FreeMadison · Mad City

Free things to do with kids in Madison, this week and every week.

Yes, plenty is free with little kids in Madison this week: we found 25 free outings, including Kids in the Rotunda: A Year with Frog & Toad and Bat Fest at Owen Conservation Park, plus 23 library programs. One free day or event is coming up, each with its date. And seven places never charge admission, like Wisconsin State Capitol and Central Library.

Last checked · Every listing links to its official page. How we choose

25free outings this weekincl. 23 library programs1free days and events coming upwith dates from each venue7places that are always freeWisconsin State Capitol, Central Library3free storytime calendarsMadison Public Library, Sun Prairie Public Library

This week

Free things to do with kids in Madison this week

Every free outing on this week’s Madison list, rebuilt every Thursday. Library programs may need a quick sign-up.

Mon Oct 1910:30–11:15am

Toddler Time (Alicia Ashman Library)

Alicia Ashman Library · 733 N. High Point Rd., Madison, WI 53717

A short storytime of rhymes, songs and movement, then time to play and meet other toddlers.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 1–3
Mon Oct 1910:30–11:15am

Animal Adaptations Meet & Greet (Imagination Center Library)

Imagination Center Library · 1814 Parkside Dr., Madison, WI 53704

The Lussier Family Heritage Center brings two animal ambassadors to show how animals adapt, part of Nature Everywhere Madison.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 2–10
Mon Oct 1911am–12pm

Baby Play Date (Pinney Library)

Pinney Library · 516 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison, WI 53716

A casual playdate with toys and books for babies and their caregivers.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–1
Mon Oct 1911:30am–12:15pm

Baby Time (Alicia Ashman Library)

Alicia Ashman Library · 733 N. High Point Rd., Madison, WI 53717

Rhymes, songs and bounces for babies, then playtime with other families.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–1
Mon Oct 1911:30am–12:30pm

Wiggles and Words Storytime (Goodman South Madison Library)

Goodman South Madison Library · 2222 S. Park St., Madison, WI 53713

A multi-age storytime of books, songs and play.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Tue Oct 2010–10:30am

Storytime for the Very Young (Sequoya Library)

Sequoya Library · 4340 Tokay Blvd., Madison, WI 53711

Books, songs and play for babies and toddlers.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–2
Tue Oct 2010:30–11:30am

Un Lugar Llamado Música: Stories & Songs (Imagination Center Library)

Imagination Center Library · 1814 Parkside Dr., Madison, WI 53704

A musical story trip to Puerto Rico through Samira Alvarez’s picture book Un Lugar Llamado Música, for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 2–10
Tue Oct 2011:30am–12:30pm

Baby Storytime (Lakeview Library)

Lakeview Library · 2845 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, WI 53704

Reading, singing and playing with babies from birth to 17 months.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–1
Wed Oct 219:30–10:15am

Baby & Toddler Storytime (Central Library)

Central Library · 201 W. Mifflin St., Madison, WI 53703

Reading, singing and play for babies and toddlers up to 3.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–3
Wed Oct 2110–10:30am

Multi-age Storytime (Pinney Library)

Pinney Library · 516 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison, WI 53716

Books, songs and play for kids 5 and under.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Wed Oct 2110:30–11:30am

Storytime with Play (Hawthorne Library)

Hawthorne Library · 2707 E. Washington Ave., Madison, WI 53704

Stories, songs and rhymes for kids 5 and under, then playtime.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Wed Oct 2110:30–11:15am

Read & Breathe: A Mindful Storytime (Alicia Ashman Library)

Alicia Ashman Library · 733 N. High Point Rd., Madison, WI 53717

Stories woven with playful mindfulness that kids and caregivers do together.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 2–8
Wed Oct 2110:30–11:15am

Multi-Age Storytime (Meadowridge Library)

Meadowridge Library · 5726 Raymond Rd., Madison, WI 53711

Books, songs and play for kids under 5.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Wed Oct 2111:15–11:45am

Baby Storytime (Pinney Library)

Pinney Library · 516 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison, WI 53716

Reading, singing and playing with babies up to 17 months.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–1
Thu Oct 2210–10:30am

Toddler Music with Corey Mathew Hart (Sequoya Library)

Sequoya Library · 4340 Tokay Blvd., Madison, WI 53711

Sing and dance with local musician Corey Mathew Hart. Aimed at 12 to 24 months, all welcome.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 1–3
Thu Oct 2210:30–11:30am

Bird Connection Storytelling (Lakeview Library)

Lakeview Library · 2845 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, WI 53704

An interactive storytelling hour about birds, part of Nature Everywhere Madison.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 2–10
Fri Oct 2310–10:30am

Preschool Storytime (Sequoya Library)

Sequoya Library · 4340 Tokay Blvd., Madison, WI 53711

Books, songs and playful activities that build pre-reading skills, for preschoolers.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 3–5
Fri Oct 2310:30–11:30am

Baby Play Date (Imagination Center Library)

Imagination Center Library · 1814 Parkside Dr., Madison, WI 53704

A casual playdate with play materials and books for babies up to 24 months; siblings welcome.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–2
Fri Oct 2310:30–11:30am

KOGA Kids Yoga (Meadowridge Library)

Meadowridge Library · 5726 Raymond Rd., Madison, WI 53711

A drop-in 50-minute kids’ yoga class with breathwork and a dance warm-up, timed before lunch and nap.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 2–6
Fri Oct 2310:30–11:15am

Bilingual Multi-Age Storytime (Monroe Street Library)

Monroe Street Library · 1705 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711

Teacher Barbara’s English-Spanish storytime for preschoolers and younger; older kids welcome.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Sat Oct 249:30am, 11am & 1pm

Kids in the Rotunda: A Year with Frog & Toad

Overture Center – Rotunda Stage · 201 State St., Madison, WI 53703

The Jerry Ensemble’s 45-minute musical of Frog and Toad’s year together, free on the Rotunda Stage at 9:30, 11 and 1 (the 1pm show is ASL interpreted).

