# Free things to do with kids in Madison this 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: 2026-10-19
- 25 free outings this week; 1 free days and events coming up; 7 always-free places
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/madison/free/
- Indoor play (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/madison/indoor-play/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/madison/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/madison/llms.txt

## Free days and free events coming up

- **Holiday Fantasy in Lights** at Olin Park, 1156 Olin Court, Madison, WI. When: From Nov 14, 2026, nightly. Time: Lights on at dusk; candy canes 4:30–10 p.m. Price: Free. Official page: https://fantasyinlights.com/ (checked 2026-10-18)

## Free this week

- **Toddler Time (Alicia Ashman Library)** at Alicia Ashman Library, 733 N. High Point Rd., Madison, WI 53717. When: Mon Oct 19. Time: 10:30–11:15am. Price: Free. Ages: 1–3. A short storytime of rhymes, songs and movement, then time to play and meet other toddlers. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/toddler-time-253326 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Animal Adaptations Meet & Greet (Imagination Center Library)** at Imagination Center Library, 1814 Parkside Dr., Madison, WI 53704. When: Mon Oct 19. Time: 10:30–11:15am. Price: Free. Ages: 2–10. The Lussier Family Heritage Center brings two animal ambassadors to show how animals adapt, part of Nature Everywhere Madison. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/nature-everywhere-madison-animal-adaptations-lussier-family-heritage-center-262007 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Baby Play Date (Pinney Library)** at Pinney Library, 516 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison, WI 53716. When: Mon Oct 19. Time: 11am–12pm. Price: Free. Ages: 0–1. A casual playdate with toys and books for babies and their caregivers. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/baby-play-date-259917 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Baby Time (Alicia Ashman Library)** at Alicia Ashman Library, 733 N. High Point Rd., Madison, WI 53717. When: Mon Oct 19. Time: 11:30am–12:15pm. Price: Free. Ages: 0–1. Rhymes, songs and bounces for babies, then playtime with other families. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/baby-time-253348 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Wiggles and Words Storytime (Goodman South Madison Library)** at Goodman South Madison Library, 2222 S. Park St., Madison, WI 53713. When: Mon Oct 19. Time: 11:30am–12:30pm. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. A multi-age storytime of books, songs and play. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/wiggles-and-words-multi-age-storytime-261909 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Storytime for the Very Young (Sequoya Library)** at Sequoya Library, 4340 Tokay Blvd., Madison, WI 53711. When: Tue Oct 20. Time: 10–10:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–2. Books, songs and play for babies and toddlers. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/storytime-very-young-258435 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Un Lugar Llamado Música: Stories & Songs (Imagination Center Library)** at Imagination Center Library, 1814 Parkside Dr., Madison, WI 53704. When: Tue Oct 20. Time: 10:30–11:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 2–10. A musical story trip to Puerto Rico through Samira Alvarez’s picture book Un Lugar Llamado Música, for Hispanic Heritage Month. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/un-lugar-llamado-musica-stories-songs-and-imagination-263831 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Baby Storytime (Lakeview Library)** at Lakeview Library, 2845 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, WI 53704. When: Tue Oct 20. Time: 11:30am–12:30pm. Price: Free. Ages: 0–1. Reading, singing and playing with babies from birth to 17 months. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/baby-storytime-262391 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Baby & Toddler Storytime (Central Library)** at Central Library, 201 W. Mifflin St., Madison, WI 53703. When: Wed Oct 21. Time: 9:30–10:15am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–3. Reading, singing and play for babies and toddlers up to 3. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/baby-toddler-storytime-ages-birth-3-263404 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Multi-age Storytime (Pinney Library)** at Pinney Library, 516 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison, WI 53716. When: Wed Oct 21. Time: 10–10:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Books, songs and play for kids 5 and under. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/multi-age-storytime-ages-5-and-under-259867 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Storytime with Play (Hawthorne Library)** at Hawthorne Library, 2707 E. Washington Ave., Madison, WI 53704. When: Wed Oct 21. Time: 10:30–11:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Stories, songs and rhymes for kids 5 and under, then playtime. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/storytime-256722 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Read & Breathe: A Mindful Storytime (Alicia Ashman Library)** at Alicia Ashman Library, 733 N. High Point Rd., Madison, WI 53717. When: Wed Oct 21. Time: 10:30–11:15am. Price: Free. Ages: 2–8. Stories woven with playful mindfulness that kids and caregivers do together. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/read-breathe-mindful-storytime-all-ages-262045 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Multi-Age Storytime (Meadowridge Library)** at Meadowridge Library, 5726 Raymond Rd., Madison, WI 53711. When: Wed Oct 21. Time: 10:30–11:15am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Books, songs and play for kids under 5. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/multi-age-storytime-262072 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Baby Storytime (Pinney Library)** at Pinney Library, 516 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison, WI 53716. When: Wed Oct 21. Time: 11:15–11:45am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–1. Reading, singing and playing with babies up to 17 months. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/baby-storytime-ages-birth-17-mo-259881 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Toddler Music with Corey Mathew Hart (Sequoya Library)** at Sequoya Library, 4340 Tokay Blvd., Madison, WI 53711. When: Thu Oct 22. Time: 10–10:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 1–3. Sing and dance with local musician Corey Mathew Hart. Aimed at 12 to 24 months, all welcome. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/toddler-music-corey-mathew-hart-258720 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Bird Connection Storytelling (Lakeview Library)** at Lakeview Library, 2845 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, WI 53704. When: Thu Oct 22. Time: 10:30–11:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 2–10. An interactive storytelling hour about birds, part of Nature Everywhere Madison. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/nature-everywhere-madison-lakeview-coral-conant-gilles-bird-connection-262382 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Preschool Storytime (Sequoya Library)** at Sequoya Library, 4340 Tokay Blvd., Madison, WI 53711. When: Fri Oct 23. Time: 10–10:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 3–5. Books, songs and playful activities that build pre-reading skills, for preschoolers. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/preschool-storytime-258691 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Baby Play Date (Imagination Center Library)** at Imagination Center Library, 1814 Parkside Dr., Madison, WI 53704. When: Fri Oct 23. Time: 10:30–11:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–2. A casual playdate with play materials and books for babies up to 24 months; siblings welcome. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/baby-play-date-263734 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **KOGA Kids Yoga (Meadowridge Library)** at Meadowridge Library, 5726 Raymond Rd., Madison, WI 53711. When: Fri Oct 23. Time: 10:30–11:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 2–6. A drop-in 50-minute kids’ yoga class with breathwork and a dance warm-up, timed before lunch and nap. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/koga-yoga-267308 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Bilingual Multi-Age Storytime (Monroe Street Library)** at Monroe Street Library, 1705 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711. When: Fri Oct 23. Time: 10:30–11:15am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Teacher Barbara’s English-Spanish storytime for preschoolers and younger; older kids welcome. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/bilingual-multi-age-storytime-269032 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Kids in the Rotunda: A Year with Frog & Toad** at Overture Center – Rotunda Stage, 201 State St., Madison, WI 53703. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 9:30am, 11am & 1pm. Price: Free. Ages: 2–99. 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). Official page: https://www.overture.org/tickets-events/2026-27-season/kids-in-the-rotunda-jerry-ensemble/ (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Lee • Canta • Crea | Read • Sing • Create (Lakeview Library)** at Lakeview Library, 2845 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, WI 53704. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 10–11am. Price: Free. Ages: 2–8. Bilingual stories, songs and art celebrating culture and creativity. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/lee-canta-crea-read-sing-create-263371 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Stories & Songs with Junebug (Pinney Library)** at Pinney Library, 516 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison, WI 53716. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 10:30–11am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Teacher Junko leads singing, dancing and instrument play for ages birth to 5. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/stories-songs-junebug-260103 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **LEGO Takeover! (Pinney Library)** at Pinney Library, 516 Cottage Grove Rd., Madison, WI 53716. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 11am–3pm. Price: Free. Ages: 2–99. The Wisconsin LEGO Users Group fills the community room with giant LEGO displays for a day. Official page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/spaces/events/lego-takeover-wislug-large-lego-displays-community-room-410256 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Bat Fest at Owen Conservation Park** at Owen Conservation Park, 6021 Old Sauk Rd., Madison, WI 53705. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 1–4pm. Price: Free. Ages: 3–99. 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. Official page: https://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/events/2026-10-24/bat-fest (checked 2026-10-19)

