Free events in Dane County, WI

At Madison Marriott West, this free senior expo offers opportunities to connect with local organizations that assist seniors and their families. Attendees can explore resources and services, with prize drawings, refreshments, and health screenings available.

Brews and Q’s brings taproom trivia to the Octopi taproom, featuring more than 50 entertaining questions for teams to tackle. It is free to play, and prizes are awarded to the top three teams.

Put your brain to the test with a free game that offers a chance to win great prizes from The Rigby.

Live Tuesday night trivia takes over Paddy Mac's Pub & Grill as Randy returns to host a general knowledge game that ranges across movies, music, history, geography, science, Disney, TV, and more. Pens and scoresheets are provided, and teams are asked to have someone arrive early to register. It is free to play. Music plays between questions, and the songs may include hints, so listen closely. Prizes are gift certificates valued at $40 for first place, $20 for second, and $10 for third. A free answer for the game is also available.

Madison Tango Society hosts tango classes at Cafe CODA on the main dance floor. The Tango Social party teams up with the Bachata dance crew for a mix of rhythms. Admission is $10, payable at the bar, and covers either the Tango or Bachata class, and the social portion is free. The Bachata group is in the back room.

At Cafe Coda, the evening centers on bachata with a lesson in the back room, followed by a lively social dance. The front room hosts tango alongside the Latin soundtrack, and dancers can move between the two rooms throughout the night. As the night progresses, a mixed social starts in the front room. Social dancing is free, while the class has a $10 cover payable to the bar staff.

Enjoy a free community meal at the Abiding Shepherd Fort Atkinson campus. Fellowship begins before the meal, and guests are welcome to bring a friend, neighbor, or coworker.

Test your knowledge at Cardinal Bar during a weekly trivia night presented by Premier Trivia. There is no cost to participate, and awards are given to the first, second, and third place teams.

Test your knowledge at Sconnie Bar as Shelby hosts a lively general knowledge trivia game featuring categories like movies, music, history, geography, science, Disney, television, and more. Pens and scoresheets are provided, and teams are encouraged to have a representative arrive early to register. It is free to play. Music will play between questions, and some songs may contain clues. Prizes include $40, $20, and $10 gift certificates for first, second, and third place. A free answer is available for the game.

Madison Night Market, held in partnership with Wisconsin Science Festival and Science on the Square, celebrates the city’s fast growing downtown with artisans, entrepreneurs, and food lovers. Following a record-setting year in 2025 with more than 129,000 visits reported by Placer.ai, up 10 percent from 2024, the market continues to reflect the momentum in Madison’s Central Business Improvement District, where 56 new businesses have opened or been announced over the past 18 months. Family activities, performers, and entertainment will be announced soon.

A happy hour performance with Tony Castañeda’s Latin Jazz Band spotlights the vibrant spirit of classic Latin jazz. For more than two decades, this Wisconsin mainstay has honored the golden era of the genre. The group has received fourteen Isthmus Madison Favorite Jazz Band awards and has shared the stage with Poncho Sanchez, John Santos, Giovanni Hidalgo, and John Benitez. This is a free event.

Gemini Games hosts a casual Commander night for Magic in a tavern-style setting, with Wisconsin-local beers and seltzer available during play. Bring a fully built 100-card singleton deck and settle into multiplayer pods for friendly, flavorful games. This weekly event is free to enter and welcomes all skill levels, with the focus on casting wild spells and having a good time while enjoying a tasty beverage. Because alcohol is served, players under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to enter the building. Random giveaways add to the fun, with promo packs awarded by chance and one player in each pod of three to five receiving an additional draft pack at random.

Echo Tap & Grill features live general knowledge trivia on Thursdays. The game spans categories like movies, music, history, geography, science, Disney, TV, and more. It is free to play. Teams receive pens and score sheets, and one teammate should plan to arrive early to handle registration. Food and drinks are available while you play. Music plays between questions, and some songs may contain clues. Prizes include gift certificates valued at $30 for first place, $20 for second, and $10 for third. A free answer is also available for participants.

Open Mic Comedy at The Rigby features a sign-up list available before the show, with performances to follow. Admission is free.

This blood drive encourages scheduled appointments. To reserve a time, call ImpactLife at 800-747-5401 and reference group code 3643. Donors should eat beforehand and bring a valid photo ID for check-in.

