Every yearMadison · Mad City

Every year in Madison: month by month.

17 events in and around Madison that come back every year, sorted by the month they usually start. Each one has its own page with the last dates we confirmed, and 13 already have their next dates posted. When an organizer announces new dates, they go on that page.

17 events · 13 with next dates posted

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

4 events

October

Boo at the Zoo

Henry Vilas Zoo · 702 S. Randall Ave., Madison, WI 53715

Halloween2027 not announcedFree
Usually
October
Last time
Oct 17, 2026
Price (2026)
Free
Ages (2026)
Ages 0–12
Event pageOfficial page ↗

8 events

November

Nov20to Dec 23

Zoo Lights

Henry Vilas Zoo

Holiday lights2026 dates posted
Usually
November to December
Next
Nov 20 – Dec 23, 2026
Price (2026)
$12; advance 4-pack $40; 3 and under free, no ticket needed
Event pageOfficial page ↗
Nov27to Jan 2

Holiday Light Show (30th year)

Rotary Botanical Gardens · 1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI 53545

Holiday lights2026 dates posted
Usually
November to January
Next
Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027
Price (2026)
Adults $18; kids 3–12 $5; 2 and under free (online and door)
Event pageOfficial page ↗

5 events

December

Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

Keep planning

More for little kids in Madison

November: things to do in MadisonEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in MadisonEvery dated listing for the month, by weekFree things to do in MadisonFree days, free events and places that never chargeIndoor play in MadisonIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with pricesIce skating in MadisonHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and pricesSledding in MadisonSledding hills and snow tubing, with height rulesThanksgiving weekend in MadisonParades, turkey trots and what’s open on ThursdayChristmas parades in MadisonParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in MadisonPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in MadisonBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flaggedChristmas markets in MadisonChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursChristmas tree farms in MadisonChoose-and-cut farms, wagon rides and kid notesTree lighting in MadisonDates, times and what the organizer posts for kidsSplash pads in MadisonSpraygrounds with addresses and last season’s hoursMore things to do with kids in Madison this weekDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

Every year in Madison: the FAQ

Holiday Fantasy in Lights (Nov 14, 2026); Zoo Lights (Nov 20 – Dec 23, 2026); Light the Green (Nov 21, 2026); Shine On Madison Downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony (Nov 21, 2026); Madison Turkey Trot (Nov 26, 2026), plus 8 more below.

It stays up at the same address. Once the dates pass, the page shows the last confirmed dates with that year’s price and ages, and we add the next dates when the official page lists them.

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 Nov 12, 2026, and we recheck them every Monday and Thursday. How we choose and check.

The checked list, every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Madison that weekend.

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