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Week of Events
Tuesday Member Morning
Tuesday Member Morning
Enjoy exclusive, members-only time in the museum each Tuesday for Member Appreciation Month! There's no better way to play at MCM, especially for our young visitors who are easily overwhelmed by crowds. Stretch out, enjoy the exhibits at your own pace, and enjoy a chilled-out morning together in the museum. Not a member yet? Become one […]
Creative Movement & Dance: Pathways of the Nice Age Trail (Member Morning!)
Creative Movement & Dance: Pathways of the Nice Age Trail (Member Morning!)
Celebrate the Nice Age Trail and deepen our connection to nature with Isthmus Dance Collective! Each Tuesday, these imaginative, immersive, and active classes will allow kids and their grownups to explore the Trail's themes with curiosity, creativity, and exposure to dance concepts from local dance experts. Today's theme is inspired by the adventurous pathways that […]
Open Art Studio (Member Morning!)
Open Art Studio (Member Morning!)
Choose your own art adventure through exploration of materials. Create robots, cars, houses, and more. Drop by the Art Studio classroom for open-ended creative opportunities, facilitated by our talented staff. This event is free with general museum admission.
Early Explorers Playgroup
Early Explorers Playgroup
Social time for babies and their grown-ups! This playgroup is thoughtfully designed for our earliest visitors. We will provide a space for infants and toddlers (2 years and under) and their caregivers to explore and play together, and engage in activities that support various aspects of child development. Parents and caregivers will have the opportunity […]
Exploration Station: Bubble Science
Exploration Station: Bubble Science
Somebody burst your bubble? No worries—we can make new ones! Explore the shiny, pearlescent world of bubble science and learn how these squeaky-clean beauties are formed. This event is free with the price of general admission.
Music Time with Tim!
Music Time with Tim!
Explore the world of music and rhythm! Join Tim in the Wonderground each week to enjoy play-based songs, games, and stories. This event is free with general museum admission.
Insect Scavenger Hunt
Insect Scavenger Hunt
Be very, very quiet... we're hunting insects! Join us in the Urb Garden, where we'll sharpen our observation skills and search for bugs hiding in the plants. Gentleness is encouraged—no insects will be harmed in the making of this program. This program is free with general museum admission.
Playdough Party with Junko
Playdough Party with Junko
Join Junko in the Art Studio Classroom each Wednesday to create your own scented playdough that's a squishy, smush-able sensory delight. This event is free with general museum admission.
Family Climate Festival (Day 1)
Family Climate Festival (Day 1)
Join MCM for the Family Climate Festival weekend, a community-based collaboration where children and families are invited to engage in programs with the Madison Water Utility, the Wisconsin Institute for Energy and MCM staff educators that inspire children to become environmental stewards while they learn about clean water, renewable energy, and recycling. Don't forget about […]
Tales with Teresa
Tales with Teresa
Join us for story time and hear Teresa read some of her favorite books using her DynaVox. With this speech-generating device, Teresa will share stories and help build listening skills, develop early literacy, and celebrate each other’s differences. This event is free with general museum admission.
Messy Art with Laurie: Crayon Recycling
Messy Art with Laurie: Crayon Recycling
Join Laurie and our Art Studio staff for a weekly drop-in art experience designed for MCM's younger visitors and their caregivers. Through open-ended & process-based projects, empower your little artist to freely explore materials and art-making with their senses. And the best part? We take care of cleanup! Today, we'll make colorful no-waste creations with […]
Sensory Worlds with Junko
Sensory Worlds with Junko
Join Junko in the Urb Garden as we explore different sensory materials every week! This event is free with general museum admission.
Insect Scavenger Hunt
Insect Scavenger Hunt
Be very, very quiet... we're hunting insects! Join us in the Urb Garden, where we'll sharpen our observation skills and search for bugs hiding in the plants. Gentleness is encouraged—no insects will be harmed in the making of this program. This program is free with general museum admission.
Free Thursday Evenings
Free Thursday Evenings
Visit MCM for free every Thursday evening, 4–8 pm! Enjoy extended hours each Thursday, completely free of charge. Please check in at the admissions desk when you visit during free hours. Looking for more affordable ways to visit? During the rest of the week, MCM also offers heavily discounted admission and memberships to families who […]
Wild Wonders: Chlorophyll Art
Wild Wonders: Chlorophyll Art
Today we'll learn about the way plants get their nutrients, and create art with the verdant green pigment. This event is part of our free admission Thursday evenings, 4 pm-8 pm.