Browse a market where product selection changes with the season. For information on what may be available, visit the market website.

A seasonal celebration features a chili competition, live music, booths from local vendors, and a family friendly photo booth, along with other activities. Admission is free. More information about the activities, participating vendors, and opportunities to take part will be announced soon.

Dr. Ian Hutchinson, Professor Emeritus of Nuclear Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a leading plasma physicist, offers a free talk as the third annual Dallas A. Willard Lecture presented by the Lumen Center. Drawing on his longstanding critique of scientism, he examines how knowledge and love of God can be understood in a scientific and technological age. The lecture calls the university community to reflect on the relationship between Christianity, science, and the current cultural landscape. It considers the Christian tradition’s layered view of knowing, with love at the summit, and why that vision has dimmed in a culture steeped in science. The talk also addresses the rising influence of artificial intelligence, often shaped by assumptions consistent with scientism, and asks what a faithful Christian response should be today. The Dallas A. Willard Lecture is generously supported by Fieldstead and Co.

This community highway cleanup focuses on the stretch along Trailside and North (County Hwy V), heading down one side of North Street to River Road before crossing back. It usually takes about an hour, and safety vests are provided. Participants are asked to bring comfortable shoes and a pair of gloves, such as gardening gloves. Parking is along Trailside shortly after turning from Hwy V. Organized by Lion Kym Overcash, it offers a chance to meet and chat with local Lions members while helping keep the area looking its best.

A free, in-person meditation gathering for young adults ages 18 to 39 hosted by the Wake Up Madison community. Practice follows the Plum Village tradition associated with Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, blending seated and walking meditation with simple mindfulness exercises, readings from the tradition, and time for open Dharma sharing. The group is LGBTQ+ inclusive and welcomes people from any spiritual or religious background. Meetings take place at the Friends Meeting House.

Admission is free for a screening of the 1982 West German thriller Der Fan in Room 4070, Vilas Hall in Madison. Directed by Eckhart Schmidt and running 92 minutes, the film centers on Simone, played by Désirée Nosbusch, whose consuming fixation on pop star R, portrayed by Bodo Steiger, leads her to walk away from school and family. When she finally meets him at a TV taping, events unfold into a stark story of seduction, rejection, and revenge. Presented via DCP, this showing features a 4K restoration of the original German version provided by Fun City Editions and also includes Simone Brahmann in the cast. The film had not previously received an official U.S. theatrical release.

Live blues returns to Bierock as Madison band Chaos in the Kitchen takes the stage. The lineup features Tim Seery on drums, Kara Rogers on bass, Eric Finchon on harmonica and vocals, and Wayne Seiter on guitar and vocals. The group previously performed at this venue in April for Record Store Day. There is no cover charge, and tips for the musicians are appreciated. During the day Bierock operates as a comfort food restaurant and bar, then it becomes a local music club that highlights emerging and live local talent and supports the creative community.

Every Sunday features a family-friendly deal. Children 12 and under get a complimentary kids entrée, valued at up to $15, with the purchase of an adult entrée. The offer is limited to one free kids entrée per adult entrée. It cannot be combined with other promotions, specials, or dip certificates, and it is not available on holidays.

Midwest Choral Artists presents Effortlessly, part of its annual concert series, featuring music by Cook, Davis, Edenroth, Hernandez, Holmes, Kirchner, Lawlor, Weelkes, Whitacre, and more. Admission is free, and donations through a free will offering will be welcomed.

This relaxed craft night welcomes adults 16 and older who want to tackle unfinished objects in a friendly setting. Bring works in progress for a boost of peer support, or share recently completed pieces during an informal show and tell. If you do not have a current project, basic supplies will be available to get you started. The program is free and does not require registration. Participants can also request to be added to a Craft Club reminder list for future updates.

Settle in at Gemini Games for a relaxed night focused on Magic: The Gathering’s Commander format, also known as EDH. These weekly gatherings are free and open to players of all experience levels. Participants bring their own 100-card singleton decks and are seated in multiplayer pods, creating a social, casual environment centered on big plays and shared fun. Random rewards add to the excitement, with promo packs given out and one player in each pod of three to five selected at random to receive an additional draft pack.