Madison Children's Museum

Let's Move! with Abby
2025-12-10 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-12-11 10:15 - 11:45, 2025-12-12 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-12-17 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-12-18 10:15 - 11:45, 2025-12-19 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-12-20 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Chicago) | WI
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.

Nice Age Tales
2025-12-10 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-12-17 10:30 - 11:00 | WI
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.

Music Time with Tim
2025-12-10 11:00 - 11:30, 2025-12-17 11:00 - 11:30 | WI
Explore the world of music and rhythm! Each week, Tim leads children in singing, rhythm games, and musical stories that inspire creativity and connection. It’s an engaging experience for kids and families—free with admission.

Tales with Teresa
2025-12-11 09:30 - 10:00, 2025-12-18 09:30 - 10:00 | WI
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.

Messy Art with Laurie
2025-12-11 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-12-18 11:00 - 12:00 | WI
Join MCM art educator Ms. Laurie for a weekly burst of color, texture, and joyful experimentation. Young children can freely explore art materials in a welcoming space designed especially for our youngest artists. It’s creativity without limits—or cleanup. Come make a beautiful mess with us! Free with general admission.

Free Thursday Evenings
2025-12-11 16:00 - 20:00, 2025-12-18 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.

Aventuras en Español - Luz, Regalos y Recuerdos / Light, Gifts & Memories
2025-12-11 17:00 - 19:30 | WI
Termina el año con luz, regalos hechos a mano y recuerdos familiares.
Wrap up the year with light, handmade gifts, and warm family memories.
Crearemos adornos, cupones de amabilidad y decoraciones de temporada.
Make ornaments, kindness coupons, and seasonal decorations in a joyful bilingual space.
#FiestaDeLuz #FamilyCreativity #RegalosConAmor

Early Explorers Playgroup
2025-12-12 09:30 - 10:30, 2025-12-19 09:30 - 10:30 | WI
This playgroup is expertly 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 unstructured play that supports 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!

Music with Junebug
2025-12-12 10:30 - 11:00, 2025-12-19 10:30 - 11:00 | WI
Sing, stomp, and hop to the beat with Junko “Junebug” Yamauchi. These energetic, interactive sessions blend lively music, playful rhythms, and storytelling elements that spark imagination. Junko’s joyful energy builds connection, confidence, and community—all through the magic of music and movement. Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.

Clay Day
2025-12-12 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-12-19 13:00 - 15:00 | WI
Roll, shape, and sculpt with us on Friday afternoons! Join Art Studio staff to explore the magic of clay while creating pots, tiles, and shapes that will find a home here in the museum. It’s a hands-on way to leave your creative mark while learning the basics of ceramic art.

Adult Swim: Holiday Craftacular
2025-12-12 17:30 - 21:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Deck the halls with glitter glue—Adult Swim gets crafty for the holidays!

Whether you’re hyper-crafty, holiday-mad, or just here for the beer, this Adult Swim is for you. Join us for an evening packed full of holiday hijinks, festive beverages, gift-making stations, and more! This 21+ event offers adults the chance to play, craft, carouse, and carol their way through the museum.

Ages 21+ ONLY

$20 in advance

$25 day of the event

Bring the whole sleigh team! Get 10% off for 10 or more tickets, applied automatically at checkout.

Get Tickets

Craft-tacular Activities

Premier Trivia: Craftacular edition! 6, 7, and 8 pm

Flake It ’til You Make It: Snowflake cutting for all skill levels, from second grade scissor skills through grad student level mastery

Lovely Luminarias: Party like a Burqueño and decorate a festive luminaria lantern (candles not included)

Swirly Twirly Glass Ball Ornaments: Channel your inner Jackson Pollack

Button Tree Ornaments: Make mini trees out of buttons to brighten up your big tree

Rustic Round Wood Slice Ornaments: Craft like it’s 1885 with wood! And glue!

Stealthy Yeti Scavenger Hunt: Match wits with the famously elusive Yeti (& all his chilly cryptid pals) as you hunt them down across the museum

Santa vs. the Devil: Enjoy a showing of one of the strangest Santa movies ever made, featuring the devil in tiny shorts

Confession Booth: Your Worst Gifts: Share tales of the worst gift you’ve ever gotten—or better yet, the worst gift you’ve ever given!

Gift Tower Takedown: Work through some holiday stress by knocking over stacks of gift boxes

Holiday Hullabaloo: Join in a caroling cacophony with all the music class noisemakers we can find

…and more!

Bright Spirits & Festive Food

Add some spice to your evening with authentic Mexican cuisine from Jolly Frog, then sweeten the deal with a tasty treat from Miggy’s Bakes.

Sip on an exclusive cocktail created by the mixologist at State Line Distillery, beers from Delta Beer Lab, hot cider (spiked or not), plus non-alcoholic bevvies—guaranteed to keep your toddies hot, and vice versa!

What is Adult Swim, anyway?

Adult Swim at Madison Children’s Museum honors the public pool tradition of kicking out the kids out so adults can get silly (just without an actual pool). This 21+ event series offers the chance to play like a grown-up—sipping, sliding, and wassailing your way through the museum.

Ticket cancellation/exchange policy.

Thank you to our local vendor partners
Delta Beer Lab
State Line Distillery

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Related Events

Tales with Teresa

Thursday, February 12 @ 9:30 am – 10:00 am

Messy Art with Laurie

Thursday, February 12 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Early Explorers Playgroup

Friday, February 13 @ 9:30 am – 10:30 am

Exploration Station: Birch Bark Ornaments
2025-12-13 10:30 - 12:00 | WI
Gather inspiration from the natural world and craft a one-of-a-kind ornament using real birch bark from local trees and other foraged materials. Kids can explore textures and shapes while designing something meaningful to hang at home or gift to a loved one. It’s hands-on fun that blends art with appreciation for nature’s beauty. All materials provided; free with museum admission.

Cereal for Dinner
2025-12-18 17:00 - 19:00 | WI
As voted by visitors in our kids-only election: the Lunchbox will offer a Cereal-for-Dinner service every third Thursday of the month! Cereals featured will be Frosted Flakes, Cheerios, and granola. Cow’s milk and oat milk will also be provided. Crunch to your heart’s content, as long as supplies last!

Music with Junebug Winter Concert
2025-12-19 10:30 - 11:00 | WI
It’s a winter concert like no other: Junko “Junebug” Yamauchi leads the fun with music, movement, and story-driven songs that spark joy and connection. And as a special treat, don’t miss a one-of-a-kind performance by MCM’s own Bell Choir. Designed for our littlest guests and their grownups—come ready to wiggle, sing, and shine!

Holiday Concert with McFarland High BlueNotes Choir
2025-12-19 11:30 - 12:00 | WI
What’s better than holiday melodies floating through the museum on a chilly Friday morning? Enjoy a seasonal choir performance with students from McFarland High School’s BlueNotes Choir.

Exploration Station: Solstice Lanterns
2025-12-20 10:30 - 12:00 | WI
It’s the shortest day of the year—let’s bring some light! Children and caregivers are invited to create lanterns using paper, nature-inspired decor, and their own imagination. We’ll talk about the solstice and the changing seasons as we work. Take your lantern home to shine through the long winter nights.
