Best Bets for Winter

Photo of the Grape Arbor at Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Winter in Madison

Winter Adventures

Ice Skating
Bring your ice skates and head over to Tenny, Vilas, or Elver Park and skate the day away. These parks offer warming houses, lighted rinks and ice skate rentals. Call 266-4711 or visit the City of Madison Parks website for skating hours, rental prices and ice conditions.

Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding
Tyrol Basin and Devil’s Head offer loads of downhill snow filled fun. Whether you ski or snowboard these hills are great for day trip outings.

Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
Enjoy one of the many groomed trails that the Greater Madison Area has to offer! Visit The City of Madison Parks cross-country sking page and call the Ski Trail Hotline for trail conditions at 608.242.4576. Some other great trail option are The Wisconsin State Park Snowshoe Trails, The Glacial Drumline State Trail, and The Ice Age Trail.

Sledding
The City of Madison Parks offer many great sledding hills and to help you pick the perfect hill for your trip you can check out the article "Seeking a Perfect Hill" by Mark Sadowski.

Madison Winter Festival
Watch as Madison's Capitol Square is transformed into a winter wonderland with ice and snow sculptures, tubing hill and snowboard rail jam, world class cross country ski racing, and snowshoeing venues during this weekend-long Madison Winter Festival.

Warming Up

Photo of Brocach Irish Pub in downtown Madison

Madison Magazine’s Winter Restaurant Week
This year Madison Magazine presents Winter Restaurant Week from January 25th to January 30th. During this week participating restaurants will offer three course dinner menus for just $25 per person (beverages, tax and gratuity not included). This is the perfect opportunity for food lovers to take a break from cooking this winter and get out of the house to sample some of Madison's finest restaurants.

Expo’s are in abundance this winter!
Here are just few highlights:

          2009 Pheasant Fest
          Wisconsin Public Television Garden Expo
          Orchid Quest 2009
          Greater Madison Golf Show
          Madison Boat & Water Show
          Wedding Planner & Guide Bridal Show
          Madison RV & Camper Show and Sale
          Madison Home Expo 2009
          Celebrating Youth!

Performances







Here is just a small list of performances that Madison has in store for you this winter. Visit The Overture Center for the Arts, The Majestic Theatre, The Wisconsin Union Theater, and the Orpheum Theatre of more great performances coming to Madison.


          Peking Acrobats
          The Wizard of Oz
          Jerry Seinfeld
          Sweeny Todd
          Kodo
          Bobby McFerrin
          North Mississippi All-Stars
          Guys on Ice
          The Fabulous Fifties