Early Explorers Playgroup
Early Explorers Playgroup
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 […]
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Programs & Events
MCM is a busy place with hundreds of activities, classes and workshops for every age.
All of our museum programs are designed to foster healthy growth, development, learning, trying something unfamiliar, and, well, just having fun! Dive into offerings and check out our calendar. We’re sure there is something for you to do in our amazing learning playground.
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Calendar of Events
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3 events,
Music Time with Tim
Music Time with Tim
Explore the world of music and rhythm. Join Tim in our Celebrations Room to play instruments and enjoy play-based songs, games, and stories.
Cabin Life: Take-Home Toys
Cabin Life: Take-Home Toys
Use natural, organic materials to create your very own take-home toy in our Wonderground cabin. Cabin Life invites you each week to try crafts and activities from the time of […]
3 events,
–
Messy Art with Laurie
Messy Art with Laurie
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 […]
Creative Movement with Isthmus Dance Collective
Creative Movement with Isthmus Dance Collective
Join Isthmus Dance Collective for dance, creative movement, songs, and stories that get children thinking creatively and having fun. This program is brimming with energy, curiosity, creativity, and fun geared […]
Twilight Thursday: Open Until 8 pm
Twilight Thursday: Open Until 8 pm
The whole museum is open until 8 pm on Thursdays. Twilight Thursday evening hours are included free, with general museum admission. See admission prices and get tickets. Special events: On December […]
3 events,
Pom Pom Party
Pom Pom Party
Treat your baby to a colorful, cushy cascade of joy. Our littlest visitors can practice sorting, scooping, and stacking pom pom balls of different sizes and textures in the Wildernest. […]
–
STEAM Time: Fossilized Fun
STEAM Time: Fossilized Fun
Learn how ancient animals became sealed in stone and cast your own mold fossil to take home. This event is free with general museum admission.
–
Clay Day: Ceramic Pinch Pots
Clay Day: Ceramic Pinch Pots
Our art studio staff will lead visitors in a weekly assortment of creative clay sculpture activities.
We will create all kinds of collaborative projects- plant pots, jewelry, ornaments, tiles and more.
All ages are welcome to join us and experiment with clay.
4 events,
Member Morning
Member Morning
Member Mornings provide exclusive time for museum members to access the museum outside of public operating hours. Not a member yet? Become one today! Membership starts immediately, so you can […]
Garden Babies
Garden Babies
Enjoy sunny Saturday mornings in the Urb Garden with your little one. Join us for special baby-friendly activities just outside the Wildernest. This event is free with general museum admission.
–
Exploration Station: Earth Art for Everyone
Exploration Station: Earth Art for Everyone
Help make an ephemeral, collaborative art piece using things that grow in our garden. This event is free with general museum admission.
–
Art Adventures with Laurie
Art Adventures with Laurie
Come on down to the Wonderground and drop into a new art experience with Laurie and the Art Studio team. Explore art through a variety of creative media and processes meant […]
2 events,
–
MCM Roadshow: Monroe Street Farmers Market
MCM Roadshow: Monroe Street Farmers Market
Join MCM Roadshow at Monroe Street Farmers Market. Get creative at our arts-and-crafts table and fort-building station, then browse local goods next to Edgewood College. Madison Children’s Museum Roadshow brings […]
–
Let’s Make! with Lexie
Let’s Make! with Lexie
Explore new materials and creative techniques through facilitated art activities and bring home hand-made treasures and trinkets. Projects vary each week and may include sculpture, painting, comics, printmaking, and more! […]
0 events,
0 events,
3 events,
Early Explorers Playgroup
Early Explorers Playgroup
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 […]
Music Time with Tim
Music Time with Tim
Explore the world of music and rhythm. Join Tim in our Celebrations Room to play instruments and enjoy play-based songs, games, and stories.
