This weekend in Dane County, WI

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.

Take part in friendly walking sessions with the W1N Crew at Penn Park, centered on building better health in a supportive setting. Each meet-up aims for about an hour on foot or at least three miles, creating a consistent and approachable way to stay active with others.

This Stand Down links community partners to deliver a broad range of essential services for veterans who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of it. The focus is on practical, empowering support that offers a hand up rather than a handout.

A garden workday at Dane County Humane Society's Wildlife Center focuses on caring for native gardens that support wildlife care and community learning. These plantings showcase native species in a commercial setting, provide food for local insects, give Camp Wildside students a hands-on classroom, and supply natural foods and enrichment for wild patients in rehabilitation. The work includes practical garden maintenance along with opportunities to learn about native gardening and connect with other Wild Ones members. Park in the main lot, then walk to the Wildlife Center at the far back left of the parking area. Look for the red building with the green roof and meet by the mural at the front. Bring your favorite tools, gloves, a hat, and a water bottle. Extra tools and gloves are available, as well as bug spray and sunscreen. Flexible participation is welcome.

Enjoy a relaxed, drop in format where participants may arrive at any time within the event hours. Create an apothecary-inspired trio of potion bottles filled with swirling, magical liquid, then add seasonal charms and labels. Each bottle is finished with black hot glue that resembles a wax seal to help it last. After the potions are complete, visit the pumpkin painting station to decorate a pumpkin from a local farm with paint, feathers, and sparkles. Suitable for all ages and family friendly. Children under 12 should participate with an adult companion.

Amateur bakers are invited to showcase a favorite recipe at the Downtown Sun Prairie Fall Fun Pie Baking Contest in Cannery Square, while tasters sample slices and cast votes for their top picks. Entries are accepted at the Sun Prairie Farmers Market in Cannery Square. Participation is free and open to individuals or teams, limited to one pie per entrant. Each entry must include a recipe card, pies must be homemade from scratch, and the contest is for amateurs only. Disposable pie plates are preferred, and any non disposable plate must be clearly marked with a phone number. By entering, participants agree that the Farmers Market Advisory Committee may publish photos and recipes without compensation. Guest judges will taste the pies, and the public can sample until the pies run out with one vote allowed per person in each category. Honors include Best Tasting Overall, Most Creative, Best Savory Pie, Best Sweet Pie, and Best Looking, with the Best Looking award decided online the week after the contest, plus a separate Celebrity Judge pick. Winners will be announced on social media. After the contest, the family friendly Fall Fun event continues.

Duncan's Dog Daycare provides nail trimming for dogs at the Mounds East location. It is held on the third Saturday of each month to help maintain regular paw care.

The 7th/8th Grade Crusader Youth Football team hosts the Madison Lancers (White) to wrap up the regular season in Capital Region Youth Football League action at Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart in Madison, WI. This final matchup offers a last chance to sharpen up before the postseason, with each series carrying weight as both sides try to build momentum. After months of summer conditioning, long practices, and steady teamwork, the Crusaders look to bring it all together on their home field and finish on a high note.

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.

Faded Roots Boutique and The Roots Cellar, a local grocery, are joining Downtown Sun Prairie’s fall festivities with a neighborhood celebration that blends shopping, music, food, and hands-on creativity. Enjoy a curated outdoor artisan market, toe tapping live music from Mad City Jug Band, fall fashion and local food, plus pumpkin decorating while supplies last. Runnin’ On Empty will serve up bites from its food truck, creating a relaxed autumn outing that families and friends can enjoy together. Explore a wide range of makers and specialty vendors, including Bliss & Bloom with bohemian inspired jewelry, Bloom & Gather with a bar of fresh flowers, Botanifresh offering botanical lemonades and clean living items, Covered Bridge Crafts with knit hats and warmers for your head, Deliciouser featuring seasonings with samples, Driftless Chocolates with chocolates, Double Bend Leather with leather accessories and goods, Lizbeth Designs with jewelry in beaded and sterling styles, NueMade with bracelets and candles plus bookmarks, Phoenix Art with wooden creations touched with whimsy, Ruby Rose Gallery with jewelry and natural stones, Terrene & Tide with permanent jewelry along with plants, The Stillroom Scientist with home fragrances and self care items, Unbranded Cowgirl with small batch tallow based skincare, and Wisco-N-Sin with handcrafted mixes for Old Fashioneds.

