Family Halloween

Wednesday, October 30, 2024, 3:00 - 6:00 pm
State Street & Capitol Square

Halloween fun for families

Hay Rides around the Capitol Square, crafts, art projects, stories and songs, trick or treat at participating businesses, and more!

Follow along on Facebook here!

Stick around after trick-or-treating fun for YOUR Downtown Movie Night with Madison Parks - we'll be showing the movie Coco for FREE at 6pm at the Top of State St! Follow alog on Facebook here! .

Check back for 2024 details in early October!

2023 Event Details

Follow along on Facebook here!

Full Halloween flyer with trick-or-treat stops and activities can be found and downloaded HERE.

2023 FAMILY HALLOWEEN MAP



2023 FAMILY FUN

All activities from 3:00 - 6:00 pm, free, and include trick-or-treating unless otherwise noted.

  • Trick-or-Treat at more than 50 downtown locations!

  • Photos with Bucky Badger 4pm - 5pm at Lisa Link Peace Park (452 State St)

  • Giant Pumpkin photo spot - Head to Lisa Link Peace Park (452 State St) any time during the event for the best Halloween photos with our Giant Pumpkin made out of balloons!

  • YOUR Downtown Movie Night: Coco - Join us at the Forum (100 State St) for a FREE showing of this fun movie, great for all ages! Movie starts at 6pm. In partnership with Madison Parks.

    • Paired with our movie is a special craft activity - create your own Sugar Skull with Midwest Mujeres!

2023 ACTIVITIES

Looking for these stops? You can identify them in person via the listed 'Activity Stop #' below and on signs at the locations.

Activity Locations Include:

  • 1 Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream – 468 State St. - Don't miss this spooktacular trick-or-treat stop where you'll get free mini cones during the event!

  • 2 & 3 Downtown Madison Visitor Center - 452 State St. - Now's your chance for a special Halloween photo with Bucky!! Special appearance by Bucky Badger from 4-5pm. Take your cutest Halloween pictures yet - with our Giant Pumpkin photo station! All day photo stop with the Giant Pumpkin!

  • 4 Artists and Craftsman Supply - 203 W. Gorham St. -
    Check out their facepainting station with DIY paint and stencil designs! Get a special discount when you stop by their facepainting station in store!

  • 5 Madison Museum of Contemporary Art - 227 State St. - Join them for Halloween-themed crafts and art-making activities inspired by works on view at the museum! Families are invited to explore the Federico Uribe: Metamorphosis exhibition on the first floor and enjoy treats in the lobby from 3-6pm. (Admission to MMoCA is always free.)

  • 6 Overture Center for the Arts & Kids in the Rotunda -
    Halloween fun abounds! Head over early to trick or treat in the lobby and take part in a special Halloween coloring contest! Don’t miss TWO Kids in the Rotunda shows at 4 & 5pm with Ken Lonnquist!

    • Ken Lonquist Ken loves Halloween and has an entire album of original songs about the season called “Pumpkenland”! He’ll be playing songs from that album about black cats, witches, zombies, pumpkins, space-aliens and more—with some of his Halloween-loving musical pals.
  • 7 Madison Senior Center - 330 W. Mifflin St. - Visit the Madison Senior Center for candy and some fun games! While you're there, take advantage of their Halloween photo booth!

  • 8 Madison Public Library - 201 W. Mifflin St. – Wand Making Station - Let Madison Public Library make your downtown Halloween a little bit more magical by stopping by our Wand Making station at Madison Public Library's Central Library ! Stop by the children's desk at the lower level of the library for a sweet treat and take a minute to craft a glittery, sparkly, spooky, or even light up wand to go with your costume.

  • 9 Madison Police Department - Outside at “The Grove” at the Top of State - Join Neighborhood Officers at Trunk or Treat! Officers will decorate a squad car and have plenty of free swag to hand out. Get your own junior officer badge!

  • 10 Wisconsin Historical Museum – Outside at “The Grove” at Top of State -
    Visit the Wisconsin Historical Museum at the Top of State Street for a historical twist on Halloween fun!

  • 11 Madison Reading Project - Outside at “The Forum” at the Top of State - Come aboard the Big Red Reading Bus and select a free book!

  • 12 Madison Parks - Madison Parks has a fun stop planned for you! Enjoy a tractor hayride around the Capitol Square. Rides leave approximately every 20 minutes; two hay wagons will be running at the event. ($3.00/person, children 2 and under are free, no reservations required.) Candy spot too!

  • 13 Madison Children's Museum - 100 N. Hamilton St. - Make MCM your first stop on a hayride around the Capitol Square! Enjoy a free, family-oriented Halloween celebration for kids 12 yrs and younger in downtown Madison. Join them for free outdoor activities from 3-6 pm.

    • Break out your best costume for playtime, trick-or-treating, and hands-on brains with UW Neuroscience in the Wonderground (rain or shine, entrance on Dayton Street.) Then head up to Rotary Plaza for some hands-on fort building with MCM Roadshow (weather permitting). This event is free to the public, no ticket required!

2023 Trick-or-Treat Stops

2023 AT A GLANCE

Trick or Treat Downtown!
Wednesday, October 25
3pm to 6pm
FREE

YOUR Downtown Movie Night
Wednesday, October 25
6pm - 8pm
FREE
Showing: Coco with Madison Parks
Create your own Sugar Skull with Midwest Mujeres while watching the movie!

Sponsored by MGE Foundation