Things To Do
Dane County Farmers' Market
The Dane County Farmers’ Market on the Square is the largest producer-only farmers’ market in the country. This means that all the items for sale are grown, raised, and produced in Wisconsin by the person behind the stand. Producers offer the highest quality the region offers and regularly receive national and international recognition for the quality of their products. Vendors line the sidewalk of state capitol grounds, where you’ll find the season’s best bounty of vegetables, flowers, meats, cheeses, and specialty products from approximately 275 vendors throughout the year. Across the street, arts & crafts vendors and concession stands, along with street musicians, add to the festivities.
Fromagination Cheese Store
Fromagination – on the Capitol Square since 2007 – is a European-style cut-to-order cheese shop that showcases award-winning Wisconsin artisan cheese. It also sells cheese companion items, a carefully edited selection of beer and wine, crackers and crisps, meats, chocolates, and table accessories. Fromagination also serves lunch sandwiches and cheese plates, and take-out cheese platters for your special events. Looking for a special wedding reception component? Fromagination also offers cakes of cheese. With advance notice, customers may also participate in private group cheese classes. Find a special gift of Wisconsin cheese among Fromagination’s selection of gift sets. A variety of choices – by price and selection – make them a wonderful present for holiday time, or other special events. Custom gift sets, created a la carte with advice from a Fromagination cheesemonger, are also available.
State Street
The iconic State Street, which became a pedestrian mall in the 1970s, leads all the way to the University of Wisconsin campus and is lined with diverse local retail and restaurants. Throughout the seasons, pop-ups, live music and art can be enjoyed both indoors and outdoors.
Memorial Union
One of the most beloved destinations on UW-Madison's campus, located on the shores of Lake Mendota. A place to socialize, relax, study and be nourished.
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center
Monona Terrace is an iconic community and convention center on Lake Monona in gorgeous downtown Madison, Wisconsin, designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The LEED Platinum certified convention center is also a community gathering place and tourism destination presenting a wide variety of free and low cost community events. Visitors are invited to enjoy gorgeous views of Lake Monona and the Madison skyline at their rooftop gardens, and dine at Lake Vista Café, open seasonally.
Young Blood Beer Company - King Street
Our tap room is an oasis of life and leisure located a block away from the Madison’s Capitol building in the historic First Settlement District. It’s a gathering place to celebrate the ordinary and the strange. The very heart of the brewery itself. It’s space of community that’s more than just a place where we make beer; it’s at the center of the ideals we aim to achieve. Our tap room is an invitation to escape.
Batch Bakehouse
Low-key bakeshop specializing in croissants & baguettes, plus cookies, pastries & artisanal breads.
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Olbrich Botanical Gardens is a year-round destination for nature-lovers, green-thumbers and respite-seekers. The Gardens, voted one of the top 10 most inspiring gardens in North America by Horticulture Magazine, sit on Madison’s eclectic, quirky eastside across from the expansive Olbrich Park.
