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💰 The best things in Madison are free
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art is open Wednesday through Sunday. | Photo by Franco Folini, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
You don’t need major funds to have major fun in Madison; just look at these free activities.
We promise these free things to do are more than just an aimless walk in the park. Instead, we’re making sure you get well-researched, unique suggestions worth the trip.
Arts
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art | Community support ensures this local resource stays free to the public, which means you can explore 6,000+ art pieces without spending a penny.
National Mustard Museum | If you’ve never heard of this free museum, you better ketchup. All bad jokes aside, you’ll be blown away by the 6,000+ variations of mustard jars in this museum, each one hailing from a different corner of the world.
Outdoors
Henry Vilas Zoo | Lions, tigers, and (grizzly + polar) bears — oh my. But you won’t need to sell off your ruby red slippers for admission here because it’s free.
Chad & JT | Thursday, May 22-Saturday, May 24 | Times vary | Comedy on State | $31 | Prepare to laugh with Chad Kroeger (not that one) and JT Parr, two comedians who consistently go viral for their ridiculous monologues at random City Hall meetings.
Friday, May 23
Brat Fest | Friday, May 23-Sunday, May 25 | 10 a.m.-6:45 p.m. | Alliant Energy Center | Free | Don’t miss this three-day weekend full of fun events for kids, live music, and plenty of delicious bratwursts.
Monroe Street Farmers Market | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Monroe Street Farmers Market | Free | This market features a variety of local products, including fruits and veggies, pastured meats, cheeses, specialty items, gifts, and food carts.
Monday, May 26
Fond du Lac Dock Spiders vs. Madison Mallards | Monday, May 26-Tuesday, May 27 | Times vary | Warner Park | $20+ | The Mallards are flying through the season atop the Great Lakes West division while the Spiders are stuck in their own webs at the bottom.
Tuesday, May 27
History Sandwiched | 12:30-1:30 p.m. | History Maker Space | Free registration required | Author Jim Draeger will present an entertaining and educational show focused on the history of Madison’s live entertainment venues, ranging from movies theaters to opera houses.
Wednesday, May 28
FOOT | 6-8 p.m. | Olin Pavilion Park | Free | Free concerts in Olin Pavillion is back for its final May installment, featuring fiddlin’ Americana music from Mark Croft Duo.
Take a tour of Wisconsin’s first St. Jude Dream Home Showplace
Presented by Victory Homes of Wisconsin
Imagine walking through a beautiful home, knowing it stands for something greater. | Rendering courtesy of Victory Homes of Wisconsin
Beautiful home design for a good cause? Count us in.
Victory Homes of Wisconsin, together with their suppliers, business partners + trades professionals, have teamed up to create something truly special in Madison.
The St. Jude Dream Home Showplace isn’t just a stunning model in the Parade of Homes — it’s a beacon of hope. Every penny from its sale will go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, supporting their fight against childhood cancer and other devastating diseases.
The home will be available for viewings during the 75th Annual Parade of Homes, happening June 20-29. Can’t make it in person? Make a donation, and explore the floor plan below.
Solar panels could one day cover a landfill in Verona. Dane County officials reportedly hired a consultant to study how this could be conducted, paying out $225,000 for the investigation. (Wisconsin State Journal)
Festival
Curd (Fest) is the word. The iconic Wisconsin festival is back on Sept. 6 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Breese Stevens Field. Admission is free, but we recommend the purchasing the VIP passes for unlimited sampling.
Watch
The Green Bay Packers’ 2025-2026 schedule release may feel like a fever dream, and that’s because it is one. Running back Josh Jacobs debuted his acting skills in this 3+ minute announcement clip that would delight (or maybe dismay) David Lynch.
Transit
The Summer Youth Program is back for Madison Metro and Madison School District. Students and recent graduates can ride the bus for free this summer so they can have reliable transportation for extracurricular activities, projects, or jobs.
Sports
Green Bay isn’t the only football team with a schedule announcement. Wisconsin will now play its 2026 season opener on Sunday at Lambeau Field against Notre Dame. This will be the 18th meeting between the two universities.
Community
Happy 150 years, Madison Public Library. Our wonderful local resource celebrated a big milestone this week with a parade, plenty of commemoration, and an unyielding love for great literature. (Wisconsin State Journal)
Ranked
Madison was ranked the No. 10 healthiest city to live in by Coworking Cafe, an online listing service. It found our air quality, health care coverage, and access to mental health resources were all among the top in the nation, leading to the high ranking.
Cause
What does food access look like when it supports farm families and employees, boosts the local economy, and feeds families in need? Farm to Foodbank Initiative is doing just that — delivering millions of meals across 16 Wisconsin counties, all through partnerships with dozens of local farmers. Get involved.*
Travel
Need Memorial Day Weekend plans? Head to Milwaukee for a one-of-a-kind getaway at the Harley-Davidson Museum. Spend the weekend exploring 120+ years of legendary motorcycle history, grab bites at MOTOR Bar & Restaurant, and so much more at the ultimate moto experience. Plan your visit.*
Category (Paid)
Cause
One initiative’s impact from farm fields to family tables
Presented by Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
Fresh, local food is reaching more families thanks to community-powered farming. | Photo provided by Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
Across southwestern Wisconsin, fresh, local food is more accessible than ever, thanks to the Farm to Foodbank Initiative (F2FI).
Through partnerships with dozens of local farmers (many of them family-owned and operated or from marginalized communities), this innovative initiative supplies fresh produce to food pantries across 16 counties — all at no cost to the families receiving them.
F2FI strengthens the regional farming business by purchasing from local farms rather than national distributors. Buying locally supports farm families and their employees while delivering fresher food to neighbors experiencing food insecurity.
Here’s what that impact looks like:
$16,000 in local economic activity is generated for every $10,000 invested
Over 5 million meals delivered since 2022
55 local farmers providing nourishing food to their neighbors
Diversions Scuba is the original scuba diving business in the state and the only one to offer courses in Spanish. | Photo via Diversions Scuba
Small Business Week was from May 4-10, but we’re keeping this local party rolling.
After we received an influx of submissions, we knew we couldn’t stop with just one week. So, we’re back again, sharing another local biz. This time it’s Diversions Scuba.
They are diving into their 31st year of scuba, operating as a dedicated and passionate crew of 10 employees. We checked in with the team to see what’s bubbling at this beloved local biz.
How would you describe your business?
We teach all levels of scuba diving and sell equipment needed to be safe and comfortable.
When someone visits your small business for the first time, the one thing they have to do, see, or try is _____.
They need to see the variety of equipment to fit anyone in the water. The need to see the depth of experience of our owner — diving for 30 years — and our instructors with up to 20 years of teaching.
While I’ve never been scuba diving, I have been snubadiving. That’s when your face mask is connected into oxygen, but your air tank floats above water in an inflatable raft. It means you can’t dive nearly as deep, but you can still swim along shallower areas freely. It’s surprisingly relaxing once you get your breathing under control, so I highly recommend giving Diversions Scuba a chance if you want to experience it for yourself.
Asked
Answered
How many art pieces are inside of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art?
