invitation to Visit
Benton and the surrounding areas are filled with interesting things to see and do, and you have an open invitation to visit! The area is steeped in history and fascinating architecture. There are a number of museums both in and around Benton that offer a look into the past. Artisans have set up shop in some of the nearby towns, where there are many boutiques, gift shops, and antique stores to peruse.
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, this area is for you! The Mississippi River cuts through nearby Dubuque, Iowa, and Galena, Illinois, and offers boating, fishing, and various other water sports. There are a number of excellent golf courses in the surrounding area, from our local nine-hole course right up to 18-hole championship courses. Wildlife is abundant, and this part of the state is a paradise both for hunters and for those who simply enjoy seeing animals in their natural habitat. Snowmobiling, ice fishing, and skiing are among the winter sports enjoyed in the area.
We invite you to experience the splendor of all four seasons here in beautiful Southwestern Wisconsin and to visit points of interest all though the region. Come as often as you like, stay as long as you want – you’re always welcome.
There is always an open invitation to visit Benton and the surrounding area. See what the region has to offer in terms of beauty, business opportunities, and a family-oriented, slower-paced way of life.
Come by yourself, or bring your entire family. Experience a number of events and festivities that Benton organizations sponsor. Check our calendar of upcoming events–and don’t forget our Labor Day weekend celebration.
Labor Day Weekend
Benton is the place to be on Labor Day weekend. The town virtually overflows with people, as families and friends return home for a weekend full of good times and Labor Day traditions.
The weekend typically kicks off with Saturday’s Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament at Cole Acres. The town’s museums, filled with historical and educational memorabilia, are all open; the Fever River Puppeteers perform; and the Alumni Banquet is held in the evening.
Labor Day wouldn’t be Labor Day without Benton’s parade, the best parade in the tri-state area. Following the parade there are inflatables for the kids, music, games, and a craft fair in the park, along with the fire department cooking up lunch. Also enjoy the duck races at Horseshoe Bend and Benton’s famous pasty dinner – nothing says “Benton” like pasty! (For those of you who’ve never heard of the Cornish dish, pasty is savory layers of delicious meat and potatoes that have found a comfortable home inside a pie crust.) Labor Day’s park activities close with the firemen’s raffle at 5 p.m.
Sunday’s activities are capped off in the evening by the annual BCDC Street Dance, a dance drawing a crowd of between 1,200-1,500 revelers. Benton’s old classmates and friends, as well as huge numbers of people from neighboring communities, look forward to “raising the roof” at the annual dance. (Dance-goers must be 21 to enter – there are absolutely no exceptions to the rule.)
What to See and Do
Where to Eat
Residents of Southwest Wisconsin and visitors to the area are fortunate to have a large selection of restaurants and eating establishments that serve excellent food at affordable prices. The following is a list of dining places in and around Benton.
Right Here in Town . . .
On the Outskirts of Benton . . .
Where to Stay
There are a number of excellent lodging accommodations within a short drive of Benton. Whether you’re looking for something sublime or something more modest–or something in between–you’ll find it right here in the area.
In Benton, WI
- Journey's Nest Airbnb, 67 E Main St, Benton - Airbnb listing here
In Shullsburg, WI
- Badger Motel, 269 WI Hwy 11, Shullsburg – Phone: 608-965-3556
- Lead Region Lodging, 250 W Water Street, Shullsburg – Phone: 608-482-4433
- Risken-Lee Holiday House, 211 W Water Street, Shullsburg – Phone: 608-482-3369
- Water Street Place Historic Inn, 202 W Water Street, Shullburg - Phone: (608) 965-3228 - Website here
In Other Nearby Towns
Benton is close to many other excellent lodging accommodations in neighboring Platteville, Wisconsin; Galena, Illinois; and Dubuque, Iowa. Links to those towns’ chambers of commerce, as well as other useful links, have been provided below: