19 great ideas for your weekend in and around Madison (2024)

Do something nice for the planet — it’s Earth Day weekend. There’s much more in store, too.

Earth Fest kickoff: The weeklong celebration with demonstrations, arts performances and more from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and UW-Madison Office of Sustainability kicks off Friday from 1 to 6:30 p.m. at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, 330 N. Orchard St. Most events free. Details and full week’s schedule at earthfest.wisc.edu.

Lake Wingra Earth Day Cleanup: The Friends of Lake Wingra and Wingra Boats will host a watercraft cleanup 10 a.m. until noon Saturday. Reserve boats or, for those bringing their own, RSVP at go.madison.com/wingra-cleanup.

City parks cleanups: Those looking for a land-based activity can join in local efforts to clean up municipal parks. Madison Parks‘ events will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. Registration at cityofmadison.com is required.

Earth Day at Hilldale: Goodwill of South-Central Wisconsin will host a free electronics recycling drive at Hilldale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

El Dia de la Tierra: The bilingual conservation fair will include free electronics recycling and the opportunity to learn about conservation organizations and ways to reduce pollution, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Elver Park, 1250 McKenna Blvd.

Earth Day Celebration: Exploring Our Ancient Land: Participate in activities hosted by Circle Sanctuary in Barneveld, including a tour of one of the country’s oldest cemeteries and a workshop with a “master recycler,” 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, $20 for adults, free for children. Registration is required, www.circlesanctuary.org/event-5677415.

Midwest Horse Fair: Cheer on a rodeo, watch riding demonstrations and competitions, see a show or shop for your favorite equine friend at one of the nation’s largest horse shows, Friday to Sunday, Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Energy Center Way, $20-$45, midwesthorsefair.com.

Southern Wisconsin Dulcimer Festival: Southern Wisconsin Dulcimer Club and Sweet Melody Strings present a weekend of workshops for all levels, plus free performances and more. Folk Jam Session Friday in Janesville; workshops and free concert Saturday, Elkhorn. Workshop registration and full schedule at southernwisconsindulcimerclub.com/events/spring24.

Kanopy Dance Company: Kanopy presents “ConFluence: A Prelude,” with the world premiere of a work by composer and UW professor Michael Bell; 7:30 p.m. Friday, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday in Promenade Hall, Overture Center for the Arts, 201 State St., $20-$40, kanopydance.org.

UW Varsity Band: The annual spring concert rocks the Kohl Center, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with “Back to the Eighties,” “The Music of Bruno Mars,” longtime favorites like “Space Badgers,” and more, 601 W. Dayton St, $15-$25, music.wisc.edu/events/varsity-band-spring-concert-2024.

Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra: The WCO performs “Virtuoso Violin” with French virtuoso violinist Gilles Apap, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Capitol Theater, Overture Center, 201 State St., preconcert talk at 6:30 p.m., $19-$95, overture.org.

“Orlando”: University Theatre performs Sarah Ruhl’s adaptation of the Virginia Woolf classic, through April 28. Performances this weekend at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday in Mitchell Theatre, Vilas Hall, 821 University Ave., $26, theatre.wisc.edu/productions-and-tickets.

“Twelfth Night”: StageQ presents a new nonbinary adaptation of the Shakespeare play by director Bri Baltes, through May 4. This weekend at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Bartell Theatre, 113 E. Mifflin St. $25-$45, bartelltheatre.org.

Psychedelic Variety Show: Performers are asked to “share about their past psychedelic experiences, in whatever storytelling medium feels natural to them,” 7 p.m. Friday, Bartell Theatre, 113 E. Mifflin St., $10, bartelltheatre.org.

UW Engineering Expo: Annual tech event organized by students features exhibits, demonstrations and more, geared toward grades 5 to 9, but anyone is welcome to come and be amazed, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, UW Engineering Campus, 1415 Engineering Drive, free, engineeringexpo.wisc.edu.

Kids in the Rotunda: Beni Daiko performs a family-friendly show for the little ones, 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, Rotunda Stage, Overture Center, 201 State St., overture.org.

Midwest Vintage Flea: Browse the oldies and goodies from 45 vendors at Garver Feed Mill, 3241 Garver Green, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, free, but early admission Saturday is $20, goodstyleshop.com/pages/midwest-vintage-flea.

Savor the River Valley Farm and Food Tour: Self-guided driving tour of food-related business west of Madison, with stops in Plain, Ridgeway and Lone Rock, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, free, savortherivervalley.org.