All Season Long:
Madison Symphony Orchestra
Sept. 19 - Nov. 23
Madison Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 100th season this year, “100 Years Together in Music." They will play multiple shows at the Overture Center, including one with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Concert Choir on Oct. 2. More info can be found at madisonsymphony.org
Open Mic Nights at Memorial Union
Sept. 3 - Nov. 26; Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m.
The Wisconsin Union Directorate Music Committee will present weekly open mic nights at Memorial Union. Musicians, singers, speakers and poets are encouraged to share their work. Performers can sign up to perform the night of the show. Performances and attendance are both free. More info can be found at union.wisc.edu
Bodega Night Market
Sept. 5, Sept. 26, Oct. 23; 5-9 p.m.
The Bodega Night Market is hosted by Breese Stevens Field and its vendors include local artists selling everything from prints to candles to jewelry. The Market also features local performers and interactive activities. More info can be found at breesestevensfield.com
Tuesday Tango Classes
Sept. 2 - Dec. 16; Tuesdays from 7-8:30 p.m.
Cafe Coda will be hosting Tango Classes and open practices throughout the fall. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, it’s a way for anyone to have fun dancing and socializing. More info can be found at cafecoda.club/events
Encore Studio
Oct. 17 - Nov. 2
Encore Studio was the first Theatre Company in Wisconsin for people with disabilities, and remains one of few in the country. This fall they’re celebrating their 25th anniversary with From the Top: Encore at 25, which features excerpts from various past shows. More info can be found at encorestudio.org
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unitarian Meeting House
September - November
Designed by the famous architect, the Unitarian Meeting House changed the landscape of church architecture when it was first built in 1951 and is still considered one of Wright’s most influential buildings. Still a working church, visitors can take tours of the historical and artistic marvel. More info can be found at franklloydwright.org/site/unitarian-meeting-house/
The Moth StorySLAM
Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 10, Dec. 8
On the second Monday of each month, storytellers gather in the High Noon Saloon to tell stories adhering to a simple theme. Anyone can sign up to tell a story, but only ten names are drawn from the hat each night. Throughout the fall, themes will include ”masks,” “cheat” and “family matters.” More info can be found at themoth.org or high-noon.com
Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within
Sept. 8 - Dec. 23
The Chazen Museum of Art is exhibiting the work of Toshiko Takaezu, an influential 20th-century abstract artist who taught at UW-Madison from 1954-1955. More info can be found at chazen.wisc.edu
September:
The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show
Sept. 4-6
This event presented by PBS Wisconsin and Nancy Zieman Productions will span three days. Celebrate the art of quilting through quilt exhibits and presentations by leading quilt educators. More info can be found at quiltshow.com
“Weird Al” Yankovic
Sept. 12
The comedian musician, known for his parody songs, is bringing his Bigger and Weirder Tour to Madison’s Breese Stevens Field. He’s expected to play some of his most iconic hits alongside newer tracks. More info can be found at breesestevensfield.com
Quinn XCII
Sept. 16
The Sylvee will host pop singer Quinn XCII on September 16. The tour follows the release of his seventh studio album LOOK! I’m Alive. More info can be found at thesylvee.com
Lake Loop Art Tour
Sept. 27
All around Lake Monona’s looping bike path, local art studios will be hosting artists from around the region to display their work. It’s an easy and fun way to get a well-rounded look at what Wisconsin creatives have to offer. More info can be found at The Lake Loop Art Tour Facebook page.
October:
48 Hour Horror Film Festival
Oct. 10-12
A 48 Hour Film Festival covering horror and science fiction themes. At the end of the event is a screening for all of the films. More info can be found at https://www.48hourfilm.com/wisconsin/horror_scifi
Wisconsin Book Festival
Oct. 23-26
For the 24th time, Madison Public Library will be presenting author events that are free and open to the public. Works of fiction, nonfiction and poetry will be presented at the event. More info can be found at wisconsinbookfestival.org
Art Department’s Open House
Oct. 25
The Art Department will be hosting an Open House, giving the general public an inside look at their classrooms, studios and labs. The event will also feature a showcase of art created by undergraduate and graduate students. More info can be found at art.wisc.edu.
November:
YES at The Orpheum
Nov. 3 8pm
Beloved rock band YES will perform at The Orpheum as a part of The Fragile Tour 2025. More info can be found at madisonorpheum.com/event/yes
Gutenberg! The Musical!
Nov. 6-23
The Overture Center will host this meta play about two men who pitch their minimally researched play about the creator of the printing press to Broadway producers. More info can be found at overture.org
Winter Art Fair Off The Square
Nov. 8-9
The Wisconsin Alliance of Artists & Craftspeople will be filling the Monona Terrace with all sorts of art for two days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More info can be found at artcraftwis.org
Native Art Market
Nov. 8-9
At Arts + Literature Laboratory there will be workshops, a market and other special events. A full list of artists will be available soon. More info can be found at artlitlab.org
Oliver Gerharz is the arts editor and former podcast director for the Daily Cardinal. He is a journalism major and former host of the Cardinal Call. Follow him on Twitter @OliverGerharz.
