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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
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Bell ringing for the Salvation Army [2]
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Volunteer at Second Harvest Food Bank [3]
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Donate to the Hoofers Ski and Snowboard Re-sale [4]
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Help with Bethel Lutheran Church [5]Homeless Support Services
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Volunteer with United Way of Dane County [6]
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Volunteer with Dane County Humane Society [7]
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Volunteer with The Road Home in Madison [8]
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Donate to the Sharing Christmas Program with the Middleton Outreach Ministry [9]
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Help with Creating for a Cause: Holiday Art Fair [10]
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Donate time or winter clothing to the Beacon of Madison [11]
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Volunteer at Goodman Community Center [12]
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Attend the benefit dinner: Savoring Success: A Night for Porchlight [12]
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Help out at River Food Pantry [13]
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Donate toys to Toys-for-Tots [14]
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Volunteer with Habitat For Humanity Dane County [15]
Outdoor Activities
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Visit the Fantasy Lights in Olin Park [16]
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Visit the holiday lights at Henry Vilas Zoo [17]
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Go Ice Skating [18]at Edgewater, Vilas Park or Tenney Park
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Get into a snowball fights with kids who walked on your lawn over the summer
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Walk, ski or snow-shoe across a (frozen) lake
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Go sledding in Elver Park [19]or Arbor Hills Park [20]
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Go ice fishing (Make sure lake is frozen completely)
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Go cross country ski in the Arboretum in Madison [21]
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Get a group together and play boot hockey [22]
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Take a stroll in the UW Madison Arboretum during their Night Walk on New Year’s Eve [23]
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Take a hike on Glacial Drumline State Trail [24]
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Go skiing with the Madison Nordic Ski Club [25], which is open to beginners and experts
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Visit the Madison Winter Festival [26]
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Hike the Ice Age Trail [27]
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Go Snowshoeing [28] on trail near Madison
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Compete in the Freeze for Food [29]5K/10K run/walk
Shows
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Attend the Children’s Theater of Madison’s production of A Christmas Carol at the Overture Center [30], which runs December 9 to December 23
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Attend The Nutcracker presented by Madison Ballet at the Overture Center [31], which runs December 9 to December 26
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Attend the Third Day of Christmas Carol Sing at Luther Memorial Church [32] on December 27
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Attend the Madison Jazz Orchestra [33] at Brink Lounge on December 28
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Attend the Hoot’n Annie at Chief’s Tavern [34] on Jan 4
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Attend Mr. Popper’s Penguins at the Overture Center [35] on January 7
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Attend the Rent at the Overture Center [36] presented by Broadway Across America, which runs from January 2 to January 7
Family Events
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Attend the Kids in the Rotunda [37] at the Overture Center (
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Attend Winter Break Dreams Retreat: Handmade Holiday Gifts [38]
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Go to the Winter Break Dreams Retreat: Cookie Decorating Extravaganza [39]
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Make paper snowflake [40] cutouts
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Participatie in the Winter Break Dreams Retreat: Holiday Read-In [41]
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Attend the Winter Break Dreams Retreat: Bricks 4 Kidz [42]
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Attend the Winter Break Dreams Retreat: I’m Board Games and Family [43]
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Make homemade hot chocolate [44]
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Make a paper chain countdown to Christmas [45] or New Year’s
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Attend the New Year’s Eve DreamBank Style [46]
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Attend My Family News Year’s Eve [47]
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Attend the New Year’s Eve Dance Party [48]
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Go to the Free Family Night [49] at Madison Children’s Museum
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Go to the Moove and Groove [50]
Indoor Activities
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Attend Isthmus Beer and Cheese Fest [51]
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Play Frostiball 2018 [52]
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Nestle up next to one of Madison’s best fireplaces [53]
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Shop at the Madison’s Late Winter indoor Farmers Market [54]
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See the Christmas Tree at the Wisconsin State Capitol [55]
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Attend the Open Mic night at Comedy Club in Madison [56] on Wednesdays
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Make s’mores dip [57]
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Host an ugly Christmas sweater [58] party
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Make Christmas candy [59]
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Play Dreidel [60]
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Make gingerbread houses [61]
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Bake and decorate Christmas cookies [62]
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Go to Olbrich’s Holiday Express [63]
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Go to Ever Gleaming [64]
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Attend a Ugly Sweater Evening [65] at Lucille (every Wednesday, from 10pm to close)
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Go to the Holiday Rarities Bierklasse [66]
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Make your own hot cider [67]
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Go to the Christmas Day Grand Brunch Buffet [68] at Edgewater
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Go to the New Year’s Eve Eve at Bos Meadery [69], featuring The Earthlings, The Shruggers, Annapurna and Meggie Shays
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Go to the New Year’s Eve Sip & Savor Food Tour [70]
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Attend Free Ballet [71] 101 Class
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Go to the Cure Cabin Fever [72]: The Hodag of The North Woods
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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!