Roll out your mat at Working Draft Beer Company in Madison for a relaxed yoga session followed by a pint or another beverage of your choice. Enjoy a full hour of movement that leaves you feeling energized and refreshed, with guidance suited to absolute beginners and experienced yogis alike. The atmosphere stays light and welcoming, with an emphasis on fun and feeling good rather than perfection. Please bring a yoga mat if you have one. A limited number of mats will be available to borrow. The cost is $25 and includes the class plus your drink. All ticket sales are final and refunds are not available. If plans change, you may transfer your ticket to someone else, provided the request is submitted and confirmed via email.

Centered on Baker's Dozen, this program traces the aftermath of Shay Baker's death through the clues she left behind. A collection of letters and photographs, sent to people from her inner circle as well as brief acquaintances, compels Royal to gather their perspectives and reconcile the person he knew with her final choice. Each exchange uncovers another layer, moving from clue to revelation while weaving a mystery with a meditation on desire, grief, family history, and the connections that hold people together. The event features a conversation with Angela Russell.

TaylorMade Fitting Day offers focused fittings for Qi4D metalwoods, designed to promote fast ball speeds and precise shot making. Participants can expect a personalized evaluation that aligns club specifications with their swing for performance centered on speed and accuracy. It is a straightforward opportunity to fine tune equipment using TaylorMade Qi4D technology.

Let’s Link hosts a tiny tattoo pop-up that fits right into Badger Homecoming and the Game Day vibe downtown. Attendees can pick a tiny tattoo and get linked with permanent jewelry while soaking up the energy. No appointment needed. Tiny tattoo time slots are first come, first served, so arriving early helps secure a spot. A simple way to mark Game Day with something permanent.

The Wildcat Blitz fundraiser brings the community together at Hop Garden in Belleville with live music, raffles, auctions, and more. Proceeds support Belleville Youth Football, helping fund athletes, equipment, and continued program development.

Celebrate Sweetest Day with your special someone at Coachman’s Golf Resort. Savor dinner and drinks while showing your affection for Dead Flowers. Add a thoughtful finishing touch by surprising your sweetheart with real flowers.

Back2Back Trio brings live music to Homer Simpson's Antlers Tavern, an iconic Madison tavern known for cold beer, wild vibes, and plaid covered walls. The setting feels like a cozy up north cabin with taxidermy and a neon glow. It all unfolds at a bar with so much charm you might forget what decade it is while the trio performs.

Play Grand Archive with fellow players. Every participant receives event packs for participating.

Warehouse 4 performs a live set on the main stage at Warm Belly Farm as part of the Full Harvest Festival. To attend the music performance, a Full Harvest admission ticket is required.

Schumacher Farm Park transforms into a Halloween playground with family-friendly activities spread across the grounds. Stroll the farmyard to meet storytellers, step into a witch-themed house, visit fortune tellers, play games, create crafts, toast marshmallows, and watch balloon creations take shape. Enjoy music from the Waunakee High School Fiddle Band, then catch a magician’s show inside the rustic, historic barn. Face painting and temporary tattoos are available in the Center for Rural History, and a wagon ride carries guests through fields where spooky characters appear along the way. The celebration is decorated throughout and planned to continue in any weather, with most visitors being young families with school-aged children. Proceeds support the Friends of Schumacher Farm and initiatives such as prairie restoration, educational workshops, and community events. The evening is made possible by dedicated volunteers in roles that include wagon loaders, fortune tellers, storybook readers, witches, face painting and temporary tattoo stations, as well as admissions and parking attendants.

With a playful nod to its name, this event makes its Belleville debut at Hop Garden Brewing and Tap Room - Belleville.

Forward Madison FC meets the Portland Hearts of Pine at Breese Stevens Field for a matchup on the pitch.

Schwoegler's presents a monthly casual competitive pinball tournament featuring head-to-head play on eight machines. Players compete to qualify, with the top four advancing to a playoff round for prizes provided by Schwoegler's. One participant will be randomly selected to receive a Stern Pinball translite, and the top sixteen also take part in a short playoff for additional giveaways. The lineup blends new releases from Stern, JJP, and CCR with classic Bally and Williams titles for a wide range of play styles. Newcomers are welcome, including kids, and the format is easy to learn. Participation is coin drop only, with Madison Pinball covering the IFPA fee.

