April 2010
April 17-November 6: Dane County Farmers Market
The largest producer-only farmer's market in the country. All items produced locally by the vendor. Located on Capitol Square every Saturday - rain or shine. Hours are 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There is also a Wednesday Farmers Market on the 200 block of MLK, Jr. Blvd. from 4/21/10 - 11/3/10. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. www.dcfm.org
April 15-17: UW Marching Band Spring Concert
A three-night extravaganza complete with professional staging, lighting, sound and pyrotechnics. Located at the Kohl Center. www.badgerband.com
April 16-18: 31st Annual Midwest Horse Fair
You can see anything and everything related to the equine industry at this annual event. Shop the many vendors, attend the competitions and special events. Located at Alliant Energy Center. midwesthorsefair.com
April 24: 29th Annual Crazylegs Classic
Recognized as one of America's Best Runs. The Crazylegs Classic is the popular 8K run/wheelchair 2M walk that takes place in Madison each Spring and benefits UW athletics. Located in downtown Madison. www.crazylegsclassic.com
May 14-15: DeForest Community Garage Sales
Get out early and "shop til you drop". Wares are usually set out by 7:00 a.m.
May 28-31: World's Largest Brat Fest
The event set a new world record last year for brats sold, so be sure to visit the Brat Fest this year to be part of trying to break another record, and enjoy a great brat as well. Located on Willow Island at Alliant Energy Center. www.bratfest.com
May 29-30: The Madison Marathon
A Memorial Day Weekend tradition. The Marathon Expo is held on Friday and Saturday at Alliant Energy Center. Sunday, over 8000 runners take to the streets of Madison and surrounding communities while completing a marathon, half marathon, half marathon walk, quarter marathon or the Kids' Run. The Madison Marathon benefits the American Cancer Society and 20 other local nonprofits that provide volunteers to make the event run smoothly. www.madisonfestivals.com
June 2010
June 1-October: DeForest Area Farmer's Market
Held Tuesday evenings from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Enjoy fresh, locally grown produce and farm goods. Stay for the DeForest Area Public Library's Summer Concerts in the Park. Located on Market Street in downtown DeForest.
June 1-September: Art Zoobilee 2010
Friends of UW Hospital and Clinics, Inc. and Henry Vilas Zoological Society are partnering to present "Art Zoobilee", a public art display and auction event to be held at Henry Vilas Zoo. The art display will consist of life-size and small fiberglass zoo animal sculptures painted or decorated by local artists. The animals will be displayed throughout the zoo from June through August. The art will be sold at a live and silent auction on Sept. 17, 2010. Proceeds from the event will be split evenly to benefit American Family Children's Hospital and Henry Vilas Zoological Society. www.vilaszoo.org
June 5: Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
This 5K run/fitness walk raises significant funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer, celebrates breast cancer survivorship and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease. Located on Willow Island at Alliant Energy Center. www.komenmadison.org
June 18-19: Wollersheim Winery Prairie Fume Picnic Days
Kickoff summer with a picnic at the winery. A chance to relax and enjoy the winery's historic setting from the outside. Located in Prairie du Sac. www.wollersheim.com
July 2010
July 3: Rhythm & Booms
The "largest fireworks display in the Midwest". This show surpasses other fireworks events in Chicago, Minneapolis and Milwaukee because of the length of the show (approx. 35 min.) and the number of shells fired (15,000) during the show. It is the largest single-day event in Wisconsin. Held at Warner Park in Madison. www.rhythmandbooms.com
July 3-4: DeForest Annual July 4th Celebration
The fun begins on Saturday the 3rd with entertainment and runs through the 4th with live music, beer tent, food, game booths, Freedom Run, parade, bingo and fireworks at dusk! Located at Fireman's Park.
July 10-11: Art Fair on the Square
Art Fair on the Square has grown into a "can't-miss-it" summertime destination for fine arts enthusiasts from around the country. Organized by the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, the fair features music, entertainment, and outdoor dining, as well as the work of nearly 500 artists exhibiting mixed media, ceramics, drawings, graphics, prints, fiber, leather, furniture, glass, jewelry, metal works, paintings, photographs, sculpture, 3D mixed media, and wood. Located in Madison on the Capitol Concourse. http://mmoca.org
July 14-18: Dane County Fair
Located at Alliant Energy Center. www.danecountyfair.com
July 16-18: Maxwell Street Days
State Street's Summer Sidewalk Sale offers great shopping bargains and fabulous food. This annual sidewalk sale and community event showcases Madison's unique State Street and Capitol Square shopping district.
