Madison Children's Museum

Exploration Station: Fairy Houses
2024-10-05 10:30 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Create your own little fairy abode! Experiment with leaves, flowers, sticks, stones, and a sparkling dose of imagination to construct a cozy home for diminutive fae friends.

This event is free with the price of general admission.

Group Health Cooperative: Pediatric Flu Clinic (Day 1)
2024-10-05 09:00 - 15:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
We’re inviting members of the Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin to get their flu shots at Madison Children’s Museum and enjoy a free day of play!

This pediatric flu clinic is available for eligible children age 2 through 12 years and their siblings/parents/caregivers. To participate, at least one person in your GHC-SCW group must be within this age range. GHC-SCW members attending the clinic will receive free admission to Madison Children’s Museum for the day of their appointment.

Clinic times are available on Saturday, October 5: 9 am – 3 pm, and Saturday, October 6: 9:30 am – 1 pm. Appointments are required; the clinic will not accept walk-ins. Due to limited availability, GHC-SCW members should schedule early to secure an appointment. Appointments can be made by calling (608) 257-9700. Please note, scheduling through GHCMyChart℠ is not available for this event.

The Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin seeks to ensure eligible children have the opportunity to be able to receive their flu vaccine at this clinic. For some, not having reliable transportation may be a barrier to attending this event. Transportation assistance may be available for BadgerCare Plus members by calling MTM at (866) 907-1493, or by using the bus stop directly outside the museum.

October Member Morning
2024-10-05 08:00 - 09:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
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 free treats while supplies last.

Not a member yet? Become one today! Membership starts immediately, so you can visit for free anytime the museum is open. Learn more about membership.

STEAM Time: Toothpick Engineers
2024-10-04 11:00 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
The sky’s the limit on these tiny but mighty toothpick structures. Practice your engineering skills, explore the stability of triangles versus rectangles, and challenge yourself to build high!

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activities foster children’s creativity, ignite curiosity, encourage divergent thinking, and increase problem-solving skills as children explore the world around them.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Lexie's Idea Lab
2024-10-03 17:00 - 19:00, 2024-09-26 17:00 - 19:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Get your creativity flowing with Lexie in the Idea Lab! Practice different methods for generating new art projects and storytelling concepts with guidance from the Idea Machine.

This event is part of our free admission Thursday evenings, 4 pm-8 pm every week.

Wild Wonders: Adopt a Succulent
2024-10-03 17:00 - 19:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Decorate a paper cup planter to bring home a cutting from MCM’s Rooftop’s succulents! Learn to take care of your new friend, so you can help it grow and thrive.

This event is part of our free admission Thursday evenings, 4 pm-8 pm.

Free Thursday Evenings
2024-10-03 16:00 - 20:00, 2024-09-26 16:00 - 20:00
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 qualify through our Access for Everyone initiative.

Music Time with Tim
2024-10-02 11:00 - 11:30
Explore the world of music and rhythm! Join Tim each week to enjoy play-based songs, games, and stories.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Nice Age Tales
2024-10-02 10:30 - 11:00, 2024-09-25 10:30 - 11:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Join us for a story and circle time that connects children to kindness and nature. Sing songs, interact with puppets, listen to a story, and move your bodies in this interactive weekly program.

This event will be held in the Nice Age Trail exhibit and is free with general museum admission.

Let's Move! in the Wonderground
2024-10-02 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-09-27 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-09-26 10:00 - 11:30 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
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.

Early Explorers Playgroup
2024-10-02 10:00 - 11:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
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 to connect with one another over a variety of topics. Come meet other families and make new friends!

This event will be held in the Celebrations Room and is free with general museum admission.

Let's Make! with Lexie: Stamp Making
2024-09-29 13:00 - 15:00
Explore new materials and creative techniques through facilitated art activities and bring home hand-made treasures. Projects vary each week and may include sculpture, painting, comics, printmaking, and more! Today, make your mark and create custom, hand-made stamps.