–
Cabin Life: Seed-Saving
Cabin Life: Seed-Saving
Learn to collect and preserve garden and flower seeds, just like early Wisconsinites who saved seasonally for the next year. Take a few seeds home to start your own garden next […]
5 events,
–
Great Apple Crunch at MCM
Great Apple Crunch at MCM
Celebrate the Wisconsin Great Apple Crunch with an apple tasting on the Rooftop Ramble. Try different apple varieties from local orchards and enjoy a nourishing, nutritious snack. This event is […]
–
Messy Art with Laurie: Motor Masterpieces
Messy Art with Laurie: Motor Masterpieces
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 […]
Creative Movement with Isthmus Dance Collective
Creative Movement with Isthmus Dance Collective
Join Isthmus Dance Collective for dance, creative movement, songs, and stories that get children thinking creatively and having fun. This program is brimming with energy, curiosity, creativity, and fun geared […]
Twilight Thursday: Open Until 8 pm
Twilight Thursday: Open Until 8 pm
The whole museum is open until 8 pm on Thursdays. Twilight Thursday evening hours are included free, with general museum admission. See admission prices and get tickets. Special events: On December […]
–
Wild Wonders: Great Apple Crunch
Wild Wonders: Great Apple Crunch
Taste test different types of locally-sourced apples, engage all your five senses, and discover which kind is your favorite! Practice fine motor skills by counting apple seeds—those are not recommended […]
4 events,
Adult Swim: Halloweird
Adult Swim: Halloweird
Ghoulish, gruesome & grim—celebrate an offbeat Friday the 13th with our most sinister Swim yet! Will you survive the night? Adult Swim at Madison Children’s Museum borrows the public pool tradition of […]
Pom Pom Party
Pom Pom Party
Treat your baby to a colorful, cushy cascade of joy. Our littlest visitors can practice sorting, scooping, and stacking pom pom balls of different sizes and textures in the Wildernest. […]
Music with Junebug
Music with Junebug
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 […]
–
Clay Day: Ceramic Pinch Pots
Clay Day: Ceramic Pinch Pots
Our art studio staff will lead visitors in a weekly assortment of creative clay sculpture activities.
We will create all kinds of collaborative projects- plant pots, jewelry, ornaments, tiles and more.
All ages are welcome to join us and experiment with clay.
2 events,
Garden Babies
Garden Babies
Enjoy sunny Saturday mornings in the Urb Garden with your little one. Join us for special baby-friendly activities just outside the Wildernest. This event is free with general museum admission.
–
Art Adventures with Laurie: Wax Luminaries
Art Adventures with Laurie: Wax Luminaries
Come drop into a new art experience each week with Laurie and the Art Studio team. Explore art through a variety of creative media and processes meant for all ages and […]
2 events,
–
Exploration Station: Chlorophyll Painting
Exploration Station: Chlorophyll Painting
Learn the secrets of color-changing leaves and use plants plucked from our garden to create art with chlorophyll. This event is free with general museum admission.
–
Let’s Make! with Lexie
Let’s Make! with Lexie
Explore new materials and creative techniques through facilitated art activities and bring home hand-made treasures and trinkets. Projects vary each week and may include sculpture, painting, comics, printmaking, and more! […]
0 events,
0 events,
2 events,
Early Explorers Playgroup
Early Explorers Playgroup
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 […]
Music Time with Tim
Music Time with Tim
Explore the world of music and rhythm. Join Tim in our Celebrations Room to play instruments and enjoy play-based songs, games, and stories.
