• Imagination Station: Handprint Fish Puppets

    Join Abby in the Art Studio classroom on Wednesdays to stretch your creativity with common materials used in unexpected ways. Each week will feature a different activity.

  • Nice Age Tales

    Snuggle in for a delightful mix of stories, puppets, and songs! This trail-side program invites young children to explore emotions, rhythm, and imagination through movement and mindful moments. Grown-ups welcome, too—this is a peaceful pause for the whole family.

  • 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 shares stories that help us build listening skills, develop early literacy, and celebrate each other’s differences. This event is free with general museum admission.

  • Free Thursday Evenings

    Free Thursday Evenings
    Madison Children's Museum 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, United States

    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 offers reduced cost admission and memberships every day to families […]

  • Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Celebration

    Everyone is invited to enjoy free admission and a celebration with our local Asian American and Pacific Islander community featuring food, music, art, and dance representing Asian and Pacific Islander culture and traditions.  Featuring: Japanese drumming performance by Beni Daiko Chinese lion dance by Zhong Yi Kung Fu Hmong dance by Viv Ncaus Dance Troupe […]

  • STEAM Time: Fish Prints

    Create vibrant prints using silicone models of local fish and paint! Explore the patterns and textures of fish scales while making unique, aquatic-themed artwork. This event is free with the price of general admission.

  • Saturday Art Adventures: Springtime Dioramas

    Create a miniature spring scene filled with wonder! Build your own diorama from a buffet of tiny flowers, trinkets, sticks, stones, and found objects. Design a garden, woodland nook, or magical landscape all your own. What tiny world will you imagine? Join us and bring it to life!

  • Exploration Station: Catapults

    What makes something fly farther? Build a catapult and experiment with force, angles, and motion to find out. Test your design, make adjustments, and try again. Each launch teaches you something new. Bring your curiosity and see how far your ideas can go!

  • Imagination Station: Egg Carton Turtles

    Join Abby in the Art Studio classroom on Wednesdays to stretch your creativity with common materials used in unexpected ways. Each week will feature a different activity.

  • Nice Age Tales

    Snuggle in for a delightful mix of stories, puppets, and songs! This trail-side program invites young children to explore emotions, rhythm, and imagination through movement and mindful moments. Grown-ups welcome, too—this is a peaceful pause for the whole family.

  • 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 shares stories that help us build listening skills, develop early literacy, and celebrate each other’s differences. This event is free with general museum admission.

  • Free Thursday Evenings

    Free Thursday Evenings
    Madison Children's Museum 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, United States

    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 offers reduced cost admission and memberships every day to families […]

  • STEM Sparks: The Strength of a Dome

    Think you know what "fragile" looks like? Join us for the Eggshell Challenge and discover how a few delicate domes can defy gravity by supporting a stack of books. You’ll witness the power of compression force in action to test a dome’s unique geometry. Step into the shoes of an engineer and see if you have the […]

  • STEAM Time: Float Your Boat

    Can your boat stay afloat? Design and build a tin foil boat, then test it in the rooftop pond and stream! Experiment with shape, size, and balance to see what floats best. This hands-on engineering challenge invites kids to build, test, and improve—just like real-world designers.

  • Members-only Hours: MCM After Dark

    Wind down your week with a little museum magic after hours. Step into a relaxed, members-only evening where your family can play, create, and explore at your own pace. Wander through your favorite exhibits, settle in for hands-on crafting, or follow your curiosity wherever it leads. Whether your kids want to build, imagine, splash, or […]