July 17: Opera in the Park
A Madison summer tradition featuring familiar opera hits, the best of Broadway, and musical highlights from the 2009-2010 Madison Opera season. The performance features the Madison Opera Chorus, Madison Symphony Orchestra, and some of opera's brightest stars. Located in Garner Park on Madison's west side. www.madisonopera.org
July 17: Paddle & Portage
A fun-filled day of boat racing! Participants are organized according to qualifications and race a course beginning at James Madison Park on Lake Mendota, across the Isthmus to Lake Monona, and finish at Olin Park. www.paddleandportage.org
July 26-August 1: EAA AirVenture 2010
75th Anniversary of Douglas DC-3 Celebrated with Aircraft Reunion at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2010
What could be the largest Douglas DC-3/C-47 gathering in more than 60 years will be a centerpiece of the aviation activities. EAA is working with a large group of owners and operators of the venerable aircraft to bring their airplanes and join the reunion at Oshkosh. The event is being organized under the theme "The Last Time…" as it likely will be the final time that more than 25 of these airplanes will be seen together. It will also mark the final major reunion for scores of pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, crew chiefs and passengers that flew, operated and traveled in these aircraft. While exact details of "The Last Time…" weeklong festivities are still being finalized, planned activities will include a mass formation arrival on the 26th, a designated aircraft display area, historical and technical forums/presentations, fly-bys and a special evening DC-3 commemorative program at Theater in the Woods.
July 30-August 4: 2010 National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games
A four-day athletic competition among recipients of organ transplants. Competition in the U.S. Transplant Games is open to anyone who has received a lifesaving solid organ transplant-heart, liver, kidney, lung, and pancreas. Bone marrow recipients are also eligible to participate. As much as the Games is an athletic event that calls attention to the success of organ and tissue transplantation, it is also a celebration of life among recipients, their families and friends. www.kidney.org
August 2010
August 7-8: MS Bike Tour
Bike MS, a fundraiser for the National MS Society, is a fully-supported, two-day event bringing nearly 2,000 cyclists and volunteers together to move toward a cure. Cyclists choose to ride 62.5, 75 or 100 miles each day, while making an extraordinary difference in the lives of more than 400,000 people throughout the U.S. living with multiple sclerosis. The ride starts in Pewaukee, WI on Saturday and ends up at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison for the Finish Line Party. http://bikewig.nationalmssociety.org
August 14: Great Taste of the Midwest
This is one of the premier beer festivals in the US. Over one hundred brewpubs and microbreweries from the Midwest come to beautiful Olin-Turville Park overlooking Lake Mendota in Madison, to share beer and good times. Make sure to check their website for ticket information. www.mhtg.org/great-taste-of-the-midwest
August 21: Madison Mini-Marathon
The 2nd Annual Running of the Half Marathon & 5K. The MMM is a must-do on the Wisconsin running calendar. Participants will enjoy the beauty of Madison from the UW Campus, State Street, Wisconsin State Capital, the UW Arboretum and the wonderful views of the lakes. The Mini sold out at 3,250 participants in 2009. www.madisonminimarathon.com
September 2010
September 4-5: Taste of Madison
Held each year over Labor Day Weekend, the event showcases more that 65 local restaurants, 20 beverage stands and three entertainment stages. The participating restaurants sell a vast variety of both unique and traditional dishes to the estimated 175,000 attendees over the two-day period. Every food item is reasonably priced from $1 to $4. Admission to the event is free and open to the public. The event benefits United Cerebral Palsy of Dane County. Located on Capitol Square. www.tasteofmadison.com
September 11: UW Football vs. San Jose State
Camp Randall www.uwbadgers.com
September 12: Ford Ironman Wisconsin 2010
Cheer on more than 2,000 athletes as they swim 2.4 miles, bike
112 miles and run 26.2 miles. The competition begins at 7:00 am at the Monona Terrace Community Convention Center and concludes at Midnight around the Capitol Square. www.ironmanwisconsin.com
September 17: Art Zoobilee Auction 2010
Life-size and small fiberglass zoo animal sculptures painted or decorated by local artists have been on display at the Henry Vilas Zoo since June. These animals will now be auctioned off to benefit the American Family Children's Hospital and the Henry Vilas Zoological Society. www.vilaszoo.org
September 18: UW Football vs. Arizona State
Camp Randall www.uwbadgers.com
September 25: UW Football vs. Austin Peay
Camp Randall www.uwbadgers.com
September 28-October 2: World Dairy Expo 2010
The International trade show for dairy producers includes 2,500 head of cattle, commercial exhibitors, educational seminars and youth judging contests. www.worlddairyexpo.com
October 2010
October 9: UW Football vs. Minnesota
Homecoming Game, Camp Randall www.uwbadgers.com
October 16: UW Football vs. Ohio State
Camp Randall www.uwbadgers.com
