An eerie-sistible, gourd time itinerary 🎃

Halloween events in Madison, WI

A must-try from Delta is the new Count Chocula Porter, you can thank us later. | Photo by @delta.beer

Looking for a howling good time this Halloween? To make this season even more spook-tacular, we’re creep-ing it real with a roundup of Halloween-inspired events in Madison.

Goblins + ghouls of all ages welcome 👻

Boo at the Zoo | Henry Vilas Zoo, 702 S. Randall Ave. | Sat., Oct. 29 | 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Adventure around the park + trick-or-treat your way through candy stations all over the zoo.

Family Halloween | State Street + Capitol Square | Wed., Oct. 26 | 3-6 p.m.
Trick-or-treat at 60+ downtown locations, explore a mix of themed activities at local businesses, and catch a screening of “Hocus Pocus.”

Trick or treat (yourself) 🥂

Murder Mystery Dinner | DelecTable, 3248 University Ave. | Thurs., Oct. 27-Mon., Oct. 31 | 6-9:30 p.m.
Take on a backstory, learn + develop motives, and find out who’s done it during this “Grand Gatsby” themed dinner party.

The 5th Annual Halloween Bar Crawl | Red Rock Saloon, 222 W. Gorham St. | Sat., Oct. 29 | 4 p.m.-12 a.m.
Join more than 500 Madisonians on an adventure across town stopping at 8+ bars along the way. Don’t forget your costume — winner of the costume contest gets a $1,000 prize.

Creatures of the night 🌃

Halloween Fun Run | Fleet Feet, 8440 Old Sauk Rd., Middleton | Mon., Oct. 31 | 6 p.m.
Tour neighborhood Halloween displays during this three-mile fun run and end the night feasting on treats.

Madison Ghost Walk | Wisconsin Veterans Museum, 30 W. Mifflin St. | Fri., Oct. 28 | 7:30-9:30 p.m
Stop at many of Madison’s most iconic locations + hear haunted tales of the Isthmus on a late-night walkabout.

Know of any spooky parties, dinners, or events around town? Let us know — we’ll keep you in the loop with more Halloween plans this week.

Click here to have your event featured.

Today

Sorry Machine | Mon., Oct. 24 | 7-9 p.m. | The Bur Oak, 2262 Winnebago St., Madison | $5+ | Hear a set from the power punk quartet consisting of high energy riffs and jazzy chords. 🎶
Introduction to Kenjutsu | Mon., Oct. 24 | 6 p.m. | Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St., Madison | $50 | Hone your focus and experience the calm of a modern Samurai.

Tuesday

A Walk on Madison’s Weird Side | Tue., Oct. 25 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Wisconsin Historical Museum, 30 N. Carroll St., Madison | On this walking tour, you’ll learn the stories of Madison’s quirky characters, notorious trials, and rumors of creepy creatures. 🔎

Wednesday

Microcinema Exchange: Inland Cinema | Wed., Oct. 26 | 7:30 p.m. | Arts + Literature Laboratory, 111 S. Livingston St., Madison | $5 | Enjoy a program of short films by regional filmmakers. 🎥

Thursday

Fall Focaccia Art Bread Workshop | Thu., Oct. 27 | 6-8 p.m. | Four Winds Farm, 5735 Adams Rd., Fitchburg | $15+ | Support Madison Public Art Project’s fall fundraiser and learn how to make some bread in the process.

Friday

Wisconsin Badgers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions | Fri., Oct. 28 | 7 p.m. | Kohl Center, 601 W. Dayton St, Madison | $24+ | Cheer on the men’s hockey team as they drop the puck against a Big Ten rival. 🏒

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

74º | Cloudy | 20% chance of rain ☁️

Holiday

It’s Diwali, the “Festival of Lights” in Hindu tradition. Celebrated on the darkest day of the lunar month, candles, lanterns + fireworks are lit to reflect the triumph of light over darkness. It’s a five-day festival, but outside of India usually only the third day is observed.

Civic

In-person absentee voting begins tomorrow, Tues., Oct. 25. Make sure to bring an acceptable photo ID + proof of residence if you’ll be registering on-site. 🗳️

Closing

The AMC Madison 6 is officially set to close on Sat., Dec. 31. Hilldale Shopping Center announced plans to renovate + update this southern wing of the mall. What would you want to see here? (Cap Times)

Community

South Madison Farmer’s Market and the Eastside Farmers’ Market will host the final food scraps recycling drop-off for the season, tomorrow, Tues., Oct. 25. Learn about 2023 drop-off programs. ♻️

Feel Good

To encourage voter turnout, Ian’s Pizza is shutting down its three locations until 5 p.m. on Tues., Nov. 8 to ensure staff can make it to the polls. The “Mac the Vote” program will also be sending cheese pizzas to the staff at local polls. 🍕 (In Business)

Announced

Here at 608today, we aim to bring the most relevant + engaging daily content about City right to your inbox. If you enjoy our newsletter and supporting all things local, consider joining our 608today Membership Program. Membership helps keep our newsletter free and has some cool perks. Learn more + sign up.

Seasonal

Don’t let chilly temperatures keep you from visiting the pumpkin patch or going to outdoor sporting events. Stock up on HotHands Hand Warmers + keep the feeling in your fingers all season long. Or try this rechargeable electric hand warmer with three different heat levels.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Where kids + adults can monkey around 🐒

Madison Children’s Museum’s new outdoor playground

street view of Madison Children's museum.

The Madison Children’s Museum has won the Governor’s Tourism Award for Service Excellence. | Photo by 608today

Last week, the Madison Children’s Museum reopened its newly- renovated, 10,000 sqft, outdoor play area. After a two-year period of uncertainty riddled with closure + maintenance, the museum completed its $5 million, multi-year campaign + resumed work on Wonderground.

When it opened in the fall of 2021, Wonderground was built entirely out of upcycled materials from the Madison area. Let’s see what’s new and improved.

🌳 ‘The Thicket’
This climbing sculpture is the Wonderground’s main attraction. The double-decker “birdhouse” offers connected travel across the park via climbing tubes + bridges.

⭐ New features
Stroller + wheelchair-accessible pathways through the orchard, gardens, and cabin yard — the museum’s historic 1830s cabin.

🗓️ Make a date
Fun in the Wonderground | Wed., Oct. 26 | 3-5 p.m.
Complete a scavenger hunt in the outdoor area + enjoy Halloween playtime.

Don’t forget, the children’s museum isn’t only for the kids. Check out our round-up of adult-friendly activities at MCM.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Ryan.

Editor’s pick: Over the weekend I hung out in Yahara Place Park, soaked up this October sun, and sipped on the hazy IPA from Athletic Brewing Co. Know of any locally brewed N/A beers? Let me know.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? We summarized the 877-page Dane County budget proposal.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Ally Geiger, Ryan Waldman, Dayten Rose, Josh Kranzberg, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Julie Brown | Advertise with us.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?