4 events,
Creative Movement with Isthmus Dance Collective
Creative Movement with Isthmus Dance Collective
Join Isthmus Dance Collective for dance, creative movement, songs, and stories that get children thinking creatively and having fun. This program is brimming with energy, curiosity, creativity, and fun geared […]
–
Free Night: Science on the Square
Free Night: Science on the Square
Enjoy free admission 4-8 pm as part of Science on the Square, a free event for all ages, kicking off the Wisconsin Science Festival. Join us for activities and science demos […]
Twilight Thursday: Open Until 8 pm
Twilight Thursday: Open Until 8 pm
The whole museum is open until 8 pm on Thursdays. Twilight Thursday evening hours are included free, with general museum admission. See admission prices and get tickets. Special events: On December […]
–
Wild Wonders: Bean Necklaces (WI Science Festival)
Wild Wonders: Bean Necklaces (WI Science Festival)
Learn how to plant beans, practice motor dexterity, and flex your creative skills while making bean seed necklaces to take home. This program is part of the annual Wisconsin Science […]
3 events,
Pom Pom Party
Pom Pom Party
Treat your baby to a colorful, cushy cascade of joy. Our littlest visitors can practice sorting, scooping, and stacking pom pom balls of different sizes and textures in the Wildernest. […]
Music with Junebug
Music with Junebug
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 […]
–
Clay Day: Silly Ceramic Shapes
Clay Day: Silly Ceramic Shapes
Our art studio staff will lead visitors in a weekly assortment of creative clay sculpture activities.
We will create all kinds of collaborative projects- plant pots, jewelry, ornaments, tiles and more.
All ages are welcome to join us and experiment with clay.
1 event,
–
Art Adventures with Laurie: Mini Haunted Houses
Art Adventures with Laurie: Mini Haunted Houses
Come on down to the Wonderground and drop into a new art experience with Laurie and the Art Studio team. Explore art through a variety of creative media and processes meant […]
3 events,
–
Exploration Station: Autumn Gelli Prints
Exploration Station: Autumn Gelli Prints
Celebrate the changing seasons and engage your creativity with Autumn-themed gelli prints! This event is free with general museum admission.
–
Let’s Make! with Lexie
Let’s Make! with Lexie
Explore new materials and creative techniques through facilitated art activities and bring home hand-made treasures and trinkets. Projects vary each week and may include sculpture, painting, comics, printmaking, and more! […]
–
Hungry for Braaains! UW Neuroscience Outreach
Hungry for Braaains! UW Neuroscience Outreach
As part of the Wisconsin Science Festival, our brainy friends from UW Neuroscience will be coming by with their brain-building activities and REAL neurological specimens. Come learn how we think! […]
0 events,
0 events,
3 events,
Early Explorers Playgroup
Early Explorers Playgroup
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 […]
Music Time with Tim
Music Time with Tim
Explore the world of music and rhythm. Join Tim in our Celebrations Room to play instruments and enjoy play-based songs, games, and stories.
–
Downtown Madison Family Halloween
Downtown Madison Family Halloween
Make MCM your first stop on a hayride around the Capitol Square! Enjoy a free, family-oriented Halloween celebration for kids 12 yrs and younger in downtown Madison. Join us for […]
4 events,
Creative Movement with Isthmus Dance Collective
Creative Movement with Isthmus Dance Collective
Join Isthmus Dance Collective for dance, creative movement, songs, and stories that get children thinking creatively and having fun. This program is brimming with energy, curiosity, creativity, and fun geared […]
Twilight Thursday: Open Until 8 pm
Twilight Thursday: Open Until 8 pm
The whole museum is open until 8 pm on Thursdays. Twilight Thursday evening hours are included free, with general museum admission. See admission prices and get tickets. Special events: On December […]
–
Wild Wonders: Pinecone Spiders
Wild Wonders: Pinecone Spiders
Get into some creepy crawly crafts and bring a little nature into your celebration of the season with pinecone spider decorations. This event is free with general museum admission.
–
Science of Slime with WISE
Science of Slime with WISE
Learn to make slime with UW students from WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) and discover what makes this stuff so slippery, slimy, and simply fascinating! This event is free […]
5 events,
Pom Pom Party
Pom Pom Party
Treat your baby to a colorful, cushy cascade of joy. Our littlest visitors can practice sorting, scooping, and stacking pom pom balls of different sizes and textures in the Wildernest. […]
Music with Junebug
Music with Junebug
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 […]
–
STEAM Time: Wheatgrass Monsters
STEAM Time: Wheatgrass Monsters
Decorate a pot for Halloween and plant your own wheatgrass. When your “monster hair” sprouts, add it to smoothies or treat your family pet to a nutritious snack. This event […]
–
Clay Day: Polymer Clay Mini Monsters
Clay Day: Polymer Clay Mini Monsters
Our art studio staff will lead visitors in a weekly assortment of creative clay sculpture activities.
