75 Things to Do Over Winter Break in Madison

The holiday season is here, and with it comes the hustle, bustle and in-laws. Here are some ways to enjoy the holidays with or without family and friends.

From volunteering at a community organization, to catching a show or bundling-up to play outside, we’ve compiled a few ideas on how to make the most of the holiday season in Madison.

Volunteer Opportunities

1. Bell ringing for the Salvation Army

2. Volunteer at Second Harvest Food Bank

3. Donate to the Hoofers Ski and Snowboard Re-sale

4. Help with Bethel Lutheran Church Homeless Support Services

5. Volunteer with United Way of Dane County

6. Volunteer with Dane County Humane Society

7. Volunteer with The Road Home in Madison

8. Donate to the Sharing Christmas Program with the Middleton Outreach Ministry

9. Help with Creating for a Cause: Holiday Art Fair

10. Donate time or winter clothing to the Beacon of Madison

11. Volunteer at Goodman Community Center

12. Attend the benefit dinner: Savoring Success: A Night for Porchlight

13. Help out at River Food Pantry

14. Donate toys to Toys-for-Tots

15. Volunteer with Habitat For Humanity Dane County

Outdoor Activities

16. Visit the Fantasy Lights in Olin Park

17. Visit the holiday lights at Henry Vilas Zoo  

18. Go Ice Skating at Edgewater, Vilas Park or Tenney Park

19. Get into a snowball fights with kids who walked on your lawn over the summer

20. Walk, ski or snow-shoe across a (frozen) lake

21. Go sledding in Elver Park or Arbor Hills Park

22. Go ice fishing (Make sure lake is frozen completely)

23. Go cross country ski in the Arboretum in Madison

24. Get a group together and play boot hockey

25. Take a stroll in the UW Madison Arboretum during their Night Walk on New Year’s Eve

26. Take a hike on Glacial Drumline State Trail  

27. Go skiing with the Madison Nordic Ski Club, which is open to beginners and experts

28. Visit the Madison Winter Festival

29. Hike the Ice Age Trail

30. Go Snowshoeing on trail near Madison

31. Compete in the Freeze for Food 5K/10K run/walk

Shows

32. Attend the Children’s Theater of Madison’s production of A Christmas Carol at the Overture Center, which runs December  9 to December 23

33. Attend The Nutcracker presented by Madison Ballet at the Overture Center, which runs December 9 to  December 26

34. Attend the Third Day of Christmas Carol Sing at Luther Memorial Church on December 27

35. Attend the Madison Jazz Orchestra at Brink Lounge on December 28

36. Attend the Hoot’n Annie at Chief’s Tavern on Jan 4

37. Attend Mr. Popper’s Penguins at the Overture Center on January 7

38. Attend the Rent at the Overture Center presented by Broadway Across America, which runs from January 2 to January 7

Family Events

39. Attend the Kids in the Rotunda at the Overture Center (

40. Attend Winter Break Dreams Retreat: Handmade Holiday Gifts

41. Go to the Winter Break Dreams Retreat: Cookie Decorating Extravaganza

42. Make paper snowflake cutouts

43. Participatie in the Winter Break Dreams Retreat: Holiday Read-In

44. Attend the Winter Break Dreams Retreat: Bricks 4 Kidz

45. Attend the Winter Break Dreams Retreat: I’m Board Games and Family

46. Make homemade hot chocolate

47. Make a paper chain countdown to Christmas or New Year’s

48. Attend the New Year’s Eve DreamBank Style

49. Attend My Family News Year’s Eve

50. Attend the New Year’s Eve Dance Party

51. Go to the Free Family Night at Madison Children’s Museum

52. Go to the Moove and Groove

Indoor Activities

53. Attend Isthmus Beer and Cheese Fest

54. Play Frostiball 2018

55. Nestle up next to one of Madison’s best fireplaces

56. Shop at the Madison’s Late Winter indoor Farmers Market

57. See the Christmas Tree at the Wisconsin State Capitol

58. Attend the Open Mic night at Comedy Club in Madison on Wednesdays

59. Make s’mores dip

60. Host an ugly Christmas sweater party

61. Make Christmas candy

62. Play Dreidel

63. Make gingerbread houses

64. Bake and decorate Christmas cookies

65. Go to Olbrich’s Holiday Express

66. Go to Ever Gleaming

67. Attend a Ugly Sweater Evening at Lucille (every Wednesday, from 10pm to close)

68. Go to the Holiday Rarities Bierklasse

69. Make your own hot cider

70. Go to the Christmas Day Grand Brunch Buffet at Edgewater

71. Go to the New Year’s Eve Eve at Bos Meadery, featuring The Earthlings, The Shruggers, Annapurna and Meggie Shays

72. Go to the New Year’s Eve Sip & Savor Food Tour

73. Attend Free Ballet 101 Class

74. Go to the Cure Cabin Fever: The Hodag of The North Woods

75. Write New Year’s Resolutions

Whether you volunteer, stay inside or are more of an outdoor person, there is something for everyone to do this holiday season.

Did we miss something? Does your family have a holiday tradition that you want to share with the Madison community?  Please let us know by writing us a comment below. Happy Holidays!