Atwood Music Hall hosts an upbeat night of roots and bluegrass featuring Them Coulee Boys, Adam Greuel & the Space Burritos, and Madison’s Cork n Bottle Stringband. Them Coulee Boys arrive with five albums behind them, including Die Happy produced by Dave Simonett of Trampled By Turtles and No Fun in the Chrysalis produced by Grammy winner Brian Joseph, earning attention from outlets like Americana UK, American Songwriter, Ditty TV, Folk Alley, and The Bluegrass Situation. They have shared stages with Trampled By Turtles, Los Lobos, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Band of Heathens, and their latest work has been praised by No Depression for its range and heart. Adam Greuel & the Space Burritos stir together country, blues, bluegrass, and show music into a rock and roll spirit, pairing a playful vibe with top-tier musicianship from a rotating cast led by Greuel of Horseshoes & Hand Grenades. Expect a swampy mix of originals alongside favorites from artists such as Little Feat, The Band, and Jerry Jeff Walker, all aimed at getting the room moving. Madison’s own Cork n Bottle Stringband brings a six-piece bluegrass sound marked by tight three-part harmonies and standout picking on fiddle, guitar, and banjo, sharing lively tunes and stories rooted in tradition. Ticket options include general admission at $15 in advance or $20 day of show, and balcony seating at $30 in advance or $35 day of show.

FPC Live presents The Menzingers at The Sylvee as part of the Everything I Ever Saw North American Tour, with Hot Water Music and Weakened Friends joining the bill. This event is open to all ages. Presale access is available through All Access with no code required, and membership is free to join. Tickets can be purchased online through The Sylvee or at the box office during regular business hours.

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.

FPC Live presents Medium Build at Majestic Theatre as part of The King Of Having Fun Tour, with Bella White joining the lineup. This all ages show also supports PLUS1, with $1 from each ticket benefiting REVERB and its work toward a more sustainable music industry while empowering fans to take action on environmental and social issues. Tickets are available at The Sylvee box office during business hours.

This sanctioned event emphasizes respectful conduct. Attendees are expected to avoid excessive revving and to refrain from burnouts.

Karaoke Night at Thirsty Goat invites singers of all levels to take the spotlight. Bring friends for a lively outing as you step up to the mic, show off your onstage charisma, and belt out your best vocals. Expect a fun, social atmosphere that celebrates crowd-pleasing performances and memorable moments.

Full Harvest returns to Warm Belly Farm with a full day of seasonal fun across the grounds. Visitors can wander vibrant fall displays, choose a pumpkin, and meander through Funny Bones Forest. Autumn flavors are on the menu with treats and drinks, and shopping is available at the retail tent and the garden center. Live entertainment sets the tone, with Beaches & Cream performing, and Neil the Real Deal appearing as a featured attraction. Food trucks serve a variety of options, including Paul’s Smokehouse, Olive Branch, Brew House Coffee, Bocadillo’s, and MW Amusement Concessions. Expect photo-friendly scenes, chances to try line dancing and other special happenings, and new giveaways and prizes offered throughout the season.

A play and trade meetup where Commander is the most common format, and other formats are welcome. No pre-registration is required. This recurring gathering takes place every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at Mox.

At Awildan Distilling, WiscoDice brings an assortment of board games from the WiscoDice library for a day of tabletop play alongside drinks. Participants can also bring their own games to share at the tables. Whether you prefer new releases or longtime favorites, heavy strategy or something light, all kinds of games and friendly gamers are welcome.

Java Cat is now the official spot on the third Sunday of every month. If parking is an issue, you may park in the mall parking lot across the street.

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.

Stone Cold Country takes the stage at The Barrel Inn Bar & Grill in Marshall/Deansville for a live country performance.

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.

Josh Joplin Group presents a seated concert highlighting the literate, hook-filled songwriting that has earned years of critical praise. Known for the breakthrough single "Camera One," the first independently released track to top Billboard’s Triple A chart and enter the Top 40, the band followed with national television appearances as Useful Music sold 500,000 copies and tours reached audiences around the world. Recent releases include Figure Drawing and GpYr, created with Grammy-winning producer Lorenzo Wolff and longtime collaborators, and featuring Joplin’s daughter Lomie on lead guitar and shared vocals on "Before the Light Takes Us." Coverage from outlets such as The Daily Vault, Spin, Paste, and Americana Highways has underscored the blend of sharp pop craft and inventive spirit across albums like The Future That Was, Jaywalker, Among the Oak & Ash, and Devil Ship. A silver anniversary collection connected to Useful Music gathers demos, outtakes, and newly recorded material from the original sessions, including a fresh version of "Camera One" by many of the original members. This is a seated show. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 the day of the show.