We will create all kinds of collaborative projects- plant pots, jewelry, ornaments, tiles and more.
All ages are welcome to join us and experiment with clay.
–
Sensory-Friendly Halloween
Sensory-Friendly Halloween
Madison Children’s Museum welcomes children and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and/or sensory challenges to experience the museum during Sensory-Friendly Hours. This program aims to bring families together […]
2 events,
–
Exploration Station: Spooktacular Sculptures
Exploration Station: Spooktacular Sculptures
Make a scary mini-sculpture out of clay. Whether you like monsters, ghosts, or pumpkins, use your imagination to decorate your house for Halloween. This event is free with general museum […]
–
Art Adventures with Laurie: Terrifying Terror-iums
Art Adventures with Laurie: Terrifying Terror-iums
Come on down to the Wonderground and drop into a new art experience with Laurie and the Art Studio team. Explore art through a variety of creative media and processes meant […]
3 events,
–
Exploration Station: Floating Ghosties
Exploration Station: Floating Ghosties
Embrace spooky season and discover the physics of flight! Create your very own tissue paper ghost and see what it takes to make them float in our wind tunnel. This […]
–
Piano Concert with Edgewood Musicians
Piano Concert with Edgewood Musicians
What’s better than melodies floating through the museum on a Sunday afternoon? Enjoy a performance on the second floor with talented young pianists from Edgewood High School. This event is […]
–
Let’s Make! with Lexie
Let’s Make! with Lexie
Explore new materials and creative techniques through facilitated art activities and bring home hand-made treasures and trinkets. Projects vary each week and may include sculpture, painting, comics, printmaking, and more! […]
0 events,
1 event,
–
Baby’s First Halloween
Baby’s First Halloween
Join us for the cutest fall event in town: Baby’s First Halloween! The museum will be open for special hours on Tuesday, October 31, for this boppin’ baby party (ages 0-3) and […]
2 events,
Early Explorers Playgroup
Early Explorers Playgroup
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 […]
Music Time with Tim
Music Time with Tim
Explore the world of music and rhythm. Join Tim in our Celebrations Room to play instruments and enjoy play-based songs, games, and stories.
3 events,
–
Super Friends Club: Nov/Dec 2023
Super Friends Club: Nov/Dec 2023
Drop-off class for preschoolers Come to the museum and practice becoming a Super Friend! Speaking to new people, taking turns, and making friends are new skills for 3 and 4-year-olds. […]
$30
Creative Movement with Isthmus Dance Collective
Creative Movement with Isthmus Dance Collective
Join Isthmus Dance Collective for dance, creative movement, songs, and stories that get children thinking creatively and having fun. This program is brimming with energy, curiosity, creativity, and fun geared […]
Twilight Thursday: Open Until 8 pm
Twilight Thursday: Open Until 8 pm
The whole museum is open until 8 pm on Thursdays. Twilight Thursday evening hours are included free, with general museum admission. See admission prices and get tickets. Special events: On December […]
2 events,
Pom Pom Party
Pom Pom Party
Treat your baby to a colorful, cushy cascade of joy. Our littlest visitors can practice sorting, scooping, and stacking pom pom balls of different sizes and textures in the Wildernest. […]
Music with Junebug
Music with Junebug
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 […]
1 event,
Member Morning
Member Morning
Member Mornings provide exclusive time for museum members to access the museum outside of public operating hours. Not a member yet? Become one today! Membership starts immediately, so you can […]
While at Madison Children’s Museum, visitors may be photographed by museum photographers. These images may be used to publicize the museum in print, online, and display materials, and may also be distributed to the media. If you do not wish your photograph to be used by the museum, please speak to our staff at the front desk.
