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Things to do in Waunakee, WI: Village Park, Schumacher Farm and WaunaFest

Waunakee, about 5 miles north of Madison, calls itself "The Only Waunakee in the World" (the chamber's tagline). It's a small-town village with a creek running through its downtown park, a historic farm on the edge of town, and Governor Nelson State Park on Lake Mendota next door in Westport. Checked with the Village of Waunakee, Dane County Parks, the DNR and local organizers in November 2026.

Checked against official sources · Updated November 2, 2026

Parks

  • Village Park, 500 E. Main St.: a 14-acre park on the east end of the historic downtown, where Six Mile Creek runs under three stone arched bridges, with a playground, ball fields and a Veterans Memorial.
  • Centennial Park, 901 S. Holiday Dr.: the village's busiest park, with an accessible playground and splash pad, ball diamonds, tennis courts and a winter ice rink. WaunaFest is held here.
  • Waunakee Dog Park for off-leash play.
  • Village parks are closed from 10:30 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Schumacher Farm and Governor Nelson

  • Schumacher Farm Park, 5682 Highway 19: a 40-acre farmstead given to Dane County in 1978, with a 1908 farmhouse and barn and a restored hilltop prairie showing rural life in the 1920s and '30s. The grounds are open year-round, and the Friends of Schumacher Farm run workshops, such as lefse making on November 21, 2026, plus Heritage Fest and Halloween at the Farm in season.
  • Governor Nelson State Park, in Westport: on Lake Mendota "within sight of the State Capitol," with a sand beach, a boat launch, 8-plus miles of trails and effigy mounds by the Woodland Trail (vehicle sticker required). See our hiking guide.

Events and the village

  • WaunaFest, in late July at Centennial Park: a carnival, the WaunaFest Run, a Main Street parade and live music, run by the village's service clubs. The festival lists July 22 to 25, 2027; check its site for the schedule.
  • Waunakee Farmers and Makers Market: Wednesday afternoons from May to October.
  • Waunakee Village Center, 333 S. Madison St.: parks and recreation, a gym and community events. The Waunakee Public Library is at 201 N. Madison St.
  • Swimming: the school district's Aquatic Center at the high school offers public lap swim and Sunday family swim.

More nearby: our Middleton guide and day trips.

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Sources

Rules and dates can change. Check the official source before you rely on them, and suggest a correction if something is out of date.