This event is free with general museum admission. Image credit: Jackie Currie

MCM Roadshow: Harmony Apartments
2024-09-28 13:00 - 15:00 | Galaxy Park, 132 Milky Way, Madison, Wisconsin
Meet up with MCM Roadshow at Harmony Apartments for hands-on activities with our team! Join MCM’s outdoor recreation specialist for movement games and active fun, alongside art projects facilitated by the Roadshow team.

Madison Children’s Museum Roadshow brings mobile exhibits and maker activities to community events in Madison and the surrounding area.

Saturday Art Adventures with Laurie (Worldwide Day of Play)
2024-09-28 13:00 - 15:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Dive into an exciting drop-in art experience with Laurie and our Art Studio team for Worldwide Day of Play! 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!

This event is free with general museum admission.

Exploration Station: Giant Bubbles (Worldwide Day of Play)
2024-09-28 10:30 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Celebrate Worldwide Day of Play with us and create ginormous bubbles on the Rooftop Ramble.

This event is free with the price of general admission.

Guided Movement Games (Worldwide Day of Play)
2024-09-28 10:30 - 11:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Celebrate Worldwide Day of Play with our friend Shelby from Force of Nature Movement! Come down to the Wonderground for guided movement games and open play time. We’ll practice intuitive movement skills like climbing, crawling, jumping, and running (to each child’s comfort level and ability.) This program is designed for children 3-10 years, but all are welcome!

This event is free with general museum admission.

What's in Your Lunchbox? with UW CALS (Worldwide Day of Play)
2024-09-28 10:00 - 13:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Kick off Worldwide Day of Play with our friends from the UW College of Agricultural and Life Sciences! Learn more about the origins of your food, from farm to lunch table.

This event is free with general museum admission. Image credit: Kevin Rej

Worldwide Day of Play at MCM
2024-09-28 09:00 - 16:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Celebrate Worldwide Day of Play at Madison Children’s Museum on Saturday, September 28, 2024. Find brand new ways to play in the Wonderground, learn about your food’s journey from farm to lunch table, create ginormous bubbles on the Rooftop Ramble, and let your creativity flow in the Art Studio!

Featured Activities

What’s in Your Lunchbox? with UW College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, 10:00 am–1:00 pm

Guided Movement Games with Force of Nature Movement, 10:30 am–11:00 am in the Wonderground

Exploration Station: Giant Bubbles, 10:30 am–12:00 pm on the Rooftop Ramble

Saturday Art Adventures with Laurie, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm in the Art Studio

Get Tickets

All activities are free with general museum admission.

Clay Day!
2024-09-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Explore the squishy, smudgy, sculptable world of clay!

Each Friday, join us for a different drop-in clay experience in the Art Studio. We’ll work with a variety of media–ceramic clay, dough, paper clay, polymer clay, and more. This event is free with general museum admission.

STEAM Time: Chemical Reactions
2024-09-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Learn about the chemicals contained in everyday kitchen ingredients and discover how they react with one another! Step into the role of a scientist and test these safe combinations with hands-on experimentation.

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 ways for kids to explore the world around them.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Music with Junebug
2024-09-27 10:30 - 11:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Join us for Music with Junebug led by Junko Yamauchi.

This program gives toddlers and preschoolers the opportunity to sing, dance, explore instruments, and play! Music and movement activities promote brain development and connect us to our family and community.

For today’s Music with Junebug location, please ask at the desk! This event is free with general museum admission.

Sensory Worlds with Junko
2024-09-26 13:30 - 14:30 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Join Junko in the Urb Garden as we explore different sensory materials every week!

This event is free with general museum admission.

Messy Art with Laurie
2024-09-26 11:00 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Join Ms. Laurie and our Art Studio staff for a weekly drop-in art experience designed for MCM’s youngest 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!

This event is free with general museum admission.

Jump 'n Jive with Junko and Abby
2024-09-25 13:00 - 14:30
Join Junko and Abby in the Wonderground each Wednesday for movement and music games!

This event is free with general museum admission.

Music Time with Tim!
2024-09-25 11:00 - 11:30