Fun with Fiber Arts: Spool Knitting
Fun with Fiber Arts: Spool Knitting
Explore various practical and artful fiber arts projects like embroidery, weaving, mending, and sewing with our friend Lexie in the Art Studio! Today, we'll learn about spool knitting and make our own fuzzy creations. This event is free during our extended Thursday evening hours!
Family Climate Festival (Day 2)
Family Climate Festival (Day 2)
Join MCM for the Family Climate Festival weekend, a community-based collaboration where children and families are invited to engage in programs with the Madison Water Utility, the Wisconsin Institute for Energy and MCM staff educators that inspire children to become environmental stewards while they learn about clean water, renewable energy, and recycling. Today's Featured Activities:STEAM […]
Let’s Move! in the Wonderground
Let’s Move! in the Wonderground
Join us for movement games in the Wonderground! From obstacle courses to dances, group games, balance activities, and yoga, we'll enjoy different opportunities to move our bodies every day. This event is free with general museum admission.
STEAM Time: Solar Energy Fun
STEAM Time: Solar Energy Fun
Explore sun-powered art with cyanotype paper, tinker with solar toys, and learn how the sun can be used for renewable energy on our Rooftop Ramble! Join us each week for new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activities. These hands-on programs foster creativity, ignite curiosity, encourage divergent thinking, build problem-solving skills, and offer new […]
Clay Day: Clay Tiles
Clay Day: Clay Tiles
Our art studio staff will lead visitors in a weekly assortment of creative clay sculpture activities.
We will create all kinds of collaborative projects- plant pots, jewelry, ornaments, tiles and more.
All ages are welcome to join us and experiment with clay.
Wind Turbine Engineers with the Wisconsin Institute for Energy
Wind Turbine Engineers with the Wisconsin Institute for Energy
Join the Wisconsin Institute for Energy to explore wind energy! Become a wind turbine engineer and show off your building skills during this drop-by mini-challenge. You’ll design, build, and test wind turbine blades to see which will work the best to sustainably power our future. This event is part of the Family Climate Festival, and […]
Insect Scavenger Hunt
Insect Scavenger Hunt
Be very, very quiet... we're hunting insects! Join us in the Urb Garden, where we'll sharpen our observation skills and search for bugs hiding in the plants. Gentleness is encouraged—no insects will be harmed in the making of this program. This program is free with general museum admission.
Live from the Wonderground: Madison Mystery Tour
Live from the Wonderground: Madison Mystery Tour
Every first Friday this summer, enjoy free concerts at MCM featuring an eclectic mix of Madison bands. Adults get to dance and chat, kids climb and play, and caregivers enjoy low-stress social time in an outdoor play space like no other! Tonight's featured group is Madison Mystery Tour. Driven by their devotion to the Beatles, Madison […]
August Member Morning
August Member Morning
Enjoy exclusive, members-only time in the museum for a great addition to your Farmers Market family outing. There's no better way to play before the museum gets busy! Enjoy complimentary coffee and treats from our friends at Ugly Apple while supplies last. Not a member yet? Become one today! Membership starts immediately, so you can visit […]
Family Climate Festival (Day 3)
Family Climate Festival (Day 3)
Join MCM for the Family Climate Festival weekend, a community-based collaboration where children and families are invited to engage in programs with the Madison Water Utility, the Wisconsin Institute for Energy and MCM staff educators that inspire children to become environmental stewards while they learn about clean water, renewable energy, and recycling. Today's Featured Activities:Our […]
Our Amazing Aquifer with Madison Water Utility
Our Amazing Aquifer with Madison Water Utility
Stomp your feet! Deep down below is where most of Wisconsin’s drinking water comes from. Join our friends from the Madison Water Utility to learn about the water cycle and local water consumption. How does the water get down there in the ground? How do we get it out? What happens to it along the […]
Saturday Art Adventures: Egg Carton Flowers
Saturday Art Adventures: Egg Carton Flowers
Dive into an exciting drop-in art experience each week with Laurie and our Art Studio team. Embark on projects with a wide variety of art media and processes for all ages and abilities. Materials are included—and the best part? We take care of cleanup! Today, we'll create vibrant blooms with recycled egg cartons. This event is free […]
Insect Scavenger Hunt
Insect Scavenger Hunt
Be very, very quiet... we're hunting insects! Join us in the Urb Garden, where we'll sharpen our observation skills and search for bugs hiding in the plants. Gentleness is encouraged—no insects will be harmed in the making of this program. This program is free with general museum admission.