Madison wears every season well, and for as short as Autumn is here in the capitol city—it is an experience that is equally colorful, cozy, and at times a bit spooky! Here’s our list of things to do in Madison this fall:
Dane County Farmer’s Market
The market is still on the Capitol Square until mid-November. Stock up on locally-grown and produced pumpkins, gourds, apples (and apple butter), cider, and more! And of course, there will be plenty of the year-round squeaky cheese curds.
Fall Color at the UW Arboretum
Tourists all over North America flock to hotspots all across the country in order to experience short windows of peak fall color. Well, we have an option right here in Madison where you can also experience this natural wonder–the UW Arboretum. You can visit the Arboretum on your own, but they also are hosting many different events in October and November if you prefer.
Gleam at Olbrich Gardens
Through October 26, you can still experience this annual, glowing exhibit in the outdoor gardens of lighted art installations. From the Gleam event page: Expect appearances from "wild animals", create a self-portrait with time lapse technology, re-live childhood memories of getting lost in the corn, and wander through a kaleidoscope of light.
Madison Circus Space Halloween Show (Oct 11-12)
Madison Circus Space is once again hosting its own Halloween Show! According to their website, There will be wicked witches, spine-tingling skeletons, and creepy creatures all showing off their circus skills at this all-ages, family-friendly show. Three showtimes are available: Friday, October 11th at 7 PM, Saturday October 12th at 4 PM, and Saturday October 12th at 7 PM.
Ghost Tours
There are TWO ghost tours in Madison that you can partake in. Madison Ghost Walks and Mad City Ghost Walks are giving walking tours of haunted places in downtown Madison and the spooky stories that go along with them.
MMoCA Art Market (Oct 26-27)
On Saturday, October 26th from 10am-6pm and Sunday the 27th from 12-6pm, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art is hosting an Art Market in their lobby! Support local artists, makers, and bakers while getting a headstart on your holiday shopping, a gift for a loved one, or just a way to treat yourself. It will be a fun weekend of hand-made art, wearables, and specialty foods and a great excuse to head downtown. In the spirit of the season, there will also be apple cider available.
Whether you’re into pumpkin spice, apples, or ghosts, there is something for everyone to do this fall in the Madison area.