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 2–99
Sat Oct 2410–11am

Lee • Canta • Crea | Read • Sing • Create (Lakeview Library)

Lakeview Library · 2845 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, WI 53704

Bilingual stories, songs and art celebrating culture and creativity.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 2–8
Sat Oct 2410:30–11am

Stories & Songs with Junebug (Pinney Library)

Pinney Library · 516 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison, WI 53716

Teacher Junko leads singing, dancing and instrument play for ages birth to 5.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Sat Oct 2411am–3pm

LEGO Takeover! (Pinney Library)

Pinney Library · 516 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison, WI 53716

The Wisconsin LEGO Users Group fills the community room with giant LEGO displays for a day.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 2–99
Sat Oct 241–4pm

Bat Fest at Owen Conservation Park

Owen Conservation Park · 6021 Old Sauk Rd., Madison, WI 53705

Weigh and measure model bats, play a bat survival game, peek at the bat hibernaculum and meet the Humane Society’s wildlife rehabbers. Free; no live bats.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 3–99
Showing all 25 free outings

Mark the calendar

Free days and free events coming up in Madison

Museum and zoo free days, free festivals and other one-off free events, soonest first. Some free days are only for residents or cardholders, so each one says who gets in free.

Who gets in free:EveryoneResidents onlyCardholders only
Nov14

Holiday Fantasy in Lights

Olin Park · 1156 Olin Court, Madison, WI

Lights on at dusk; candy canes 4:30–10 p.m.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
EveryoneFree

Any day

Places that are always free in Madison

Parks, gardens, nature centers and museums that don’t charge admission.

Wisconsin State Capitol

Capitol SquareFree guided tours cover the building’s history, art and architecture. Groups under 10 just show up at tour time in the Rotunda.Official site ↗Report a problem

Central Library

Downtown, 201 W. Mifflin St.Madison Public Library’s downtown branch, a block off the Capitol Square. Free kids’ programs are on the library calendar.Official site ↗Report a problem

UW Geology Museum

UW–Madison campus, 1215 W. Dayton St.A free campus museum where kids can stand under a mastodon’s tusks and see dinosaurs, glowing minerals and a model of a Wisconsin cave.Official site ↗Report a problem

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

East sideBotanical gardens whose outdoor gardens are free to walk year-round. The tropical Bolz Conservatory costs extra.Official site ↗Report a problem

Elver Park

Southwest side, 1250 McKenna Blvd.Madison’s largest community park, with 250 acres, an accessible playground, a free splash park in summer and sledding in winter.Official site ↗Report a problem
Free to get in, but parking, special exhibits and seasonal extras can cost money. Check each place’s site before you go.

Every week

Free library storytimes

Madison Public Library

Free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers at Central Library and the neighborhood branches.

Weekly; days and times vary by branch

BabiesToddlersPreschoolFree
Find a storytime near you ↗

Sun Prairie Public Library

Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Itsy Bitsy Lapsit Storytime (Mondays 10am) and Cuentos Infantiles (Spanish Storytime) (Wednesdays 5pm).

Weekly at the Sun Prairie Public Library; Monday–Thursday, plus evening sessions

BabiesToddlersPreschoolFree
Find a storytime near you ↗

Monona Public Library

Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Baby & Toddler Storytime (Tuesdays 10am) and Toddler Playtime (Tuesdays 10:30am).

Weekly at the Monona Public Library; Tuesdays

BabiesToddlersPreschoolFree
Find a storytime near you ↗

Keep planning

More for little kids in Madison

Indoor play in MadisonIndoor playgrounds, toddler times and museums, with pricesThanksgiving weekend in MadisonParades, turkey trots and what’s open on ThursdayNoon Year’s Eve in MadisonKid-friendly countdowns, home by napThis week in MadisonDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

Free things to do with kids in Madison: the FAQ

This week we found 25 free outings for ages 0–6, including Kids in the Rotunda: A Year with Frog & Toad, Bat Fest at Owen Conservation Park, Toddler Time (Alicia Ashman Library) and Animal Adaptations Meet & Greet (Imagination Center Library). See free this week; the list is rebuilt every Thursday.

Holiday Fantasy in Lights is free this season. Dates and times are on each card under free days and free events.

Wisconsin State Capitol, Central Library, UW Geology Museum, UW–Madison Arboretum and Olbrich Botanical Gardens and 2 more don’t charge admission. Some charge for parking or special exhibits; the cards say so where the place does.

Yes: UW Geology Museum. See all of them on indoor play places in Madison.

Yes. Madison Public Library, Sun Prairie Public Library and Monona Public Library run free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Times change by branch, so check the calendar linked below.

Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 19, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday for dated events and once a month for free places. How we choose and check.

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