## Always free

- **Wisconsin State Capitol**, Capitol Square. Free guided tours cover the building’s history, art and architecture. Groups under 10 just show up at tour time in the Rotunda. Official page: https://capitoltours.wi.gov/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **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 page: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **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 page: https://museum.geoscience.wisc.edu/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **UW–Madison Arboretum**, Near west side. Prairies, woods, gardens and more than 17 miles of trails, free to visit. Official page: https://arboretum.wisc.edu/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Olbrich Botanical Gardens**, East side. Botanical gardens whose outdoor gardens are free to walk year-round. The tropical Bolz Conservatory costs extra. Official page: https://www.olbrich.org/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **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 page: https://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/find-a-park/elver (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Henry Vilas Zoo**, Vilas Park. Madison’s free zoo since 1911, open every day. Official page: https://www.henryvilaszoo.gov/ (checked 2026-10-18)

## Free library storytimes

- **Madison Public Library**: Weekly; days and times vary by branch. Free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers at Central Library and the neighborhood branches. Calendar: https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/
- **Sun Prairie Public Library**: Weekly at the Sun Prairie Public Library; Monday–Thursday, plus evening sessions. 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). Calendar: https://sunprairie.librarymarket.com/events/upcoming
- **Monona Public Library**: Weekly at the Monona Public Library; Tuesdays. Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Baby & Toddler Storytime (Tuesdays 10am) and Toddler Playtime (Tuesdays 10:30am). Calendar: https://monona.librarycalendar.com/events/upcoming

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### What’s free to do with kids in Madison this weekend?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/madison/free/#this-week); the list is rebuilt every Thursday.

### What free holiday events are there for kids in Madison?
Holiday Fantasy in Lights is free this season. Dates and times are on each card under [free days and free events](https://littlesweekly.com/madison/free/#free-days).

### Where can we go for free any day in Madison?
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.

### Is there free indoor play in Madison?
Yes: UW Geology Museum. See all of them on [indoor play places in Madison](https://littlesweekly.com/madison/indoor-play/#places).

### Are library storytimes free 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.

### How do you check these free listings?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).