The fall semester may be wrapping up, but that doesn’t mean fun in Madison has to as well. There are plenty of events and activities to check out as courses end and winter break begins.
Farmers’ Market
Saturday’s on the Square may be over, but the Dane County Farmers’ Market offerings are not. The Holiday Farmers’ Market features over 60 vendors at Monona Terrace and local holiday food needs.
The market is open Dec. 6, 13 and 20 from 7 a.m. to noon. On Dec. 6, the market will be open until 1 p.m. so customers have more time to visit the Fair Trade Holiday Festival next door.
The Winter Farmers’ Market runs each Saturday from Jan. 3 to April 4 at the Garver Feed Mill. Many familiar vendors from the DCFM attend offering fresh produce, meats and baked goods. The DCFM only offers locally-produced agriculture items, making it a great way to shop locally over break.
Fair Trade Holiday Festival
The 29th annual Fair Trade Holiday Festival will feature unique and socially responsible handmade gifts on Dec. 6 at Monona Terrace from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be hundreds of fairly-traded, international products for sale.
Over 40 vendors will offer fair trade clothing, foods, jewelry, books, cards, ornaments, baskets and more. The festival attracts over 4,000 guests every year.
Ice skating
University of Wisconsin-Madison RecWell has skate sessions at the Sub-Zero Ice Center located in the Baake. Open hockey, free style and public skating opportunities are available over break.
UW-Madison students and RecWell members can get a discounted rate for rink fees and skate rentals with their ID or membership card.
Madison Parks also offer skating opportunities Wednesday through Sunday. Olbrich, Warner and Westmorland Parks have free-to-use skates in limited sizes and quantities.
Winter sports
UW Athletics offers discounted student tickets for hockey, basketball and wrestling matches over break. It’s an especially great time to catch the eight time, defending national champion women’s and six time national champion men’s hockey teams, who are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation, respectively.
Wisconsin State Capitol Christmas Tree
Each year, the Capitol Holiday Tree is decorated with handmade ornaments from students and families from around the state. Student ornaments this year reflect what Wisconsin’s educators mean to them.
In 2024, the fir tree was nominated by USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Public Holiday Lights Display. The Capitol is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
