Corn, Crafts & Cool Nights: Madison's Summer Send-Off

New to the area, or just wondering what's up around Madison, WI this weekend? Late August is one of the best stretches on the local calendar! The sweet corn is in, the farmers markets are overflowing, and the metro squeezes in a run of outdoor festivals before the school year officially kicks off that frankly should be the stuff of legend. Here's a neighborhood-by-neighborhood rundown of some of our favorite events, so you can start to fill out your weekend itinerary.

Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival — August 19–23

Sun Prairie's five-day, free Sweet Corn Festival runs at Angell Park, kicking off with a Wednesday night parade and block party downtown, then rolling into a carnival, live music, and the festival's signature Wisconsin-grown sweet corn served Saturday and Sunday. If you're on the east side, in Cottage Grove, or anywhere near Sun Prairie itself, this is a quick drive. Downtown/isthmus residents should plan for a bit more time behind the wheel, but we'd say it's well worth it.

Bodega Night Market — August 20

Over on the near east side, the Bodega sets up at Historic Breese Stevens Field, a short walk or bike ride from the Tenney-Lapham and Marquette neighborhoods. Expect 5–9 p.m., free admission, and dozens of Wisconsin-based artisan and food vendors spread across the field, plus an expanded kids zone with bounce houses, sensory play, and hands-on craft-making from Curious Crafter, making it an easy pick for families.

Madison Night Market on the Square — August 20

Same night, different scene: the Madison Night Market takes over State Street, the Capitol Square, and Gilman Street from 5–9 p.m., with 100+ vendors, live music at Lisa Link Peace Park, and this month's theme celebrating UW-Madison. It's the natural pick if you live downtown, near the Capitol, or along the isthmus and want to stay walkable (or not worry about parking).

New Glarus Art in the Park — August 22

Up for a day trip? Art in the Park fills the village park in New Glarus with curated fine art, live music, food, and local craft beer and wine. It's about 40 minutes southwest of Madison, and an easy pairing with a stop at New Glarus Brewing or New Glarus Woods State Park can round out the day for you if you want another reason to justify that car-time!

Orton Park Festival — August 28–30

Finishing the month strong, the Orton Park Festival returns for its 61st year on Madison's near east side. This free, community-run music festival (hosted by the Marquette Neighborhood Association) fills Orton Park with local and touring bands, food vendors, and Cycropia Aerial Dance performances under the oak trees. It's a short walk from the Williamson Street/Marquette area.

Just Around the Corner: Taste of Madison

If you're getting a head start on mapping out the rest of the season, mark your calendar for Labor Day weekend. Taste of Madison returns to the Capitol Square September 5–6, with 80+ food vendors, live music on two stages, and free admission. If you've never been, come hungry! They don't call it the largest picnic on the Square for nothing!

Whichever weekend you pick (although nothing's stopping you from doing all of them), most of these events are free, family-friendly, and an easy way to get to know a new corner of the Madison area while squeezing out the last bits of summer.

Dates, times, and details are current as of early August 2026. Always double-check with the official event links above before heading out, since outdoor festivals can shift with weather or last-minute changes.