Madison Children's Museum

STEAM Time: Toothpick Engineers
2025-02-21 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | 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.

Music with Junebug
2025-02-21 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-02-14 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 admissions desk or check the Welcome Wall in our lobby. This event is free with general museum admission.

Let's Move! with Abby
2025-02-21 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-02-20 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-02-19 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-02-15 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-02-14 10:00 - 11:30 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Join us for movement games and activities! From obstacle courses to dances, group games and balance activities, we’ll enjoy different opportunities to move our bodies every day. Program location is subject to change, depending on the weather. Please check our Welcome Wall for the most up-to-date location information.This event is free with general museum admission.

Early Explorers Playgroup
2025-02-21 09:30 - 10:30, 2025-02-14 09:30 - 10:30 | 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.

Aventuras en Español: el Día de la Amistad
2025-02-20 17:00 - 19:30 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
¡Únete a nosotros para celebrar el Día de la Amistad. Nuestro próximo taller se trata de amor y amistad. Los niños harán pulseras de la amistad, disfrutarán de un cuento bilingüe y participarán en un mural especial donde podrán pintar o dibujar con amigos. Además, cada niño se llevará a casa una tarjeta de amistad hecha a mano, todo mientras practican su español.

Join us for Friendship Day! Our next workshop is all about love and friendship. Kids will make friendship jewelry, enjoy a bilingual story time, and take part in a special friendship mural where they can paint or draw with friends.Plus, everyone will get to take home a handmade friendship card, all while speaking in Spanish.

Wild Wonders: Invent an Animal
2025-02-20 17:00 - 19:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Invent your own animal using air-dry clay. Where would your animal live? What would your animal eat?How would your animal move?

This event is part of our Free Thursday Evenings, 4 pm-8 pm.

Lexie's Idea Lab
2025-02-20 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 creating 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.

Cereal for Dinner
2025-02-20 17:00 - 19:00
As voted by kids in our 2024 election: the Lunchbox will offer a Cereal-for-Dinner service! Cereals featured will be Corn Flakes, Lucky Charms, granola, and a gluten free cereal option. Cow’s milk and oat milk will also be provided. Crunch to your heart’s content, as long as supplies last!

Free Thursday Evenings
2025-02-20 16:00 - 20:00, 2025-02-13 16:00 - 20:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, 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 who qualify through our Access for Everyone initiative.

Messy Art with Laurie: Gelli Prints
2025-02-20 11:00 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Join 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! Today, we’ll create colorful customized prints.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Tales with Teresa
2025-02-20 09:30 - 10:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
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.

DeForest High School Jazz Concert
2025-02-19 14:30 - 15:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Join our friends from DeForest High School Jazz Band for an afternoon concert of swinging standards!This event is free with general museum admission.

Music Time with Tim
2025-02-19 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
2025-02-19 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 body 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 Make! with Lexie: Cardboard Sculptures
2025-02-16 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! This week, we’ll experiment with cardboard building challenges to create 3d structures.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Exploration Station: Seed Planting
2025-02-16 10:30 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Start your own mini-garden by planting seeds to take home, and decorate your own one-of-a-kind paper plant pot!

This event is free with the price of general admission.

MCM Roadshow: Connecting Families
2025-02-16 10:00 - 14:00 | 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI, Madison
Join Roadshow and friends at Connecting Families, a wonderful opportunity for parents, guardians, and caregivers to learn from each other about support strategies and community resources. Informational sessions are geared toward adults, but childcare is available in two rooms for families who pre-register. In addition to childcare, there will be other child-friendly activities that adults and children can attend together such as interactive informational tables and demonstrations. While there is no cost for this event, attendees are highly encouraged to pre-register. Registration enables event organizers to communicate updated conference information such as weather delays or cancelations.

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

Saturday Art Adventures: Cork Robots
2025-02-15 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 each week with Laurie and our Art Studio team. We’ll offer projects in a wide variety of art media and art processes for all ages and abilities. Today, we’ll use recycled corks to create quirky robot companions.This event is free with general museum admission.

Sensory Worlds with Junko
2025-02-14 13:30 - 14:30 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Join Junko as we explore different sensory materials every week!Please note, this program location may vary. Check at the admissions desk for the most up-to-date information.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Clay Day: Valentine's Day Heart Tiles
2025-02-14 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! Today we’ll “make and take” an adorable love-heart that’s created with care.

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: Light-Up Valentines
2025-02-14 11:00 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Light up the life of someone you love with a brilliant LED Valentine’s Day card! Learn to create circuits and gussy them up with with adorable expressions of care.

This event is free with general museum admission. Image credit: The New Children’s Museum

Black Heritage Celebration
2025-02-13 17:00 - 20:00
Join Madison Children’s Museum on February 13, 5–8 pm, as we honor the contributions of Black people in our community with a celebration featuring Black artists, musicians, and leaders. Free admission begins at 4 pm, and activities continue from 5 to 8 pm. No event tickets required!

Acompáñennos al Madison Children’s Museum para honrar las contribuciones de la raza negra de nuestra comunidad en una celebración con artistas, músicos, líderes locales, y organizaciones asociadas. Entrada gratuita de 5 a 8 p. m., ¡no necesitan boletos para el evento!Performances– Traditional West African drumming with Drum PowerActivities– Djembe drum building workshop with Ghanian artist Djam Vivie– Hambone and storytelling workshop with the Phenomenal NeBo– Black Luminaries button-making– Gallery of portraits by local youth artist Mychal Mayo– Black history collaborative coloring in the Art Studio– Museum-wide scavenger huntRefreshments– Samples by Melly Mell’s Catering, while supplies last

Wild Wonders: Button-Making
2025-02-13 17:00 - 19:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Design and press your own handmade button pin!

This event is part of our Free Thursday Evenings, 4 pm-8 pm.
