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All Downtown Events

Downtown Madison Welcomes Shoppers
Make holiday shopping and dining special - enjoy downtown Madison's State Street, Capitol Square and King Street areas, home to more than 370 shops, boutiques, galleries, restaurants, night spots and other businesses, many locally owned.

See here for a directory of shops and restaurants.

Give the gift of downtown, with a Downtown Madison Gift Certificate!

Downtown Madison Gift Certificates-Order Online!
Downtown Madison Gift Certificates are accepted at more than 170 shops, restaurants, museums, cafes, bars and other establishments on State Street and the Capitol Square. They make the perfect holiday gift!

Downtown Information Table
Weekend holiday shoppers can count on our Downtown Information Ambassadors for helpful directions, shopping and dining suggestions, maps, and a friendly smile. Downtown Ambassadors will staff an information table in the Overture Center Rotunda Lobby (201 State Street) on Saturdays, November 28 from 10am to 3pm for the Downtown Holiday Open House, and from 10am to 2pm on Saturdays, December 5, 12 and 19. Stop by while shopping, attending Kids in the Rotunda, or enjoying the spectacular holiday lighting in the Overture Center.

Free Holiday Trolley, Weekends, Nov. 29-Dec. 21
Holiday shopping is especially jolly with the Downtown Trolley! A favorite tradition for kids and shoppers young and old, the red "Holiday Shopping Trolley" will run from 10am to 6pm on Saturday, Nov. 28 (for the Downtown Holiday Open House) and from from noon-4pm on Sunday, Nov. 29 and on Saturdays and Sunday, Dec. 5-6, 12-13 and 19-20, stopping at Metro bus stops.* The trolley will be decorated and staffed by volunteer Downtown Information Ambassadors who will greet riders, hand out gift bags plus treats for kids, and offer suggestions, directions, and downtown maps.

Downtown Madison Gift Bags: Riders on the trolley will also be treated to free downtown Madison gift bags, filled with promotions, coupons, special offers and information from more than 40 businesses and organizations (free, one per trolley rider, while supplies last).

*For patrons with disabilities for whom the trolley may not be accessible, the BID Ambassadors staffing the trolley will provide a free Metro Transit day pass plus a gift bag. Per Metro Transit: "All fixed-routes are accessible to people with disabilities. Service animals are allowed on Metro buses to assist people with disabilities. ADA-eligible riders may travel on fixed-route buses with a personal care attendant at no additional charge (the rider pays and the attendant rides for free). An ADA eligibility card must be presented when boarding." The free trolley is a service of Madison's Central Business Improvement District (BID). More information about Metro Transit is available via the Customer Service Center at 608-266-4466.

UW MadHatters outside Overture Center

Carolers and Dancers, Weekends in December
Volunteer community and UW-Madison choral groups (and one dance troupe!) will stroll State Street and the Capitol Square-and even hop on the trolley-to carol and perform for shoppers, from 1 - 3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, December. 6-7, 13-14 and 20-21. Performances will start Saturdays at 1pm in the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Lobby (MMoCA, 227 State Street) and Sundays at 1pm in the Overture Rotunda Lobby (201 State Street).

Performance Schedule:
(All performances kick off at 1pm in the lobby indicated below before groups begin strolling around downtown. Schedule subject to change.)

• Saturday, Dec. 5 (MMoCA): Cancelled due to illnes - The UW MadHatters (UW men's A Cappella Group)
• Sunday, Dec. 6 (Overture Rotunda): Kanopy Dance
• Saturday, Dec. 12 (MMoCA): Philharmonic Chorus of Madison
• Sunday, Dec. 13 (Overture Rotunda): Capitol Chordsmen (Barbershop Choir)
• Saturday, Dec. 19 (MMoCA): The Nefrons (Do-Wop)
• Sunday, Dec. 20 (Overture Rotunda): Tangled Up in Blue (UW women's A Cappella Group)

Enjoy holiday snowflake lights in Downtown Madison.

Holiday Snowflake Lights and Evergreen Decorations
The holiday "snowflake" lights and evergreen boughs decorating State Street and the Capitol Square from Thanksgiving through January are a downtown Madison tradition. These holiday lighting and evergreen decorations are funded by downtown business and property owners through Madison's Central Business Improvement District (BID), in partnership with the City of Madison Parks Division.

In 2006, thanks to the sponsorship of Madison Gas and Electric, with additional support from the Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Energy, all of the downtown holiday snowflake lighting was converted to energy-saving LEDs, which use up to 95% less energy than regular incandescent bulbs. Now downtown Madison is truly "green" and bright for the holidays!

Saturday, November 28

Downtown Madison Holiday Open House Nov. 28
Downtown Madison welcomes one and all to kick off the holiday season at the Downtown Holiday Open House, Saturday, November 28, 2009, from 10 am to 6 pm. Stroll State Street and the Capitol Square, and enjoy free trolley rides & gift bags, holiday lights, complimentary refreshments, special offers and events at more than 40 downtown businesses, and family fun at the Overture Center for the Arts. Free and open to the public. Details at link above.