Free Thursday Evenings
2024-02-15 16:00 - 20:00, 2024-02-22 16:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
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.

Open Art Studio
2024-02-15 17:00 - 19:00, 2024-02-22 17:00 - 19:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Choose your own art adventure—drawing, sculpting, cartooning, 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, and open to all ages.

Wild Wonders: Clothespin Animals
2024-02-15 17:00 - 19:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Decorate wooden clothespins to mimic your favorite animal! Imagine what they’d eat and sounds they would make.

This event is free with general museum admission. Image credit: Delia Randall

STEAM Time: Earth's Systems through VR
2024-02-16 11:00 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Explore the science of Earth’s systems using virtual reality viewers.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Clay Day: Model Magic Mini Masks
2024-02-16 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” custom miniature masks out of model magic 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.

Saturday Morning Early Hour
2024-02-17 08:00 - 09:00, 2024-02-24 08:00 - 09:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Give your weekend a bright and early beginning at MCM! Enjoy early hours starting at 8 am, every Saturday through March 30. If you’ve got little kids in the family, we know you’re probably up anyway, so come downtown and let them climb the walls (literally, in our Hodge Podge Mahal climber.)

Extended Saturday mornings are included with general museum admission and will continue through Spring 2024.

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Related Events

Imagination Station with Abby

Wednesday, February 25 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Music Time with Tim

Wednesday, February 25 @ 11:00 am – 11:30 am

Tales with Teresa

Thursday, February 26 @ 9:30 am – 10:00 am

Exploration Station: Pompom Pals
2024-02-17 10:30 - 12:00, 2024-02-18 10:30 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Create and name your own handmade pompom critter.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Wonderground Recess: Melvis in the Bucket
2024-02-17 11:00 - 11:30
Ring the bell: it’s time for recess! Bundle up and head outside to the Wonderground for a unique active play break every Saturday in January and February at 11 am. Today, get rockin’ and rollin’ with MCM’s favorite Elvis impersonator and musical comedian, Melvis, in our Giant Bucket.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Saturday Art Adventures: Pop-Up Puppets
2024-02-17 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. 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 cute pop-up puppets.

This event is free with general museum admission. Image credit: Wendi Gratz

Post-Nap Pompom Party
2024-02-17 15:00 - 16:00, 2024-02-24 15:00 - 16:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Have an extra-squirrely toddler? Take advantage of the museum’s extended Saturday hours! Enjoy the tactile experience of scooping, pouring, and sorting colorful pompoms in the Wildernest, then get out those wiggles during an extra hour in the museum.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Let's Make! with Lexie
2024-02-18 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-02-25 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 event is free with general museum admission.

Early Explorers Playgroup
2024-02-21 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.

Music Time with Tim: Trains, Planes, Buses
2024-02-21 11:00 - 11:30
Explore the world of music and rhythm! Join Tim in the Celebrations room each week to enjoy play-based songs, games, and stories. This one’s for your car-crazy toddlers! Today, we’ll sing favorite songs like “Freight Train” and “The Wheels on the Bus”.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Messy Art with Laurie: Marbling Paper
2024-02-22 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 our own decorated paper using a marbled painting technique. This event is free with general museum admission.

Black Heritage Celebration
2024-02-22 16:00 - 20:00
Join Madison Children’s Museum on February 22, 4–8 pm, as we honor the contributions of Black people in our community with a celebration featuring Black artists, musicians, and leaders. Free admission from 4 to 8 pm, no event tickets required!

Enjoy performances from Leotha & Tamera Stanley and local Ghanaian drumming group Atimevu, a hambone workshop with the Phenomenal NeBo, an exhibition from portrait artist Desere Mayo, food from Madison Black-owned restaurants, crafts in the Art Studio, and a special museum-wide scavenger hunt! More details are upcoming, so please stay tuned for new performances, community partnerships, and activities.

Wild Wonders: Mod Podge Magnets
2024-02-22 17:00 - 19:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Create your own mod podge magnets using tree cookie rounds.

This event is free with general museum admission. Image credit: Delia Randall

STEAM Time: Frozen Maple Candy
2024-02-23 11:00 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Watch liquid maple syrup turn into a solid, delicious candy with heat and snow.

This event is free with general museum admission. Image credit: The Preserve At Chocorua

Members-Only PJ Party
2024-02-23 17:00 - 19:30 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
It’s time to party down in our PJs!

Members take over the museum for an epic after-hours PJ party! Enjoy a comfy, cozy evening of sleepover-inspired fun, including handmade dreamcatchers, games, and snacks. Vote on MCM’s very own custom flavor of Chocolate Shoppe ice cream and enjoy bakery delights from Ugly Apple! This event is for current museum members only. Registration is $10 per family after MCM member discount, tickets available now.

Register Now

Exploration Station: Pine Cone Bird Feeders
2024-02-24 10:30 - 12:00, 2024-02-25 10:30 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Celebrate National Bird Feeding Month by creating pine cone bird feeders that will help our feathered friends get by this winter.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Wonderground Recess: Dance Party with Francis Medrano
2024-02-24 11:00 - 11:30
Ring the bell: it’s time for recess! Bundle up and head outside to the Wonderground for a unique active play break every Saturday in January and February at 11 am. Today, warm yourself up at a Wonderground dance party with Francis Medrano, founder of Black Power Dance.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Saturday Art Adventures: Bead Mosaics
2024-02-24 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. 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 bead mosaics.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Saturday Evening Bonus Hour 4–5 pm
2024-02-24 16:00 - 17:00
This winter, enjoy a full extra hour of play on Saturday afternoons! We are open 8 am to 5 pm every Saturday through March 2024.

This event is free with general museum admission.

A "Toast" to National Toast Day!
2024-02-27 12:00 - 13:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Enjoy some hot, crispy toast and make a “toast” to one of your favorite people, in honor of National Toast Day!This event is free with general museum admission.
