Markets & festivals · Free
Dane County Farmers' Market: Last Wednesday Market
Wed, Nov 4 · 8:30 AM – 1:15 PM
Dane County Farmers' Market (Wednesday), Madison
The Madison area, between the lakes
Madison, all in one place.
Where to eat, what to do, and who to call, across Madison, Middleton, Fitchburg, Sun Prairie, Verona and every community around the isthmus.
Eat, drink & explore
Where to eat, drink and play
Browse services
Find the people who get things done in Madison.
8,764 local businesses and places listed. 92 kinds of service in 11 groups.
Madison know-how
Good to know before you hire
Every service has a short local guide covering Wisconsin rules, Madison seasons and what to ask. A few favorites:
- Snow removalMadison requires property owners to clear public sidewalks by noon the day after snow stops falling. Good snow services fill their routes in the fall.Read the guide
- HVAC contractorsAn early-fall furnace tune-up is the cheapest insurance against a January no-heat call. Ask about Focus on Energy discounts when replacing equipment.Read the guide
- RoofersIce dams every winter? Ask a roofer to look at attic ventilation and insulation, not just the shingles.Read the guide
- Auto body shopsWisconsin law lets you choose where your car is repaired. Your insurer can recommend a shop, but can't require one.Read the guide
- PaintersMuch of the housing near the isthmus was built before 1978 and may have lead paint. Ask for the firm's lead-safe renovation certification.Read the guide
- MoversMost campus-area leases turn over on August 15, which makes mid-August Madison's busiest moving period. Book early.Read the guide
- Gyms & fitness centersWisconsin lets you cancel a new gym contract until midnight of the third operating day after you sign, and no contract can run longer than two years.Read the guide
- Child care & preschoolsBefore you tour a child care program, look it up in Wisconsin Child Care Finder to see its license, last inspection and any violations from the past three years.Read the guide
- TowingTowed from a private lot? Wisconsin caps the charge at $150 to remove the car, plus $25 a day for outdoor storage.Read the guide
Madison guides
Madison, explained
- SeasonalThanksgiving weekend in Madison, WI (2026): turkey trots, dinner out and what's openThanksgiving weekend 2026 in Madison: the Birdie Derby and Madison Turkey Trot, restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner and meals to go, what's open and closed (buses, trash pickup, the library, meters), the Badgers' Black Friday game and holiday kickoffs.
- SeasonalHoliday season in Madison, WI: 2026 lights, markets and showsZoo Lights, the free Holiday Fantasy in Lights, the Capitol tree lighting, the Holiday Market at Monona Terrace, the Nutcracker, the Madison Symphony Christmas and more, with 2026 dates.
- SeasonalHoliday shopping in Madison, WI (2026): makers markets, craft fairs and local shopsWhere to shop local for the holidays in Madison in 2026: makers markets and craft fairs with dates, the Holiday Farmers' Market, Small Business Saturday, Hilldale's holiday events, and independent shops for books, cheese, stationery and gifts.
- SeasonalChristmas tree farms near Madison, WI: cut your own or pick one pre-cut (2026)Where to cut your own Christmas tree near Madison: Hann's in Oregon, Enchanted Valley Acres in Cross Plains, Summers in Middleton, Jensen Trees in Verona and more, plus pre-cut lots in Madison and Verona, tree care tips and how Madison collects trees after the holidays.
- SeasonalWinter in Madison, WI: sledding, skating, skiing and warm places to goHow to enjoy a Madison winter: free sledding hills and skating rinks, cross-country ski trails and which need a permit, indoor escapes like the Bolz Conservatory and free museums, and the season's events from Zoo Lights to Frozen Fest.
- Things to doBadgers game day in Madison: Camp Randall, the Kohl Center, parking and bag rulesA practical guide to Wisconsin Badgers game days: where each team plays, mobile tickets, the clear bag policy, game-day parking and the Bucky Shuttle, biking to Camp Randall, tailgating rules, and the traditions from Jump Around to the Fifth Quarter.
Communities
Find who serves your town
A Middleton painter who works in Verona shows up in Verona. Every listing is matched to the communities it actually serves, across Madison and 15 surrounding communities.
Madison picks
Places we'd send a neighbor
Chosen by our editors. Nobody pays to be a Madison pick.
- Arcades, escape rooms & family fun · MadisonHenry Vilas ZooFree every day since 1911, beside Vilas Park and Lake Wingra. Come back in the holiday season for Zoo Lights.
- Parks · MadisonOlbrich Botanical GardensFree outdoor gardens plus the Bolz Conservatory, a tropical glasshouse with free-flying birds that's warm all winter. Go on a Wednesday or Saturday morning, when the conservatory is free.
- Parks · MadisonPicnic Point & Lakeshore Nature PreserveWalk nearly a mile out into Lake Mendota on UW–Madison's Lakeshore Nature Preserve. Go at sunset, or reserve a fire circle.
- Korean, Vietnamese & more Asian · MadisonAhanLao-rooted Southeast Asian cooking on Williamson Street from Jamie and Chuckie Brown-Soukaseume, 2025 James Beard semifinalists. Start with the khao mun gai tod.
- Breweries, wineries & distilleries · MiddletonCapital BreweryMiddleton's German-style lager brewery since 1984. Sit out in the Bier Garten from May through October, or warm up in the Bier Stube in winter.
- American restaurants & diners · MadisonFairchildItalian-leaning seasonal cooking on Monroe Street from Itaru Nagano and Andrew Kroeger, winners of the 2023 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest. Don't skip the house pasta.
- American restaurants & diners · MadisonL'EtoileMadison's farm-to-table landmark on the Capitol Square, marking its 50th year in 2026. Save it for a big night and book the seasonal tasting menu.
- Bars & pubs · MadisonThe Old FashionedThe Capitol Square tavern for Wisconsin classics: cheese curds, a fish fry that isn't just for Fridays, 50 Wisconsin beers on tap and the drink it's named for.
Events
What's on in Madison
Sports & outdoors · Free
Middleton Nordic Lodge grand opening
Thu, Nov 5 · 1 PM – 5:30 PM
Middleton Nordic Center, Middleton
Music · Free
Friday Musicale at the First Unitarian Society
Fri, Nov 6 · 12:15 PM – 1 PM
First Unitarian Society Meeting House, Shorewood Hills
Markets & festivals
Winter Art Fair Off the Square
Sat, Nov 7 · Sat, Nov 7 – Sun, Nov 8
Monona Terrace, Madison
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